What is Reflexology?
Maintain a Healthy Mind and Body, the Natural Way!
Reflexology deals with the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands that correspond to all organs, glands and parts of the body. It is the palpation of the thumbs and fingers on these reflexes through a system of zones that link particular reflexes with particular organs that may help to stimulate the body’s healing processes and to allow the client to achieve physical and emotional well-being.
Reflexology is an holistic non-invasive therapy where the Reflexologist sees the client as a whole as the body is not one individual part but made up of many systems.
When the body is unbalanced following illness, stress or injury, energy pathways become blocked and prevent the body from functioning properly. Reflexology helps remove these blockages allowing the energy to flow freely again thus encouraging healing and creating wellbeing.
Reflexology:
- - relaxes you
- - improves your mood
- - aids sleep
- - helps relieve tension
- - improves a sense of wellbeing.
Reflexology is a popular therapy for maintaining health and creating a feeling of well being. Many modern day illnesses are due to stress and tension, reflexology aids relaxation thus helping to relieve stress and tension.
Who is Reflexology suitable for?
Reflexology is a therapy which can be received by people of all ages, from new born babies and young children to the elderly and those receiving end of life care. However, a shorter session may be carried out for children/elderly and the pressure will be lighter.
You do not need to have anything wrong with you to enjoy reflexology.
Please note the following conditions are contraindicated:
Severe cellulitis, fever or contagious illness, Thrombosis/DVT or pulmonary embolism, skin infections, athletes foot, imminent tests or investigations e.g blood tests or clients that are currently under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Can Reflexology help me?
Reflexology is very individual which works with you holistically, so it is not possible to know in advance how you will react. The theory is that reflexology helps the body to restore its balance naturally. Usually, you might feel relaxed and tension might be reduced after a session; you may sleep better and you may notice a feeling of improved mood and general wellbeing. You might also find that other aspects improve too but this happens on a very individual basis.
With ever increasing levels of stress, it is important for people to take more responsibility for their own healthcare needs. Relfexology may be one of the ways to mitigate the stresses of modern life.
What happens at at Reflexology session?
You will be asked to give a medical history to include lifestyle, diet, medication and any medical conditions you may have, this will take place at the first session only and will require a signature for consent. You will also be required to sign a privacy and consent notice for GDPR.
You are then asked to remove your tights/socks and your feet will be examined for veruccas, athletes foot, bunions etc then cleaned with wipes, this is common practice. Then you will sit back in a comfortable reclining chair with your feet raised and enjoy the session.
The feet are then ‘worked’ using pressure of the fingers and thumbs together with some relaxation techniques, it does not tickle.
Some areas may feel tender or uncomfortable, this tenderness signals to the Reflexologist there may be an energy imbalance in that area of the body. This area is then worked to try and relieve congestion in that area. However, Reflexology is generally a very relaxing and pleasant therapy.
Reactions to a Reflexology session
After a session I will ask you to drink plenty of water and as a result you may experience more frequent visits to the toilet than usual.
Reactions to a session may include a slight headache, runny nose, feeling very tired, feeling more energetic, maybe a little diarrhoea or even an emotional release, this is transitory and shows the body is responding to the reflexology and should pass over in 24 hours. However, as everyone is different, some may not experience any after effects but overall most will feel very relaxed and will enjoy a good nights sleep.
Confidentiality is assured at all times.
History of Reflexology
Reflexology has been practiced for over 4000 years by Egyptians, Chinese and Indian cultures. Evidence for this is shown in a physician’s tomb in Saqqara, Egypt. It is believed that this form of healing spread from Egypt via the Roman Empire.
In early 1900 Dr. Joe Shelby-Riley and Dr. William Fitzgerald discovered “Zone Therapy”, the application of pressure on certain points (reflexes) which would relieve pain in a corresponding area. Eunice Ingham, a Physiotherapist who worked closely with Dr. Shelby-Riley was fascinated by the concept of Zone Therapy and started developing her foot reflex theory in the early 1930’s. To protect her teachings and her writings the International Institute of Reflexology® was formed which is dedicated to teaching the Ingham Method only.
