
I have been offering Reflexology at Empower Fitness Studio in Alford since 2022. Originally, I set out to train in massage - Swedish, Hot Stones and Aromatherapy Massage, along with Holistic Facials. Reflexology didn't speak to me at all, I wasn't a bit interested! However, once I had completed my massage and facial training, I had a conversation with the lovely lady I had been training with and decided I had perhaps been a little hasty in ruling Reflexology out.
I think my reluctance came from not understanding what Reflexology is, and what it can and can't do. I was incredibly sceptical about how applying pressure to a certain point on the foot could affect other areas of the body!
In the beginning, once I had completed my training and case studies, I had terrible imposter syndrome when practising Reflexology, I doubted myself, particularly when clients would ask me what I had found on their feet - many reflexologists feedback to clients that certain reflexes feel out of balance and offer suggestions to what this could indicate in regard to physical or emotional health.
Often, I didn't find much at all on the feet! But with everything, time and practise do make a difference, however, I do still often not have too much to feedback to clients. And I am ok with that now, because Reflexology is not a diagnostic treatment, it is a relaxation treatment that helps the receiver to feel rebalanced.
I have done a lot of additional study and reading about Reflexology since my initial training, and not all of it sat right with me. In my opinion, Reflexology should never be used as a treatment for a specific condition, but it is amazing as a complementary therapy, and when used in such a way, offers wonderful results.
In this blog post I aim to explain Reflexology in my own words, based on the training and reading I have done, and the experience I have gained so far.
There is evidence as far back as 2330 BC of hand and foot massage being practised in Egypt, from there, there is evidence of people working on the feet throughout the world and across time. If there wasn't something in it, why would we keep doing it? Why do some people love to have their feet rubbed and some people hate it? Reflexologists believe the whole body is reflected on the feet, which perhaps why some people feel vulnerable about letting someone else near their feet.
Not to mention some people are very ticklish! However, Reflexology doesn't tickle, it is a firm pressure, but not painful. Ticklish feet are caused by the vast amount of nerve endings in the soles of the feet, in fact there are more nerve endings in the feet than any other part of the body. This is a key point to note when considering how does reflexology work. By working the area that is most dense with nerve endings, the therapist has a direct route to working with the nervous system. The nerves in the feet are connected to the sciatic nerve, which originates from the lower spine and from the spinal cord.
When considering how Reflexology works it is perhaps easier to understand if considered in terms of the nervous system, rather than a traditional foot map. Many people are dubious when they see a foot map. But if we think of the feet with their thousands of nerve endings as an access point to the central nervous system, then Reflexology becomes easier to understand.
The key point to remember is connection - the body is a network of connected systems that work together. The nervous system has a huge impact on how the rest of the body runs. If the nervous system is out of balance, we can experience a plethora of symptoms including insomnia, chronic pain, mood swings, anxiety and depression. Stress has been proven to have a detrimental effect on the nervous system, and is a leading cause of illness.
So, if we now go back to the feet, and work on the soles of the feet, we will stimulate the nerve endings which are connected to the rest of the nervous system, and that is how we can benefit the whole body by simply working on the feet.
Do I find correlation between foot maps and what the client tells me? I do, sometimes! And sometimes I don't. But I always believe in the benefits of Reflexology, now I understand it in connection to the nervous system. I have clients who find Reflexology very supportive as part of their pain management. And I have many clients who swear by how relaxed Reflexology makes them feel, and this is all down to the re-balancing effect it has on the nervous system.
I have wanted to write this blog for a long time, because even now when people ask me if Reflexology really works, and they look sceptically at the foot map, I can feel flustered in my explanation - I write far better than I speak! But I really do believe in the benefits of what is now my favourite treatment to offer.
If you would like to experience a relaxing Reflexology treatment, I offer treatments in Alford at Empower Fitness Studio, simply pop me a message to book.
With Love,
Steph
Comments