Learn About Reflexology

In my blog I will mainly speak about foot reflexology and regularly present a new aspect of this wonderful healing technique  - I hope you enjoy the blog, it's free to learn.

Monday, March 26, 2007

What to expect from the first session?

The first visit will last a bit longer than subsequent ones as the foot reflexologist needs to find out about your medical history, your diet and general health before examining your feet. The reflexology treatment is often preceeded by a relaxation massage or a warm foot bath to put you at ease.

During the treatment, you will be laying on a massage table or sitting in a recliner chair. The reflexologist will be sitting in front of your feet. You do not need to undress, only your feet will be bare.

A Reflexology session should feel relaxing, calming and restorative. Some pressure points will be sensitive if there is an imbalance, so some people may experience tenderness on different areas of the foot. However, the treatment should not be painful or cause discomfort. A good reflexologist will adapt his touch to each person and feedback is encouraged to create the most effective treatment. Since the touch is firm, it is not usually perceived as ticklish.

In general, a session will last 45 to 60 minutes. The young or elderly will generally be given shorter treatments.

Sometimes you may have a reaction to the treatment - usually pleasant reaction such as feeling calm, relaxed or rejuvenated. Other reactions are cleansing reactions, such as increased urination, more frequent bowel movement, tiredness or headaches. These should last no more than 48h, and are a sign that the body is eliminating toxins. It is worth keeping a note of these to tell the reflexologist during the next session.

How many sessions are required depends on your goal and your state of health.

Well-being thanks to foot reflexology

The feet contain thousands of nerve endings which connect reflexes to every organ and muscle in the body. By identifying sensitive areas on the feet, the professional reflexologist can identify the precise part of the body where dysfunction is occurring. By working this reflex, he can eliminate the blockage, evacuate the toxins and activate blood circulation therefore restore balance and harmony.

By having the whole body represented in the feet, the method offers a means of treating the whole body and of treating the body as a whole. This latter point is an important factor of a natural therapy and allows not only symptoms to be treated but also the causes of symptoms.

Most people who have experienced treatment would agree that the method can be most beneficial and is also a very relaxing therapy. Several sessions are required for a satisfactory result although the feeling of well-being appears even after the first session. The treatment can be spaced out by 3 or 4 days or more. Some people like regular monthly treatment as they appreciate the state of relaxation induced by reflexology and understand the importance of preventive treatment.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

How does Foot Reflexology work?

Reflexology is a holistic complementary therapy which helps balance the body and stimulate the body's own natural healing abilities. Reflexology does not claim to diagnose illnesses and it can be used safely alongside conventional medicine. Reflexology not only treats the symptoms but also the causes of the disorder to restore the body's natural harmony and equilibrium.

There are about 7200 nerve endings in the feet. These have interconnections through the spinal cord and brain with all parts of the body. The feet are the mirror of the body, each organ is represented on the foot. Some organs are found on both feet, for example the lungs, whereas others are on one foot only, for example the spleen is on the left foot. By stimulating a reflex area on the feet, balance is restored in the corresponding part or organ.

Foot reflexology also works on a system of energy zones throughout the body ending in the feet. It is possible to detect dysfunctions in these energy zones and to correct the flow of energy within the zone by applying pressure on the reflex areas. Foot reflexology unblocks energy flows and increases blood circulation, thus helping to restore health and equilibrium. Indeed, reflexology creates a deep state of relaxation and it releases stress and tension from the body.
Indeed, the first immediate effect after a session is a reduction in stress levels as Reflexology relaxes the mind, body and spirit.

Reflexology is ideal to ease most disorders such as headaches, breathing disorders, asthma, migraine, hormonal imbalances, menstrual problems and stress. The number of treatments required depends on the patient and the problem. Reflexology also acts as preventive medecine, so it is advisable to have regular treatments.

Self treatment is possible although it is easier on the hands rather than the feet.
Learn how to use it for you and your family !

When you discover the benefits of foot reflexology for relaxation, you will want to use it at home. In fact reflexology should be part of everyday life within a family, as a means to comfort, bond, and communicate with each other. Everyone can benefit from it - young or old.

Monday, March 12, 2007

History of Reflexology


Let's have a look at the main milestones of reflexology.

Foot reflexology is an ancestral art and has been practised in various forms for a long time. Did you know that it was V.M. Bechterev, a Russian physiologist, who first coined the term "reflexology"?

5000 BC Chinese practised a form of pressure therapy and foot massage which might be akin to reflexology therapy.

2300 BC In Egypt, inscriptions found in Ankhmahor's tomb at Saqqara show foot and hand massage.

1917 In the US, doctor William Fitzgerald, an ear, nose and throat specialist, published a book illustrating the reflex areas with their corresponding connections. At the time, he showed that applying pressure had an anesthetic effect on another area. Today's foot reflexology is issued from his findings.

1938 Reflexology was further developed by Eunice D. Ingham (1899-1974), a nurse and physiotherapist. Her first book entitled "Stories The Feet Can Tell" and many others became standard textbooks for students. Ingham found that the feet and hands were especially sensitive, and then mapped the entire body into "reflexes" on the feet. It was at this time that "zone therapy" was renamed reflexology, and found to be effective for more than just pain reduction.

1960 The late Doreen Bayly was the pioneer of reflexology in Great Britain and her teachings are still continued today through the Bayly School of Reflexology.

Today, with reflexology, a practitioner can help you fight stress and achieve deep relaxation. By the way, remember that the term foot reflexology is prefered to foot massage.

Reflexology to Improve your Well-Being

Foot reflexology is a complementary therapy which consists in treating different disorders using pressure-point massage on the reflex areas of the feet. The foot is seen as a microcosm of the human body meaning that there are reflex areas in the feet corresponding to each part of the body.

The art of foot reflexology is to apply a specific pressure on these reflex points to detect tensions and blocked energy in the organs in order to eliminate the problems and restore balance throughout the body. The application of this pressure is assessed on the basis of ten longitudinal zones and areas mapped on the feet in the body's image.

With foot reflexology, you have at your feet a natural technique that can help you to get up and run.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Foot Reflexology

Are you looking for a method to reduce stress and relieve pain? Have you heard about a natural therapy called reflexology? Are you aware of the negative effects of stress on our body? It has an impact on all of the systems of our body. Here are a few examples of the disorders you might encounter:


  • blood circulation: varicose veins, hemorroids, high blood pressure etc.

  • digestive system: bloated stomach, stomach pains, acne, cold, allergy, loss of hair etc.

  • nervous system: insomnia, irritability, nervous breakdown, lack of concentration, memory loss etc.

  • articulations: osteoarthritis, muscular pains, sciatica etc.

Keep reading this blog to find out more about reflexology.


Sunday, March 4, 2007

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a natural healing therapy which has been practiced throughout history across the world. Today it is mainly used as a complementary medicine, however it does not replace medical treatment.

Reflexology is a technique which applies pressure and movement onto a specific area of the feet or the hands in order to effect the corresponding part of the body.

In my blog I will mainly speak about foot reflexology and present an aspect of this wonderful healing technique every week - I hope you enjoy the blog, it's free to learn.


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