WHAT IS REFLEXOLOGY?
There are reflexes in the body that map neurologically to other parts, glands, and organs of the body. Through the application of pressure on these reflexes, reflexology can:
The pressure also helps relax muscles, stimulates the body’s own natural ability to heal and helps to maintain optimum health and wellbeing. Reflexology is commonly applied to the feet, hands or ears.
“Michelle creates a calming, relaxing atmosphere in order to help you heal your body through reflexology.” – Dorota
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A REFLEXOLOGY SESSION?
“Michelle makes you feel so special. The whole atmosphere and experience is amazing from start to finish. If only I could visit Michelle daily for treatments. Recommend 100% Thanks a million Michelle.” - Jan
Reflexology is holistic
Regardless of your health condition(s), it is important to address your body as a whole. You are not your disease, or solely a walking set of muscles, organs, or container for emotions. If you have a specific condition, such as migraines, of course I will carefully feel and work the area corresponding to the presenting problem. However, I will also work all the other areas with gentle pressure, which allows the nerve pathways and congestion to release and promotes the relaxation response for the entire body.
There is no need to get undressed. You will sit or lie down to relax on a heated massage table. For hand reflexology your sleeves will be raised to the elbow. For foot reflexology your pant leg will be lifted to your mid-calf or knee. Soft music helps to enhance your relaxation. Your session should last approximately one hour.
How pain and discomfort is handled
The first thing to understand is that the reflexologist stimulates the nervous system to do the work of balancing and releasing; it is not the therapist who "fixes" discomfort. In other words, “releasing pain" is not the model; the goal is rather to bring the whole body into balance, and then the pain will subside.
If we find an area of pain, congestion, or tightness during the session, pressure will be applied to support the body back into balance. Throughout the session, the reflexologist will stay present, grounded, and in a calm and centered state of awareness.
The end of the session
Once the session is complete, you should not feel rushed. It is important you gently bring yourself back into the present moment, and orient yourself. As you feel comfortable, gather yourself and your belongings to leave. You will receive an after-care email listing symptoms you may experience and how to prolong the benefits you have gained from your session.
“I recently had my first facial reflexology with Michelle. I was utterly surprised to feel my body relax and loosen up so quickly. This soon followed with sensations in many areas of my body. It was working as well as previous hand or foot sessions. It was almost a guilty pleasure to feel this pampered while doing so much good for the inner workings of my body. Try it, you won't look back.” - Helma
HOW CAN REFLEXOLOGY HELP ME?
Whether you are seeking to care for a recent or chronic condition reflexology allows you to take an active role in your health. Stimulating the reflexes properly can give the body the possibility of optimizing its own natural resources to heal itself. It opens and clears neural pathways as well as interrupting the pain pathways making it beneficial for many forms of pain including post-operative pain.
Prevention is the sole of reflexology
Reflexology can be a natural, low cost option to offsetting the effects of stress on your overall health. Research tells us 80% or more of diseases are stress related. When we are stressed our body’s defenses break down and we become more susceptible to illness and disease. That is because the human body is an amazing design, each system including the hormones we produce support each other and therefore if one is imbalanced it can throw the whole body into a tailspin. Reflexology treats the body as a cohesive system bringing the body’s systems back into balance allowing the body’s natural healing energy to flow.
Reducing stress
Too often we ignore what our bodies are telling us because we feel we just don’t have enough time or energy. We don’t put focus on our health until there is a crisis. Reflexology offers incredible restorative support to all of the systems of the body that are taxed and challenged on a daily basis by today’s stressful lifestyles. It provides deep relaxation, aids in sleep and helps revitalize energy.
REFLEXOLOGY IS HELPFUL FOR
IS REFLEXOLOGY THE SAME AS MASSAGE?
Some people think Reflexology is just a glorious 60 minute massage aimed at the hands or feet and are unclear what the differences are between reflexology and massage. They are two different modalities each with their own strengths.
Reflexology opens and clears neural pathways as well as interrupting the pain pathways making it beneficial for many forms of pain. It also stimulates the lymphatic system therefore reducing the risk of infection; cleansing the body of toxins and stimulating the production of endorphins which leads to an improved immune system and sense of wellbeing.
Both reflexology and massage are beneficial for all ages. Both offer a natural, low cost option to offsetting the effects of stress on your overall health and research tells us 80% or more of diseases are stress related. The aim of both massage and reflexology is to enhance the wellbeing of the client.
A regular program of massage and/or reflexology will put you in touch with your body, teaching you to monitor its signal and needs.
