Reflexology is a lovely holistic therapy that rebalances your entire body through your feet (and sometimes hands and ears, but most treatments focus on feet). As we go through life, we inevitably experience physical and emotional challenges. Often, we process an illness or difficult event fully, but sometimes these things stay with us and block one of our energy zones. This is where reflexology can help.
Reflexology has been practised for hundreds of years and is based on the premise that our bodies are represented on our feet through reflex points. By working the reflexes, reflexologists can detect where you might have blocked energy, and use varying pressure to shift it. It is believed that the body can heal itself when all then energy flowing through it is balanced.
Ahead of your first treatment, your therapist will carry out a detailed consultation with you. This is to find out more about you, get an idea of what you’d like to get out of the treatment, and determine if there’s anything – such as a condition, contagious disease or injury – that would make it unsafe for you to have a treatment at this time. You will be asked to sign the consultation form. It is your therapist’s responsibly to store this information safely.
Your therapist will ask you to take off your shoes, socks, and any foot/ankle jewellery. You do not need to remove any other clothing (although I’d recommend taking off your coat – unless you’re having your treatment outside in December, which, to be fair, is totally possible if that’s what you and your therapist have agreed). Most therapists ask their clients to lie on a massage couch, and some use a reclining zero gravity chair. It is also sometimes possible to do treatments for people who are in their own chair, but I would advise speaking with your reflexologist ahead of your appointment about this.
Once you’re on the couch or chair, your therapist will cleanse your feet and then begin applying a special wax or oil – let them know if there are any smells you would like to avoid, or if you have any allergies.
Your treatment will last about 45 minutes. Your therapist will start by warming up your feet and will then work your entire body through the reflex points in your feet, giving extra attention to areas where they detect blocks. Your treatment shouldn’t hurt so definitely tell your therapist if you experience pain or discomfort of any sort! There’s no “grin and bear it” element here and it’s definitely not any kind of endurance test!! However, you may feel a sharp, spikey or tender, bruisy sensation as your therapist works your feet. This is usually an indication that the reflex point associated with the part where you felt sharp/spikey or bruisy/tender is blocked and needs extra attention, so let your therapist know. However, if you just want to drift off and relax, that’s totally fine too – your therapist will still be able to detect blockages.
Your therapist will let you know when the treatment is over. You shouldn’t need to rush to get up – go slow and take your time. Your therapist will talk to you about what they found and give you some aftercare advice.