Reflexology is an ancient healing art and is known to have been practised thousands of years ago in India, China and Egypt. It is a safe, holistic, non-invasive therapy which works on the mind, body, emotions and spirit, gently encouraging the body to work naturally to restore its own healthy balance.
It is a deeply relaxing therapy but is not to be confused with an ordinary foot rub or the standard foot massage. Reflexology is a science and its technicians are trained to apply this pressure therapy using specific techniques and skills. Historically foot therapies were used by Marc Antony and Cleopatra, the Native Americans and many other cultures. In fact, it is regularly used by celebrities and athletes around the world. Most of the top professional golfers have their own Reflexologist!
How does it work
The theory is that the feet (and the hands, face and ears) contain mirrored maps of the body and around 7000 nerve endings. Wearing shoes all day combined with illness, poor hydration, stress and lack of proper exercise can cause muscle tissue to weaken, and blood flow to stagnate and culminate into waste matter collecting in the feet. This waste matter makes crystalline deposits formed by urate crystals and calcium deposits at key nerve endings located in the feet.
Just as a river that is clogged with silt and sand does not flow and feed its many tributaries, the health and balance of your body and its organs are dependent upon the nourishment provided by healthy circulation. Thus, soreness in the reflex zones of the feet is understood to reflect imbalance in the corresponding organ, gland or structure of the body. So the symptom of pain is literally our ally as it helps us to signal well-being imbalances and the potential for disease development.
By massaging and stimulating these specific points which correspond to different parts of the body, we are able to release blockages to boost circulation along these nerve energy pathways thus releasing trapped nervous energy, helping your body to heal itself.
How can Reflexology help me
Reflexology is suitable for all ages and may bring relief from a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. Reflexology can be one of the ways to help relieve the stresses of today’s busy and hectic modern life as the treatment can induce profound relaxation for both the body, mind and soul.
Potential benefits of reflexology can include:
Reflexology may help conditions such as:
Anxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Back and Joint Pain
Chronic illnesses – diabetes, MS
Depression
Digestive disorders
Fertility
Gynecological Disorders
Hormonal imbalances
Insomnia
Menopause
Migraine and Headaches
Plantar Fasciitis
Post Natal
Preparation for and priming of labour
Relaxation
Sinusitis
Sports injuries
Stress
Thyroid imbalance
Reflexology does not claim to cure, diagnose or prescribe
What can I expect from a treatment at Sleeping Beauty Therapies
The aim at every session is to make you feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible and of course, for you to thoroughly enjoy the experience. Reflexology is not at all intrusive and you only need to remove your shoes and socks or tights.
Prior to the very first treatment, there will be a full consultation. This will give us the opportunity to discuss your complete current medical history together with your general health and lifestyle and whether there is anything specific Reflexology can help you with. This can take about 20 -30 minutes but is free of charge. A typical treatment will then last 45-50 minutes with a lovely warming massage at the end.
Many people experience a tingling in the body or have feelings of warmth with a sense of “opening,” as energy moves from the pressure to the specific body region, gland or organ.
Most will have a real sense of well-being and deep relaxation, whereas some find it wholly uplifting and energising. Occasionally, a client may have a healing reaction to a treatment and experience symptoms such as mild headaches, tiredness, or rising emotions. This can indicate that the body’s own healing capabilities are at work and is seen by reflexologists as a positive sign, and should pass within 24-48 hours.
How often?
The effects of reflexology are unique to each individual. Some clients choose to have a course of Reflexology treatments, especially if they are currently living with a particular chronic condition, whilst others simply have treatments, purely to relax the mind and body to counteract stress as and when it arises.