Have you seen a reflexology session on our student clinic and professional spa menu and wondered what it is all about? Something with feet right?
In this blog post we are going to take a look at what reflexology is and what a reflexology session with us looks like.
The most common reflexology is for the feet, but reflexology can also be performed on the whole body, hands, ears, or face. For the purpose of this blog post when we talk about reflexology we will be referring to foot reflexology.
The theory of reflexology suggests that when the soft tissues of the feet are manipulated they correspond to other, specific parts of the body and can impact the workings and overall health of these systems. With over 7,000 nerve endings, feet are uniquely equipped to feel A LOT and to communicate information up the legs to the spine and ultimately to the brain.
Reflexology is an ancient practice, and there is evidence that many ancient cultures participated in and performed reflexology. Now reflexology is seen as complementary and alternative therapy.
The experience can be relaxing, and while it pairs well with massage it is distinct from it. Reflexology focuses on specific points and applying pointed, precise pressure. This can result in finding tenderness, which in the practice is interpreted as an imbalance in the body. The goal of reflexology is to restore balance. In a reflexology session, the therapist or reflexologist will be trying to reveal any imbalances and provide an avenue for restoration. A reflexology session should not be painful, however experiencing that “good hurt” or therapeutic pain is to be expected. Like receiving any bodywork, clients are encouraged to communicate if they are experiencing discomfort and the practitioner will make adjustments.
In our student clinic and our professional spa there are two ways to experience reflexology: a reflexology enhancement or a reflexology session.
A reflexology enhancement adds a series of reflex points to the planned massage session. It can be a great way to see if your body responds to reflexology. It can also be a nice way to add a specific goal to a massage session. For example, if it is allergy season and you have been feeling congested, adding a reflex enhancement and communicating your goal with your therapist will give them the opportunity to work on specific points such as sinuses, eyes, and lungs.
A reflexology session with us is 50 minutes long. It is a unique session and clients will only need to remove their footwear and roll up any long pants to allow access to the ankles and lower legs. The session includes a relaxing foot soak, exfoliating scrub, hand massage, and of course the star of the show: working the reflexology points on the feet. The experience is completed with a calming foot massage.
The most popular essential oil to incorporate into the foot soak is lemongrass, and for good reason. It is a balancing aroma that is both soothing and energizing. The delightful scent of citrus will stick with you for the rest of your day after a reflexology session.
Reflexology has many supporters and success stories. For some bodies, reflexology seems to really connect and communication between the body and the brain work together to provide relief and restore balance.
Call us to schedule an appointment in our student clinic, or book a reflexology session online with one of our professionals.