What is Reflexology?

Feet – they’re weird looking yokes, aren’t they? If you’re anything like us, chances are you tend to forget about your tootsies and only remember them when summer gets here and you have to march yourself to the nearest chiropodist for a bit of a fix-up before you bust out your gladiators.

But did you know that you can use your feet to promote emotional and physical well-being? Yes, believe it or not. According to the ancient alternative practice of Reflexology, a foot massage is all it takes to give your mind, body and soul a bit of a boost.

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is the practice of improving your overall sense of well-being by applying pressure to various points on your feet. Basically, Reflexology practitioners believe that our feet are a ‘map’ of our bodies and if special points on our feet are manipulated with pressure and massage, physical and emotional changes can occur within us.

Reflexology believes that the different parts of your feet correspond with specific organs (and other things) in your actual body. For example: the tips of your toes represent your head, the ball of your foot represents your heart and the heel of your foot represents your intestines and your lower back.

Sounds a bit mad right? But there are a lot of people out there who firmly believe that Reflexology can work some wonders.

What are the benefits of Reflexology?

There are a host of benefits associated with Reflexology. Take a gander at the following:

• It reduces feelings of stress and takes away any tension.
• It can improve circulation within the body.
• It improves nerve function.
• It boosts your immune system.
• It refreshes your energy levels.
• It can ease back pain and help digestive problems.
• It can help ease PMS and any other period-related issues.
• Over all, it can improve any pre-existing condition that you have (for example: asthma, a sports injury, hormonal imbalances, insomnia - the list is endless).

In short, it is a practice that can help any issue or problem that you have – it’s universal and can be applied to anything. Not bad, right?

What happens during a treatment?

Well, you will be asked to remove your shoes and socks and to sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Then the practitioner will work their magic on your feet. Most people find Reflexology to be a deeply relaxing experience – think of it as the ultimate foot massage. A usual treatment lasts for around 45minutes.

Afterwards, you’re likely to feel calm, relaxed and sometimes, a little bit sleepy. On the odd occasion you can feel sick, anxious or upset, but these feelings are temporary and are considered to be your body’s way of getting rid of any negative energy that was disturbed during the process. So if you feel like bawling your eyes out, it means that the treatment worked and that you’re releasing a negative block of energy.

Where can I find a therapist?

The good news is that Ireland is absolutely full of reputable therapists. If you’re curious and considering trying a Reflexology session then make sure you check out www.reflexology.ie where you can find a list of fully qualified therapists.