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Reflexology: natural, non-invasive, relaxing

By Sharon Evans

Reflexology is a widely-known, healing approach. Most people think of the feet when they think of reflexology but actually there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears that correspond to every organ, gland and part of your body through your nerve pathways and/or your meridians.

As reflexologists, we use our thumbs, fingers and hands to apply pressure and stimulate these reflexes. The technique is firm but not painful. We note that tenderness and tension could reflect congestion in the corresponding part of your body.

Sessions usually last 45 minutes to 1 hour, and generally cost $35 to $50. The number of sessions recommended will vary. For a health problem, expect to commit to a series of sessions before assessing results.

Reflexology has been around for a long time. The first record of Reflexology was found in an Egyptian physician’s tomb dating back to 2330 BC. ‘Foot work’ also appeared in other cultures such as China, Japan, India and Europe thousands of years ago. Currently, Reflexology has been adopted in Europe and Asia by the medical system and is standard in hospitals and clinics.

Reflexology is used as a response to physical or emotional distress or as preventative care.

Reflexology supports healing for a variety of complaints such as various skin problems, respiratory ailments, acute and chronic pain, sleep difficulties, circulation and elimination problems, digestive disorders and compromised immune system. When you experience illness, stress, injury or disease your body is in a state of “imbalance.” With trained, sensitive hands, we can detect these imbalances in the feet and can help restore balance and encourage healing.

Reflexology is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Once you are aware of the diagnosis, reflexology treats you as a whole person. Often reflexologists work together with other medical and complementary therapists to achieve the best results.

Through the reflexology sessions, your body is assisted to return to natural functioning. Your endorphins (natural painkillers) are released. Para-sympathetic relaxation of your nervous system takes place. Your blood and lymphatic circulation are increased resulting in increases in oxygen and immune levels. All of this helps to restore balance to all the systems of your body.

There are wellness benefits from reflexology too. The American Journal of Medicine reports that stress is known to cause over 80% of all illnesses. Reflexology reduces stress during a session. Chemical changes occur at the cellular level throughout your body. A reflexology session helps your body towards its own natural healing process. It’s a wonderful way to feel better and gain a sense of health and well-being. People usually feel a sense of inner calm and more energy as a result of their sessions.

Sharon Evans is a Certified Reflexologist offering Reflexology among a number of other services out of Kinexions Holistic Health Studio. There are several other certified Reflexologists in the area. Certification Requirements to become a Certified Reflexologist through Reflexology Association of Canada are: 35 Classroom Hours (anatomy and physiology for 9 major body systems), 15 Home Study Hours, 60 Practical Hours (documented case studies) for a total of 110 credit hours. There is a 2 hour written exam for which the minimum passing mark is 80% and a 1 hour practical exam with an examiner who is not your instructor again with a minimum passing grade of 80%.

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