Reflexology 101

A powerful holistic practice dating back over 5000 years reflexology enhances and boosts conventional health care. Imagine a map of your whole body projected onto your foot - that is essentially what a reflexology foot chart is. In Thai, foot reflexology and massage, pressure is applied to specific areas of the soles of the feet. In turn, a reflex reaction occurs stimulating another part of the body.

 Many of us suffer daily from tired feet, foot pain and discomfort. Getting a foot massage is one of the best ways to relax your mind and body. Adding reflexology increases to those benefits.

Candaces’ love of helping people to keep happy, healthy and moving, is what drew her to add Thai Reflexology and Foot Massage to her list of modalities. On more than one occasion her yoga participants have heard her comment on how we (the general public) do not take good enough care of our feet. Life stresses, sleep patterns, how we fuel our body, food and drink choices, hormones, exercise, all play a role in our mental and physical health. Reflexology has been known to help with pain relief, digestive issues, improving sleep, decreasing stress and anxiety, headaches, PMS and much more. Certified with Banyan Thai Massage out of Vancouver BC, in association with ITM International Training Massage School of Chaing Mai, Thailand.

Five of My Favorite Reflexology Benefits:

  1. Pain Relief: Many patients comment on decreased pain. Reflexology relieves tension in the muscles that may often lead to neck pain, migraines, headaches, and upper and lower backaches.

  2. Brain and Nerve Function: Reflexology has been known to stimulate more than 7,000 different nervous endings. As our bodies age, our nerve endings become less sensitive. Foot reflexology can improve the function and reactivity of these nerve endings. Reflexology treatments also aid in opening and cleaning out neural pathways around the body. It is important to activate neural pathways to improve the manner of conveying information from the nervous system to the brain.

  3. Fights Depression Massaging the top of your toes can enhance the production of serotonin (a natural mood stabilizer. serotonin also plays a role in the digestive system and sleep cycles) The stimulation of adrenal, hypothalamic, pineal and pituitary glands also play a role in stabilizing emotions including depression. 

  4. Improves Circulation One of the benefits of reflexology is an improvement in blood flow throughout the body. This means that blood and oxygen are transported through all areas more efficiently. Stimulating feet (and other areas) enhances circulation to vital organs. The bodily systems function even better as more oxygen is cycled. This also increases metabolism and results in faster regrowth and healing of damaged cells.  

  5. Relaxation and Better Sleep As mentioned before, reflexology opens neural pathways and results in a more relaxed condition in the body. In turn stress levels are reduced, triggering a state of calm throughout your mind and body. Applying pressure on certain points helps the body and nerves relax while improving blood circulation.

Other benefits include but are not limited to, reducing PMS and menopause symptoms, lowering blood pressure, decreasing Stress and Anxiety.

Note: Most people can benefit greatly from foot reflexology. However, please avoid treatment if there are open or healing wounds on feet or lower legs, or are suffering with fractures, burns and chronic osteoporosis.