Reflexology: It's More Than Just a Foot Massage

For just over a year now, as part of my new health and wellness plan, I have been using reflexology. I try to go once a week for the hour-long treatment; if I miss a week, I can feel a difference. Before I go on about my personal experience, let me explain what reflexology is for those of you who are new to the concept.

Reflexology is for people seeking an alternative healing method that they can use in addition to traditional medicine to heal faster. Did you know that there are spots on your hands and feet that correlate to different parts of your body? A reflexologist can gently apply pressure by massaging, pushing, pressing, or squeezing different areas of your feet or hands to promote healing. If an area on your hands or feet is tender then it is highly likely that the body part that correlates to that area has an issue.

If you do a search on the internet ,you can find many versions of the reflexology charts available. I found a website with interactive hand & feet charts showing the correlation of the different body parts to different areas of the hand and feet on the publisher, Dorling Kindersley's Web site: click here.

If this is your introduction to reflexology you may find it a little mind boggling that by having our feet or hands rubbed we can find relieve from pain in other areas of our bodies. You should know right away, reflexology is more than a foot rub. When a trained reflexologist works on your feet or hands, they are using a form of energy healing.

Bonnie Dailey, my friend and reflexologist is very intuitive and uses this ability to listen to an inner voice that tells her where and when to apply pressure and how much pressure to apply. In fact, when she is working on my feet her hands place themselves in such a way it looks as though she is playing a stringed instrument. Her head tilts as she listens and plays her inner music. It is fascinating to watch her work.