Reflexology
Therapy Through the Feet
By SHERI REHWOLDT Contributing Writer
Areas on the feet correspond to all of the different organs and systems of the body. By properly reflexing these points, a reflexologist can remove blockages and congestion in the nerve endings that correspond with particular areas of the body.
So here I am, lying on a massage table in a darkened room, feeling silly. I’m completely dressed, but I’ve removed my socks and shoes, as requested. I’m here to experience reflexology. Like most first-timers, I’m skeptical that a half-hour of foot manipulation will magically rejuvenate not just my feet, but my entire body. Terry Meyer, owner of Massage and Reflexology of Delaware,puts me at ease, immediately. Giving me a moment to settle, she selects some relaxing music, covers me with a blanket and closes the door to the room, shutting out the world. The table is heated and I'm cocooned within a temporary oasis. It’s most pleasantly decorated and feels indescribable.
Taking my foot in her hands, she begins to work. “Are you feeling anything?” Meyer asks several minutes later, eyeing me above her working hands. “Yeah!” I reply through clenched teeth, relieved that she expected the response. “That’s the respiratory area of your body. Are you getting over a cold or do you have asthma? ” “Allergies,” I admit. I’m surprised when she smiles. Her satisfaction deepens as she moves on to confirm the tightness in my neck, shoulders and spine (my stress magnets, as I call them).
“No matter how many times I do this, reflexology more often than not, proves true.” Meyer has been practicing reflexology for 20 years. She’s happy. I’m mystified. How did she learn all that from my feet? “I was just telling you what your body told me,” she explains matter-of-factly. “It’s not voodoo or magic. It’s purely scientific.”
I look over at reflexology chart on the wall and get lost in the numerous colors outlining territory on two large feet. Each color identifies the body part that is energized when pressure is applied to that area of the foot.
What is Reflexology?
Reflexology is a compression/release technique that when done correctly, induces an extreme relaxation response. It’s based on the premise that there are corresponding nerve endings in 10 energy zones of the body, running from the head to the feet. The zones correspond to all of the glands, organs and systems of the body.
Ann Gillanders, author of “The Joy of Reflexology,” sums up the proven benefits of reflexology: it normalizes the body’s functions, helps to break down tension, alleviate stress, anxiety,pain, including headaches and improves nerve function and blood supply throughout the body. Reflexology can be done on the hands. But for maximum benefit, says Gillanders, reflexology is applied to “the very roots of our being” — that is, the feet. Using the thumb, finger and hand, practitioners apply specific pressure to the minute reflex points. When the body has been damaged by illness, injury, disease or stress, it will attempt to regain its natural equilibrium. At times it just needs a jump start to recover, starting with the power of touch. (That’s why moms make a big production of kissing the boo-boos of their bandaged patients.)
Touch is important to healing, agrees Meyer. “We’ve become very touch skittish because of all the stories of negative touch. Reflexology has many other benefits, but it’s still touch. It just feels good.” Reflexology practitioners view themselves as facilitators to improved health. “The body knows what to do,” says Meyer. “You don’t have to believe in reflexology for it to do you some good. It’s a physical and neurological response.”
Why Does Reflexology Work?
The answer, say Kevin and Barbara Kunz, authors of “Hands and Foot Reflexology: A Self Help Guide,” is that any form of sensory signal alters the tone or tension level in the body. The entire body participates and acts in unison, in response to deep pressure information from the bottoms of the feet.
Each foot has more than 7,000 nerve endings, 26 bones, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles. By manipulating the section of the foot that corresponds to other areas of the body, positive changes are made in the digestive, reproductive, respiratory, circulatory, muscular, lymphatic, endocrine, skeletal and urinary systems.
Those who haven’t tried it remain dubious. But Laura Colona of Claymont swears by reflexology. Intense back and foot pain sent Colona limping to Meyer for relief. She had just had back surgery. “I went to Terry twice a week for three months and it made all the difference,” she says. “It helped with my pain and depression. Before that, I always had to plan my day around my pain.” During her treatment, Colona was able to decrease her timed-release pain dosage from 100 milligrams to 25 milligrams. “I really do think I can attribute that to reflexology,” she says. Colona now uses reflexology to maintain her feeling of well-being.
Meyer suggests that stress, constipation, stomach problems, migraine headaches and menopause symptoms can also be diminished through reflexology. “Keeping the system cleansed will reduce sickness and stress,” she said. “Some people don’t know what it feels like to be relaxed. If you slow down a minute, you become more focused. Stress is good at times, but when you have it without a break, it manifests itself in a physical form.”
What Happens During a Reflexology Session?
Perhaps the best aspect of reflexology is its non-invasiveness. There are no needles, no drugs, and you don’t strip down to your skivvies. You remove nothing more than your footwear. And you get to zone out for a half hour or longer to soothing music while a trained professional works your feet. Even the ticklish won’t mind — trust me.
With new clients, Meyer first reviews their medical history. She asks about medications, recent surgeries and the existence of any physical or emotional conditions. “There are considerations to be made when doing massage or reflexology,” she says. “It’s ethical and responsible practice.”
Meyer then begins working on the feet, without the aid of oils, lotions or creams. The lubricants are avoided during reflexology, as they interfere with sensory feedback. Meyer wants to connect directly with the foot. She’s feeling for energy blockages, which she describes as “crunchy” or "stiff" areas under the skin. To her, these areas feel like “wet sugar lumps.”
The tops of my feet (the chest and lung area), my toes (the sinus area), the side and bottom of my big toe (the neck area), the inside of my arch (the spinal area) and the underside of my little toe (the shoulder area) all felt this way to her. The discomfort of my left foot during her manipulation was more intense than my right foot — which made sense as my neck and shoulder problems are worse on the left side of my body.
Each person will have a unique response to treatment. Some have a profound feeling of well-being, others feel extremely relaxed. I felt lightheaded after the session. Meyer explained this was due to increased blood circulation. “Some even say their feet feel different in their shoes,” she adds. Colona felt significant improvement in her pain after several days. Her advice: stick with the therapy. “Don’t give up on the sessions,” she says. “You will see a difference.”
Meyer ended my session by adding lotion to her hands and giving my feet a gentle, relaxing massage. As I slipped back into my socks and shoes, she washed her hands, then handed me a bottle of water and some to-do’s: deep breaths throughout the day, stretch like a cat to loosen my tight back, apply pressure to my cheekbones to help sinus pressure, drink more water and, of course, return for more reflexology to relax my stiff neck and shoulders.
“You don’t have to have anything wrong with you to benefit from reflexology,” she adds. “It’s a rest stop; a way to clear the cobwebs. Some people come once a week, others three or four times a year.”
Highlight
Reflexology has been around for thousands of years. In ancient tombs and relics from Egypt, China, India and Japan, foot manipulation is featured, including a pictograph from the tomb of a physician in Egypt dating from 2,350 B.C. To try reflexology at home, roll a golf ball or mini dumbbell under your foot.
To schedule a reflexology session, contact Massage & Reflexology of Delaware at (302) 633-4035. The office is located in Lindell Square at 1601 Milltown Rd. #15 in Wilmington.
Client Feedback
Read more testimonials | Contribute a testimonial"From the minute you walk in the door, you can tell you are someplace unique and wonderful! Being on my feet alot, bending, lifting patients, and the stress of the nursing field, all take their toll on my health. I was getting headaches, backaches and was a little low on energy. All I can say is there are no words to describe the relief, on all levels. You just have to try it. The massage and the reflexology have made a huge difference in the quality of my life and the life of my family. The fees are incredible. I don’t know how they do it, but I’m sure glad they do!" - Sharon
