Why not experience the healing power of massage for yourself
.... call Sandra now for an appointment
 
Phone: 086 6070492

Reflexology Information

Reflexology is a non-invasive holistic (body, mind, spirit) treatment using the thumbs and fingers with varying degrees of pressure on specific reflex areas and points on the feet or hands which correspond to areas or organs of the body. This helps to clear energy pathways, rebalancing the energy within the body, allowing the body to work more effectively.

ENERGY—CHI
Scientists are now proving that our bodies not only contain “physical systems” (such as our circulatory or lymphatic systems), they re also made up of “energetic systems” that play a critical role in our health and well-being. Energy flows along 10 lines or pathways from head to each toe and finger. These pathways are recognised and actively used today in reflexology to balance and clear blockages in our energy systems. An energy block occurs when a naturally balanced energy system is flooded with negativity, trauma, distress or fear—lowering the vibration of the body’s energy. These blockages impact the way we feel physically, mentally and emotionally, showing as physical illness, lack of physical energy, stress, agitation, tearfulness and feelings of sadness to depression. An energy block along a specific pathway affects the body anywhere along it’s line. 

BENEFITS OF REFLEXOLOGY

• Re-balances the body systems (respiratory, circulatory, renal, digestive, etc.) allowing them to work more efficiently
  
• Aids removal of toxins and impurities from the body
• Improve the circulation of both blood and lymph systems for those with poor circulation conditions and poor lymphatic drainage especially
• Reduce stress and induce relaxation

Stress response explained
When we experience stress (whether from internal worry or external circumstances) the body’s autonomic nervous system kicks in and a bodily reaction is triggered, called the “fight or flight response”. When our fight or flight response is activated, the chemicals adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are released into our bloodstream. These chemicals cause our body to undergo a series of very dramatic changes;

• Our breathing rate increases
• Heart rate increases, blood capillaries constrict and blood pressure rises
• Blood is shunted away from our digestive tract making it sluggish and often leading to constipation if long term stressed
• Blood is shunted away from the urinary system
• Blood is directed into our muscles and limbs, which require extra energy and fuel the fight or flight response
• Our pupils dilate
• Our awareness intensifies
• Our sight sharpens
• Our impulses quicken
• Our perception of pain diminishes
• Our immune system mobilises with increased activation

Chronic stress explained
This is a state of ongoing physiological arousal. It occurs when the body experiences so many stressors that the autonomic nervous system rarely has a chance to activate the relaxation response (we were built to handle acute stress not chronic stress). This type of chronic stress response occurs all too frequently from our modern lifestyle, when everything from job worries, juggling home and work life, to loneliness, to commuting long distances to work in busy traffic can keep the body in a state of perceived threat and chronic stress. In this case our fight or flight response, which was designed to help us fight a few life-threatening situations spaced over a long period, can wear down our bodies and cause us to become ill, either physically or emotionally. In fact it’s estimated that up to 90% of doctor’s visits are for conditions in which stress at least plays a role! Then we are overwhelmed with excessive stress – burnout is inevitable. The evidence is conclusive that there is then a cumulative build-up of stress hormones. If not properly metabolised over time, excessive stress can lead to;

• Disorders of our autonomic nervous system - causing headache, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure
  
• Disorders of our hormonal and immune systems - creating chronic suppression of the immune system and susceptibility to infection, chronic fatigue, depression and autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and allergies

Some of us may experience these signals as physical symptoms like tension in our muscles, headache, upset stomach, racing heartbeat, deep sighing or shallow breathing. Others may experience them as emotional or psychological symptoms such as anxiety, poor concentration, depression, hopelessness, frustration, anger, sadness or fear.

STRESS WARNING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Cognitive Symptoms
Memory problems
Inability to concentrate
Poor judgement
Seeing only the negative
Anxious or racing thoughts
Constant worrying

Physical Symptoms
Aches and pains
Diarrhoea or constipation
Nausea or dizziness
Chest pain or rapid heartbeat
Loss of sex drive
Frequent colds

Emotional Symptoms
Moodiness
Irritability or short temper
Agitation or inability to relax
Feeling overwhelmed
Sense of loneliness and isolation
Depression or general unhappiness

Behavioural Symptoms
Eating more or less
Sleeping too much or too little
Isolating yourself from others
Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
Using alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to relax
Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

That is why it is so important to incorporate holistic treatments into your lifestyle as these treatments damp down the stress response resulting in the relaxation of body and mind safeguarding you from the negative impact of chronic stress