When our reflexologist Kati tells people what she does, she often gets the same question, “Is reflexology a massage? Is it just another word for a foot massage?” This is a common question and misunderstanding about what reflexology is. If you’ve found yourself wondering the same thing, that’s totally understandable since the work of reflexology does take place on the feet.
But reflexology is so much more than just a foot massage, and we want to help clear up some of your most common questions so that you can feel confident when you decide to give reflexology a try here in Canmore.
What is reflexology?
Think of your body as a roadmap, where everything is connected.2 Your hands and feet have a lot of pressure points that connect to other areas of your body.2 In reflexology, we apply pressure directly to the pressure points in the feet, hands and ears to treat other areas of the body.1 Reflexology is said to promote wellness, relaxation and even help to relieve some ailments.2
What are the benefits of reflexology?
Reflexology is a natural, non-invasive form of healing.2 While the primary benefits are relaxation, tension release, general wellbeing and health and it helps the body to naturally regulate itself.
How Does It Work?
Reflexology isn’t just a massage and the pressure points used are far from random. Reflexology used a very specific chart that shows the connections between the feet, hands and ears with different areas of your body, including different organs. Your reflexologist will create your treatment plan based on the information you shared in your intake form and the reflexology chart so that your treatment is specific and unique to you and your needs.
How does reflexology differ from registered massage therapy?
With so many people wondering if reflexology is just a fancy word for a foot massage, we thought it was important to share how exactly reflexology differs from massage therapy.
Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues and joints, for the purpose of relaxation, pain management, proper muscle and joint function, tension relief, and injury management. In many provinces of Canada, it’s a registered health profession. Massage therapy can be applied specifically to the body if there’s a specific reason for the treatment, such as management of pain or injury, but it can also be applied broadly to the full body.
Reflexology, on the other hand, is the application of pressure to certain pressure points in the feet, hands and ears. Primarily for the promotion of relaxation, wellness and general health, it can also be beneficial in some ailments, such as migraine and headache relief. Reflexologists must be certified in reflexology to practice.
Both treatments have their benefits, however, they are different. If you’re on a healing journey, looking to support your overall wellness or are just curious about reflexology, we recommend trying both! As some people prefer one to the other, and some ailments may respond more to one treatment over the other.
Your Feet Matter
A benefit of reflexology that is often overlooked is the beneficial effects of the treatment of and maintenance of the health of your feet. Think about it this way, how many hours of your life are you standing on your feet? How many different types of shoes are you placing your feet in? How much do you expect your feet to do day-in and day-out? I’m guessing it’s a lot?
Our feet are complex structures! They have 33 joints and 26 bones and hundreds of muscles, tendons and ligaments that work together to allow the feet to move in the way that they do.3 Our feet are responsible for bearing our weight, allowing us to move and to transmit force.3
With the complexity of everything that’s going on in our feet, it’s easy for muscle tension to build up, disfunction to occur and eventual injury to happen, especially as we age. That’s why it’s so important to give our feet the attention that they deserve throughout our lives. Whether that’s mobility work, rolling out your feet, massage and/or reflexology, be sure to be giving your feet the attention that they deserve.
Book a reflexology appointment with our reflexologist Kati today. (link to booking page)
Works Cited:
- Sung, Amy. “What is Reflexology? It’s more than just a food massage! ”https://www.spafinder.com/blog/healing/reflexology-101-treatment-benefits/
- Massage Addict. “What is Reflexology?” https://www.massageaddict.ca/therapeutic-services/reflexology
- Manganaro, Daniel, et al. “Anatomy, Bony Pelvis, and Lower Limb, Food Joints” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536941/
