by Kimberley Perry MAR
Consultant Therapist & Reflexologist
Walking on Air Well Being
We all come in different shapes and sizes, with infinite ways of experiencing life and expressing how we feel about and react to it. Our uniqueness is what makes us who we are. Just as our characters and experiences make us authentic, the way we use our bodies, feed and move ourselves varies hugely from one person to the next.
Our feet are our connection with the ground and bear all the weight of our lives so it is unsurprising that there is no such thing as two identical pairs of feet.
I have had the unrivalled opportunity to look at hundreds of sets of feet, all belonging to exceptional people because not only do I work alongside a chiropodist but I am a Reflexologist. Many of our clients can testify to the occurrence of me approaching the chiropody couch to study their feet and to discuss what may be occurring in their physical and emotional lives. They are always surprised to hear that their feet tell a story – their personal story – so clearly and accurately without my being given any information about them beforehand. To the trained eye of the Reflexologist, however, it is logical that hard skin forms in one area and not another, or that redness, dryness or soft lumps reside in a seemingly random position. We merely ‘read’ this information and relay it back to those who wish to learn more about themselves.
Fascinatingly, this information can be traced back to 20 years ago or more, as well as draw attention to current changes in the body and the emotions.
During a treatment, the feet are not only observed but are soothingly lulled into a sublime state of relaxation. In response, the central nervous system sends signals to the body as a whole to tell it to relax and the parasympathetic nervous system (also known as ‘rest and digest’ mode) switches on. The parasympathetic nervous system is crucial to our well being and longevity – it maintains and restores our energy, directs blood to our digestive organs, keeps an eye on our blood pressure and keeps our heart rate calm and low. The result, for most people, is profound relaxation for the 30 or 60 minute long treatment.
Whereas in massage we work large lengths of muscles and tissues, in reflexology we target very specific areas of the feet and we actively search for changes in the tissue, muscles and spaces between the bones. This feels like a massage but it is actually an investigation into your current, and past, health status. The information that we relay back to you can provide a starting point from which you can work upon – it is not a diagnosis but it paints a fascinating picture of how complex and incredible your body is and how best you can support it.