What are the benefits of this massage?
In everyday life, our feet are all too often abused. Enclosed and squeezed in shoes, they suffocate and tighten up. Yet thanks to them, we walk, run, jump, dance... They carry us, stabilise us, centre us, anchor us in the present moment and connect us to the Earth throughout our lives. Yet we rarely have time to take care of them!
Much more than a simple foot massage, foot reflexology is an ancestral technique that is becoming increasingly popular for its many benefits. Stress, fatigue, lack of energy, insomnia, digestive problems, pain... There is a solution to relieve you!
Both relaxing and energising, foot reflexology is a gentle medicine that allows your body to regulate itself naturally and prevent all those discomforts that can bother you in your daily life. Here is a small overview of this treatment technique that will get you back on your feet!
The origins of this foot massage technique
With its origins in China, over 5,000 years ago, foot reflexology was first and foremost a massage technique. Indeed, the Chinese have always considered the foot to play an important role in the proper functioning of the body. In Chinese, the ideogram "foot" means "health-guarding part of the body".
Then, over the centuries, practitioners realised that by stimulating specific points on the feet, it was possible to obtain beneficial energetic results for the whole body.
This ancient technique can also be found in ancient Egypt. A fresco in the tomb of an Egyptian physician, Ankmahor, dating from 2,300 BC, shows people handling feet.
But it was not until 1913, thanks to the work of Dr William Fitzgerald, that foot reflexology was introduced in the West. Probably inspired by the mapping of acupuncture meridians as well as by contemporary discoveries in neurology, all his work revolved around reflex zones.
Stimulations on certain points of the feet, by means of well-focused pressure, would have positive repercussions on specific areas of our body. He then developed his zone theory and divided the human body into 10 energy zones.
Subsequently, Eunice Ingham improved and popularised her theory in the first modern reflexology treatise where she mapped the reflex zones of the feet in detail, which are still used by most reflexologists today.
The principles of foot reflexology
The massage technique used in foot reflexology is a gentle practice consisting of massaging the feet in order to stimulate the reflex points corresponding to all the organs in our body and their functions. In fact, each of our feet is said to have nearly 7,200 nerve endings. Thanks to this foot massage, our body's self-regulation capacities are strengthened.
Foot reflexology considers the foot as a miniature representation of the human body as a whole, with each of our organs represented in specific areas. When we experience stress, seasonal changes or other daily worries, the vital energy circulating in our body becomes unbalanced and toxins can no longer be evacuated properly, thus causing blockages which are also found on our arch of the foot.
The action of this foot massage is based on the principle of the reflex arc: a pressure on a point of the foot creates a nervous message which, via the spinal cord, induces an involuntary and unconscious physiological response on the targeted organ. Thus, the energy circulation is restored, toxins are evacuated and the deficient organ can then recover its balance.
How does a foot reflexology session work?
Soft music and subdued lighting, everything is done to make you feel like in a cocoon, relaxed and at ease. The therapist begins the session with a series of questions to understand your lifestyle and what issues are causing your discomfort.
Then, during one hour, the practitioner massages, kneads and applies pressure, in a more or less intense way, on very precise points of your feet, according to your needs of the moment. These pressures are obviously focused on the areas to be treated in priority, but all the reflex zones will be massaged in order to work on the global rebalancing of your body.
Finally, the reflexologist will also stop on the areas where he feels a blockage or tension, in order to unblock them and allow the energies to circulate normally again.
The number of sessions required will depend on the areas to be treated. Whether you are looking for therapeutic, curative or preventive effects, one session may not be enough. It is therefore important to discuss with your therapist what ails you, so that he or she can advise you on the appropriate treatment and the number of sessions required.
Regular foot reflexology practice helps the body to stay healthy. It is also recommended to make an appointment every season to help your body adapt to changes and maintain its balance.
Thanks to the stimulation of this foot massage, your blood, lymphatic and energy circulation is rebalanced and your body's self-healing capacities are strengthened.
The benefits of this foot massage
The benefits of this foot massage are many! This treatment technique has beneficial effects on your entire body and has the advantage of being able to be used not only as a preventive measure but also to relieve and help your body fight various ailments.
Foot reflexology is particularly recommended in several areas of action. Hormonal, gynaecological, skin, urinary, digestive, osteo-articular disorders or in case of stress, fatigue, insomnia, migraines, etc.... In short, all functional disorders that may bother you in your daily life. At the end of the session, you will feel both relaxed and toned.
Also recommended for people with chronic illnesses, foot reflexology can help improve quality of life by helping to reduce anxiety and mitigate the side effects of treatment.
Foot reflexology at Terre des Sens
Traditional Chinese Foot Reflexology
In the purest tradition, this massage is given by an experienced reflexologist who will perform your treatment with his or her hands. With foot reflexology, pressure on a specific point on your foot creates a nervous message that acts on the targeted organ and restores its balance.
This massage can treat functional conditions such as migraines, digestive and sleep disorders, joint pain, allergies and helps with stress management. After focusing on the points where tension is felt, the therapist will complete the foot massage by treating all the reflex zones to ensure that the circulation of your energies is restored to balance.
Thai foot massage and foot reflexology
Thai foot massage is based on the principles of traditional foot reflexology. It is the art of massaging the feet, calves and legs with the hands and a wooden stick. This massage helps to prevent and treat certain infections and diseases. Thai foot reflexology targets and stimulates the internal organs through reflex zones located on the plantar surface.
To do this, the reflexologist performs gestures to soften and drain the feet, then stimulates the area under the soles of the feet with pressure points. Symmetrical bending and stretching movements on both legs complete this foot massage. It provides general relaxation, a feeling of lightness and many benefits for your physical health.
