Can you tell what is wrong with someone by working on their feet?

Although your feet can tell a lot about the life style you lead, and can sometimes pin point problems in certain areas, Reflexology is not used as a diagnostic tool.  Everyone's feet are different, and so people with high arches or who are flat footed may have pains or problems in certain reflex areas because of this.  It usually takes the Reflexologist a few sessions to get to know an individual's feet.  When they get to know them, then any problem areas can be felt and commented on.  If I feel any changes then I let the client know and then he/she is able to take this up with their GP. 

I'd really like to try Reflexology but I have really disgusting feet.

I hear this time and time again.  Everyone seems to hate something about themselves, and feet seem to be a common area of the body.  Believe it or not, I have never seen anyone with really disgusting feet.  You can have a treatment regardless of whether you think you have smelly feet, because they are cleaned before hand using natural aloe vera products which moisturise the feet as well as clean them.  Warts and verucas can be covered with a plaster.  Fungal infections can be treated, but this depends on their severity.  In very severe cases, I will not treat and this is due to the likelihood of contaminating others.  Any concerns you have then please call me and discuss. 

Can Reflexology or any of your other treatments make me feel worse?

Many people are afraid of trying complementary treatments for this very reason.  Treatments can often detoxify the body encouraging you to go to the toilet more.  Their main purpose however is to put the body in a total state of relaxation, thereby encouraging the body to do what it does best, and that is to rebalance itself and self-heal.  Occasionally colds and other conditions are made slightly worse, which only encourage the body to fight and deal with its problems more efficiently. 

It is worth remembering that all of these treatments are incredibly soothing and fantastic for your mind, body and spirit.  They do not and cannot make the body react in a way which is abnormal.  Amazingly, so many of us fear these treatments, when we are so content to take various forms of medication which we know have so many potential side effects. 

Is Reflexology tickilish?

Surprisingly enough it isn't tickilish in the slightest.  A movement called the caterpillar walk is used to manipulate and treat the feet which is a firm movement.  Most people completely relax, and so soon get over the idea of having tickilish feet. 

I take a variety of different tablets for my medical conditions, will any of your treatments affect them?

At the start of each treatment a consultation is done.  This involves an assessment of your medical history.  Any doubts in your mind, or problems etc will be discussed during this time.  If I feel I need to contact your GP for extra information then I will do this immediately and we can continue treatments when you have had the all clear.  You will not be charged for this consultation.

Please note that holistic treatments are often used alongside orthodox medicine.  In cancer hospices where individuals are sometimes taking very strong drugs, reflexology is used and has been incredibly successful in helping these individuals to deal with their illness.  Often life expectancy has extended and individuals have reported feeling far more optimistic, coping better with their situation and the medication they have been prescribed.

Is it safe to have Reflexology within the first trimester of pregnancy?

The reason that many practitioners will not treat during the first trimester of pregnancy is because it is a vulnerable time for all mothers-to-be.  If a miscarriage is experienced then there is a possibility that the practitioner could be blamed.  Miscarriage is the body's natural way of getting rid of a foetus which is not developing or is not quite right in some way.  Therefore, miscarriage is a reaction to the body and not to Reflexology.

If someone wishes to have Reflexology during the first trimester and throughout their pregnancy then that is entirely up to them.  During the consultation, the client will be asked to sign a disclaimer acknowledging the fact that they are aware of  this.

I really want a massage but feel shy at the prospect of taking my clothes off?

Your privacy is respected at all times.  After the consultation, we will discuss the massage you wanted, and I will go back over the body areas that I will be massaging.  You will usually be asked to lie face down on the couch,  remove all clothes apart from your under pants/ knickers, and cover yourself with a towel. As you get yourself ready, I will excuse myself from the room, and knock before entering making sure you are completely comfortable.  Before treating an area of your body, I will tell you beforehand.  Please remember, if you feel uncomfortable at any point during the massage then let me know.  I can stop at any time, and readjust the massage accordingly.

Is Sports Massage painful?

When a treatment begins, I will warm up the treatment area of the client's body, so muscles are fully relaxed and are able to deal with deep massage.  Sports massage techniques are deep and can be painful as it involves working deeply into the muscles and aligning muscle fibres.  You are never put under any unnecessary pain or discomfort, and so I communicate with my clients regularly, explaining a pain threshold out of 10.  We do not work beyond a painscale of 7, and if at any point it gets to much then you as the client are encouraged to communicate this, and so techniques and pressure are adapted accordingly.  It is very difficult for me as the therapist to work when muscles are tense and become locked.  Therefore, when I feel a client begin to tense up then I lessen the pressure and gently rock the muscle or work on a different area.

Will I bruise after deep massage?

Unfortunately, deep massage can lead to bruising.  We will discuss this during the consultation, and if you have weak skin, or skin that bruises easily then this is discussed ad explained more clearly to you during the massage.