Month: October 2021

Can Reflexology help during labour?  Researchers at a Turkish hospital have found out that it may help reduce levels of anxiety during labour.  When the women felt less anxious, they had a more positive experience of giving birth.  They were also better able to bond with their baby. In addition, their mental health was better after giving birth.  This was compared to a group of women who did not have reflexology during labour.

Reflexology During Labour Research

The researchers reported their results in 2018.  They found that reflexology has a positive effect on lowering the anxiety levels of women during labour.

The researchers worked with 154 women who were pregnant.  They chose women who had not given birth before.  When the women reached 3-4 cm dilation in labour, they had a session of foot reflexology.  The treatment lasted 30 minutes – 15 minutes on each foot.

Before the reflexology, the researchers asked the women about how anxious they felt.  They used a data collection tool called the Spielberger State-trait Anxiety Inventory.  This measured the level of anxiety that the women experienced. The researchers also asked about the level of anxiety experienced by the women during labour. They asked again just after they gave birth.

They compared the anxiety the women who had reflexology to a those who did not have reflexology.

Results of the Research

The researchers found that the group who experienced the reflexology had a lower anxiety score.  They remained less anxious during labour and after giving birth.

The researchers also concluded that a decrease in anxiety experienced at birth improves women’s positive birth experiences.  Being less anxious also promotes good bonding between mother and child. It also has a positive effect on the mother’s mental health after giving birth.

Can Reflexology help during labour? This research shows that reflexology can positively support women before and after giving birth.

You can find the full research paper here if you would like to read more.

For information about reflexology treatment during pregnancy, please click here.

The benefits of Indian Head Massage are not necessarily the first thing that people think about. In fact, they are more likely to think that it is a treat, rather than a treatment. A real treat. But actually, the benefits of Indian Head Massage are really important. The treatment can help with a range of physical and emotional issues. Here are a few of them:

• 1. Helps prevent migraines, headaches and back pain
• 2. Stimulates lymphatic drainage
• 3. Relieves sleeplessness, restlessness and insomnia
• 4. Helps symptoms of anxiety and depression
• 5. Increases energy levels
• 6. Boosts memory capabilities
• 7. Promotes hair growth
• Read More

1. Helps prevent migraines, headaches and back pain

Indian Head Massage starts in the upper back, arms and shoulders. This releases muscle tension and knots. Afterwards, the neck and head are worked. By releasing and lengthening muscles, the tension that can create headaches is reduced. In addition, the circulation systems can operate more freely.

Tension in the upper back, neck and head can often lead to migraines, headaches and back pain. This can be uncomfortable, to say the least. Furthermore, long-term pain can sometimes even lead to depression.

2. Stimulates lymphatic drainage

Indian Head Massage stimulates and improves lymphatic drainage and blood flow to the neck. As a result, it helps to remove waste products from the body.

3. Relieves sleeplessness, restlessness and insomnia

Stress can result in difficulty sleeping. It also can make you feel restless and unsettled. Indian Head Massage can relieve stress immediately. As a result, you feel more yourself. This leads to a deeper sense of wellbeing and relaxation which allows your body to rest.

4. Helps symptoms of anxiety and depression

Indian Head Massage encourages circulation, and therefore the supply of oxygen to the body and brain. This is a great way of reducing anxiety and lifting your mood. Oxygen helps you think clearly and creatively. It is very similar to the feeling after a good work-out.

5. Increases energy levels

An Indian Head Massage is based on the Ayurvedic healing system. That is to say, it is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. So, Indian Head Massage is believed to have a powerful effect in bringing the energy of the body back into balance.

6. Boosts memory capabilities

Stress, overwork, and busy lives can mean short-term memory difficulties. This is because our brains are overloaded with thoughts. So it becomes very difficult to efficiently think and react. In short, we are busy trying to remember everything, and we forget a lot.

Indian Head Massage helps slow us down when the sensation takes over. As a result, thoughts quieten and clarify. In effect, it gives you the chance to press your ‘reset’ button.

7. Promotes hair growth

In addition, a lovely side effect of Indian Head Massage is to increases nourishment and oxygen to the scalp. It is thought that this can stimulate hair growth. Indian Head Massage can help those who want long, luscious locks!

Breast Cancer researchers found that reflexology helps with symptoms of breathlessness for women in advanced stage breast cancer. In addition, it is useful in helping where the illness causes fatigue or stops sufferers from doing everyday things like vacuuming, shopping, bending or climbing stairs.

Of all women who find they have breast cancer each year, 38% have advanced-stage breast cancer. Because of the disease and its treatment, they often suffer from a range of uncomfortable symptoms. So these symptoms mean that these women have a reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Medication can help many of these symptoms. But, more than 80% of sufferers turn to complementary therapies. Reflexology is often the therapy they choose.

The researchers saw that women chose other therapies to help with their symptoms. They carried the research in 2012. It was the first large study to find out if Reflexology was safe, and if it was helpful. In short, they wanted to know what symptoms it helped, and if it made the women feel better and better able to get on with aspects of their life.

One third of the women had reflexology sessions with trained Reflexologists. One third had sessions of foot massage with no reflexology, and a third had no extra treatments.

Results

The study found reflexology was safe among even the most ill patients. In conclusion, they found the reflexology sessions contributed to improvements in physical function, breathlessness, and fatigue.

They decided that reflexology is safe and that it is useful in helping with breathlessness and improving functional status among women with advanced-stage breast cancer.

You can find the full research paper here if you would like to read more.

For information about reflexology treatment for people with cancer and other life limiting illnesses, please click here.

My clients are delighted by their Facial Reflexology results. And I am excited too and I couldn’t wait to share them with you!

These three lovely clients gave their permission so I could share these images with you. And I can assure you I didn’t use any filters in the photos. All you see is the simple results of the Bergman reflexology technique and the wonderful Zone FaceLift Elixir.

I am very grateful to these clients for giving me permission to show you how amazing this treatment can be.

Facial Reflexology Results

You can see the Facial Reflexology results for each client. For example, you can see how their features have changed. They are still themselves, but a really relaxed and rejuvenated version of themselves. Not only has the stress dropped away, the fine lines have smoothed and the complexion has brightened.

Each client had three treatments, and we documented the results on a treatment by treatment basis. To their delight, they found that their features softened and became rejuvenated. In addition, they found that the treatment gave them the wonderful relaxation and rebalancing effect of their normal foot reflexology!

Booking an Appointment

I offer hour-long appointments for Facial Reflexology. In a 90 minute appointment, you can combine with foot reflexology for a top-to-toe amazing relaxing and rejuvenating experience.

Facial Reflexology is avalable in a series of treatments or a stand alone treatment. For instance, a series of treatments will create a change that will give your confidence a boost. A one-off treatment is great before a big event like a job interview or a wedding. Most important, Facial Reflexology will give you great results on the inside and the outside!

Find out more about this wonderful Facial Reflexolgy treatment here.

Is your Resolution to start the new year off well?

Of course it is. Most New Year Resolutions are about improving your own well-being. Finding a better balance. Being less stressed.

It is hard to keep to a New Year Resolution, all kinds of things get in the way. Not only does family keep you busy, work piles on pressure; there are so many calls on your time.  And before you know it, your best intentions have become a distant memory.

Go easy on yourself. Not all improvements require huge amounts of will-power to maintain. You could make a New Year Resolution you looked forward to, rather than one that only lasts a few weeks! And even better if that New Year Resolution kept you relaxed and positive no matter what the year might have in store.

Make a regular reflexology treatment top of your list of resolutions.

A regular Reflexology session can create a moment of relaxation in a busy schedule, a time to step back from pressure and stress. Get yourself off to a great start by booking one of my January offers.

Relax and Rebalance Plus New Year Offer

With this offer, you get a standard foot reflexology treatment plus a 20 minute Facial Reflexology treatment for the same price. First, we start off with facial reflexology which takes you straight into a deep state of relaxation, before continuing to work on the reflexes of your feet.

Facial Reflexology combines all of the therapeutic benefits of a foot reflexology treatment with the luxury of a rejuvenating facelift massage. Clients often report that they noticed a more youthful and glowing complexion. Facial Reflexology achieves this by improving blood and lymph flow to the face. This releases muscle tension and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin.

Facial Reflexology Introductory New Year Offer

This offer introduces you to a complete Facial Reflexology treatment at the reduced introductory rate of just £40 (normally £50). The treatment starts with an application of the award-winning Zone FaceLift Facial Elixir which is massaged into your skin. This silky Amethyst Crystal-Infused Elixir with its magical blend of sacred plants hydrates works to tighten your skin and has been shown to significantly reduce fine lines and help you look radiant.

Using the acclaimed Bergman method, I work the facial reflex points. The treatment is a wonderfully relaxing and soothing combination of stroking and pressing the reflexes on your face to smooth away stress and create a feeling of complete well-being.

Facial reflexology also helps to release muscle tension in the face, increase circulation to the skin and strengthen layers of skin tissue leaving the face looking smoother and more toned with a natural healthy glow.

How to Book

You can find all the ways to make a booking right here. Or you can book online, text or telephone me. You can even send a Facebook message. It just couldn´t be easier to make your New Year´s Resolution right now, and make 2019 your best year ever!

Do you often feel generally tired? Would you like more energy? You are not alone. Stress, general life pressures or lack of sleep all cause fatigue. Sometimes it is  because you are managing a long-term condition alongside everyday life. But it is hard to know how to change things. So can reflexology help?

Research into Fatigue

In September 2018, new research was published about reflexology and general background tiredness. The researchers knew that fatigue is a common side effect of kidney dialysis. As many as 97% of dialysis patients suffer from tiredness and fatigue. Individuals often say that they feel tired and exhausted all the time. So the researchers wanted to find out if reflexology could help people who were having dialysis.

The researchers divided the patients into two groups. First the patients filled in a questionnaire before the treatments started. Then they filled in another questionnaire after the treatments. Afterwards the researchers compared the questionnaires to find out the effect of the treatments.

The first group of patients had reflexology treatments. The other had slow-stroke back massages. Both groups had 5 treatments over three weeks. The people in both groups said they had less fatigue at the end of their treatments. However, the group that had reflexology had a bigger reduction in fatigue. Therefore the researchers concluded that reflexology is a low-cost and safe treatment to decrease fatigue in dialysis patients.

Beat Fatigue with Reflexology

The obvious ways to reduce fatigue in daily life can be the hardest. You know that more sleep would help. And you know that less stress will help too.  But stress affects your sleep quality. So how can you break the cycle to start feeling more energetic?

Reflexology may help. First, during the treatment you will feel deep relaxation. That is a great start. Second, many people report a great night’s sleep after a treatment. A good night’s sleep can help you think more clearly, and most importantly, it safeguards you against stress.

One treatment is a good start. But if you really want to beat fatigue and increase your energy levels, a series of treatments will help more. A course of 4-6 treatments over 4-6 weeks may help balance your body systems, improve sleep and help reduce your stress levels. After that, a regular treatment of once every 4-6 weeks will maintain the benefits.

Source

You can find out more about this research here

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I have been using a relaxing Lavender Yoga Eye Pillow for my reflexology treatments for a while now. Clients love the extra soothing and pampering feeling that the fragrance and weight provide.

Using an Eye Pillow at home can be really helpful too. It helps to shut out the world for 10 minutes of me-time. It also helps you to drop off quickly if you need a cat-nap. That is why yoga classes often use them at the end of a session too, to aid complete relaxation.

Above all, I want to be sure that the Lavender Yoga Eye Pillows my clients use contain only flaxseeds and lavender, and made of quality natural materials such as comforting cotton and luxurious silk.

That is why I make my own and sell them at my therapy room and by mail order. Each Eye Pillow is unique, using natural recycled vintage fabrics and beautifully finished to ensure a luxurious silky soft feel that is extra gentle on sore and tired eyes. You can see a selection right below this post.

The Perfect Lavender Yoga Eye Pillow

The perfect Eye Pillow is a unique combination of flaxseed and lavender. The natural filling of flaxseeds and dried lavender blossoms creates a gentle weight and soothing fragrance that eases tense facial muscles and clears your mind to find deep relaxation and restored well-being.

Lavender is a lovely calming and relaxing fragrance. It smells wonderful and scientists think that it aids sleep, relieves anxiety and promotes relaxation.

Flaxseed’s special properties are because of the small size of the seeds combined with their density. They have just the right among of flexibility and weight to provide a perfect amount of acupressure to your eyes.

When frozen, the seeds stay malleable but hold their temperature without becoming too cold. When heated the flaxseeds’ oil content will emit a calming moist hear that’s perfect for treating pains and stresses.

The flaxseeds and lavender are enclosed in a cotton inner bag, and the Lavender Yoga Eye Pillow comes with a gorgeous outer cover. I make these from vintage recycled luxury natural fabrics. So your Pillow will be made of silk, cotton or fine wool – or even a mixture. Because of this, each one is unique.

My soothing and pampering Lavender Yoga Eye Pillow is perfect for relaxation, meditation and rest. Use warm or cold to relax and refresh tired eyes, clear your mind, and improve your sleep.

To use:

Use Any Time

Use the Eye Pillow at any time. Just lie back and place comfortably over your eyes. Let the weight of the flaxseeds settle on your eyes and breathe in the restful aroma of lavender to create an oasis of calm.

Use Warm

First gently warm the Eye Pillow on a radiator. Place it over your eyes to soothe tense facial muscles and encourage blood circulation. This can relieve eyestrain, irritation, headaches, and sinus pressure.

Use Cold

First, place the Eye Pillow in a plastic bag and put in the fridge or freezer for at least 20 minutes for a cool refreshing treat that reduces inflammation and refreshes tired eyes.

Caring for your Eye Pillow

Washing

Handwash the cover in warm water with a mild detergent, dry naturally. Do not wash the inner bag.

Storage

To maintain the relaxing lavender fragrance of your Eye Pillow, store it in a sealable plastic bag when not in use.

Safety

The Eye Pillow is not a toy. Do not give it to a small child or to a pet, and use sensible supervision with an older child. The dried lavender and flaxseeds are safely contained in an inner bag, but it is possible that very rough handling could tear the bag, releasing the small particles. Never put the bag or the contents in the mouth.

I sometimes hear  people say “I don´t want anyone touching my feet” when I tell them that I am a reflexologist. Of course, everyone has a right to take that decision. But I sometimes wonder if they really mean it! So here are a few reasons why people may not want anyone touching their feet, and why they shouldn’t let it stop them having reflexology. And of course, they can also have a wonderfully relaxing facial reflexology treatment – or a combined face and foot treatment.

I have ugly feet

The chances are very high that you don’t. I’ve seen a lot of feet, and none of them could be described as ugly, no matter what their owners say. So I doubt that yours are any different.
But you see your feet from above all the time, and I am going to see them from below. It is quite a different perspective!

My feet are hot and sweaty

Yes, that happens to us all. And that is why at the start of the reflexology treatment I use a cooling spray to refresh and clean your feet. Whatever state your feet are in, they will be fresh as daisies within a couple of minutes.

I worry that my feet might smell

Feet don’t smell that much, and don’t forget the refresh at the start of the treatment. If your feet really are smelly, the chances are that it is due to an imbalance, and reflexology might help. If it bothers you, we can provide the means for you to wash and dry your feet before we start.

I am too ticklish

Being ticklish can seem like an insurmountable hurdle, but it can be overcome. I have a range of techniques that I use with ticklish clients, and they work. You might experience the discomfort and anticipation of tickles for a few seconds at the start of the session, but it will soon settle down so you can really enjoy your treatment.

I am worried that I won’t like it

I am positive that you will! But if you don’t, just let me know at any time, and I will stop.

I have dry skin, calluses and corns

These are not infectious disorders, and you can still have a reflexology treatment. Reflexologists observe calluses, corns and dry skin as indications of imbalance, and so reflexology may start to help the condition of your feet.

I have athlete’s foot, verruca or other infection

Whilst I can’t treat you while you have a bacterial or fungal infection, these are conditions that usually clear up quickly with the right treatment. Deal with it, and then make an appointment in a week or two.

If you would like to try how wonderfully relaxing and balancing a reflexology treatment is, but you are still worried about your feet, just give me a call. I have seen a lot of feet!

The 28th September is National Poetry Day. I’ve heard a lot this year of the Poetry Pharmacy of William Sieghart. With the idea that prescribing short, powerful poems can help in all kinds of difficult situations, Sieghart has become a well-known contributor to press, radio and television. He says that poems can help a range of spiritual ailments, from a blue day to a broken heart, and, if well chosen, can provide a calming, refreshing and balancing effect on the mind. Rather like Reflexology, don’t you think?

Similarities Between Reflexology and Poetry

It seems to me that anything that promotes calmness of mind will improve the well-being of the body. Health problems can be linked to stress, which shows itself in many different ways and can have a very negative impact on our physical, mental and emotional well-being.  It is a major contributory factor to illness and disorders such as insomnia, migraines, digestive problems, fatigue among others. Seighart’s anthologies of poetry offer a moment of calmness, and of course, a Reflexology treatment is also a great way to soothe the mind and may help in reducing stress and restoring the body’s natural balance and well-being.

I thought I would have a go at combining the two. Maybe my little ditty about reflexology is not really poetry, but I thought it might make you smile!

Reflexology Poem

More than a massage
Reflexology is bliss
It soothes all your insides
And finds what’s amiss

It balances your body
And calms down your mind
It makes you feel better
And much more aligned

So lie down on the couch
And put your feet there
And when I have finished
You’ll be walking on air.

Michele
September 2107

You can discover the deeply relaxing experience of Reflexology for yourself and find natural balance and well-being. It is suitable for almost everyone (read more here). Your mind, body – and feet! – will thank you.

Reflexology is suitable for everyone. It doesn’t matter what age they are or what they are going through in their lives.

My clients range in age right up to individuals in their 90s. I have taken advanced training to ensure I have the skills to treat everyone. For example, I have training and experience to treat people with life-limiting conditions. I can also treat pregnant women, and men and women planning to conceive. I have the experience and knowledge to provide the right treatment for you.

There may be times in your life when you need to wait to book your reflexology session. This might be because you have a skin or nail infection. Or maybe you suffer from unstablised thrombosis, or are in the first trimester of pregnancy.

If you have unstabilised thrombosis, you will need to complete your treatment and get the all-clear from your doctor before having reflexology.

If you have a skin or nail infection – for example, athlete’s foot, you could ask for face or hand reflexology. Alternatively I can wear gloves while carrying out your treatment. Or you may want to work on clearing up your condition first, and come back in a week or so.

If you are in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, book your treatment in for week 13, and know that it will be worth the wait!