You have to really love people, to touch their feet. It’s a gesture of humility, and service to others, when we see an image of one person massaging or cleaning another person’s feet. But, when we perform a Reflexology session on a client and see the visible joy it brings, it is all worthwhile for us.
Reflexology is an ancient art that has its roots thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt and Greece. A physician’s tomb from ancient Egypt actually depicts this therapy being performed on a patient. Reflexology is a form of “acupressure” (like acupuncture minus the needles), where pressure points on the bottoms and sides of the feet are believed to mirror various organs or systems throughout the body. Stimulating these points is thought to improve well being in the areas of the body corresponding to the stimulated points—in the case of acupuncture, such points can exist in various places along “meridians” on the body, while in reflexology, they can only exist either in the hands or feet, where these meridians end.
(Image from the Physician’s Tomb at Saqqara, Egypt, from around 2350 BCE, believed to depict a Reflexology treatment).
This pressure brought on the various points in the foot by a reflexologist is believed to stimulate blood-flow, a positive nervous reaction and the flow of good energy to the appropriate area on the body mirrored by the point on the foot being massaged. Like acupuncture, reflexology is considered an “alternative therapy”, because claims are sometimes made about its abilities to promote overall health.
At Spa Orange, we don’t really know anything about Reflexology’s health benefits, and don’t make any claims about what health benefits it can have as an “alternative treatment”. What we CAN tell you is that every time a client gets a full workout, stresses disappear, and visibly so. Clients have told us that their feet feel tingly and lighter, and they leave the spa with more spring in their step, and smiles on their faces. After a half-hour treatment, the relaxation is so deep that nobody wants for it to end! While the pressure applied to the foot using the thumbs and fingers is firm, a good reflexologist will keep it within your comfort zone, so it shouldn’t hurt, and it won’t be ticklish. In fact, the hieroglyphics on the illustration above read: “Don’t hurt me.” The practitioner replies:- ” I shall act so you praise me“.
When we give deep reflexology massages at Spa Orange, the praise we always get in return, and seeing that visible, positive change in our clients gives us the satisfaction of sharing something very special, and rooted in centuries-old tradition.
