Over the last month or so I have been struggling with back and shoulder pain which was starting to make me feel miserable! I have no doubt that it was related to lifting and carrying my ever growing baby who at 10 months is still yet to crawl and so requires picking up and carrying around more than usual. The pain was so uncomfortable that I was on painkillers daily and in desperation even went for a sports massage which seemed to give a small amount of temporary relief but several days later I was still sore and feeling no real benefit from the treatment.
It was at this point that I consulted the services of Emma Jane Jones, a reflexologist and reiki healer. I have never experienced reflexology before so was unsure how it would truly benefit me (apart from the obvious enjoyment of sitting back for an hour and having a foot massage!) but was open minded and also keen to try anything to relieve the pain in my back and shoulder.
But before I continue about my experience, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the art of reflexology, here is a brief summary of what it’s all about…
What is Reflexology?
Reflexology has been practised in some form for thousands of years, indeed the first solid proof is to be found on a pictograph painted on an Egyptian tomb dated between 2500 – 2330 BC.
It is a holistic treatment aimed at treating the mind, body and spirit and is based on the principle that there are areas and points on the feet, hands, and ears that map via the nervous system to corresponding parts of the body. When pressure is applied to these areas and points it stimulates the movement of energy along the nerve channels, and helps to restore homeostasis (balance) in the whole body. Reflexology is known as Zone Therapy in countries other than the UK.
Reflexologists do not heal clients; the body repairs itself. The reflexologist acknowledges that he or she is a participant in the session, rather than “the healer.” As with all healing arts, it is important for the practitioner to center and ground themselves and then “get out of the way.” This is an acknowledgement that reflexology is offered to help bring the person back into balance so that the body can nurture and repair itself. A reflexologist knows that the purpose of this work is to help the client’s body come into alignment with its own energy and ability to heal.
According to qualified reflexologist Michael O’Connell on Net Doctor…
‘If you have been injured or are lacking energy, reflexology can help to restore balance and coax your body into healing itself.’
‘It can boost a sluggish circulation and is useful for treating stress, anxiety, back pain, migraine, poor digestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), respiratory problems, asthma, headache, bladder problems, menopausal symptoms and period pain.
It can relieve the pain of multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer treatments, but it should not replace conventional drugs like chemotherapy.
My clients comment that being able to zone out for an hour enjoying a relaxing massage has a positive psychological impact on their wellbeing, while pregnant women find that reflexology relieves the pressure on their legs and feet.’
My Experience
The treatment itself took place at my home in the evening. It was very relaxing and lasted about an hour, in which time I sat back and relaxed while Emma worked her ‘magic’ on my feet. She spent a long time working on the area of my left foot that corresponded with my left shoulder that was causing me so much discomfort. Interestingly, I remember feeling some tenderness in that part of my foot as she worked on it but this could be coincidence of course.
During the treatment she also practiced some reiki healing. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. Reiki works on chakras (points in the human body, i.e. major plexuses of arteries, veins and nerves, that are centres of life force (prana), or vital energy.) There are seven main ones in the body. Emma works the chakras that are mirrored in the feet thereby eliminating the need for an extra treatment as it is all done as part of the main treatment.
After the treatment had finished we said our goodbye’s and I headed for bed. Apparently I should have expected to experience a good night’s sleep but my baby had other ideas and instead had a very broken night and only managed a few disappointing hours.
However, despite my bad night and feeling exhausted, the very interesting thing was that my shoulder, which had been giving me so many problems over the last month, felt noticeably better. The pain had not gone completely but I’d say it felt 50% better than it had done the day before and in the days that proceeded it gradually felt like it was starting to heal itself…
Conclusion
There is an argument to say that this improvement was simply coincidence and that my shoulder would have healed itself regardless of reflexology. However, I did find it a little strange that only the day after my treatment, the pain I had experienced previously had now reduced rather significantly. This is also considering my bad night’s sleep in which my body had been unable to truly rest.
With this in mind, I have to conclude that the mix of reflexology and reiki did in some way contribute to the healing of my back pain…
A Note From Emma…
“Reflexology is also amazing for pregnancy. It keeps the body balanced and harmonised resulting in shorter labours and the best birth for the Mum. I also have extra qualifications in preconception, maternity and postnatal reflexology”….
If you live in the Tunbridge Wells (Kent) or surrounding area and would like to book an appointment or find out more about reflexology and how it may benefit you, contact Emma Jane Jones on: 07432 607289 or email her at: emmajonesreflexology@hotmail.co.uk
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra
http://serenityhealingmassage.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/about-reflexology-with-foot-reflexology-chart/
http://www.holisticliving.co.uk/reflexology/
http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology
Good post
Good Information. Thanks For Sharing.