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Staying hydrated and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are key elements of a healthy lifestyle. Water makes up about 60% of our body weight, and it’s essential for many bodily functions, including regulating temperature, digestion, and circulation. When we don’t drink enough water, we can become dehydrated, leading to symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and dry skin.

Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants, which are vital for maintaining good health. Eating a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables can help protect against chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. A diet high in fruits and vegetables has also been linked to improved digestion, better skin health, and a reduced risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

I always advise my reflexology clients on the importance of keeping hydrated and getting plenty of fruit and veggies into their diet but it’s often easier said than done when life is busy. Here are some simple tips we can all try to help build healthier habits:

Staying more hydrated:

1. Carry a water bottle. Keep a refillable water bottle with you and make sure to sip on it throughout the day.
2. Eat water-rich foods. Incorporate water-rich foods into your diet, such as fruits and vegetables, which can help keep you hydrated.
3. Flavour your water. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try adding a slice of lemon, lime, cucumber, ginger or some mint leaves to give it some flavour. Tea and coffee also count! It used to be thought that tea and coffee were dehydrating due to their diuretic effect on the body, but it is now believed that this does not offset their hydrating effect.
4. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. If you’re feeling thirsty you could already be dehydrated. Try to drink regularly throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
5. Set reminders. If you find it tricky to remember to drink regularly, try using an app or setting reminders on your phone to prompt you.

Eating more fruit & veg:

1. Start small. Begin by adding just one extra serving of vegetables or fruit to one meal per day, and gradually increase from there.
2. Make a smoothie. Blend your favourite fruits and vegetables into a smoothie for a quick, easy and delicious way to get your daily servings.
3. Eat a rainbow! Include a wide variety of colourful fruits and vegetables in your diet, as different colours indicate different nutrients (e.g. red fruits & veggies, such as tomatoes, strawberries and red beans are packed with vitamins C & A, potassium and antioxidants).
4. Swap out snacks. Try replacing your mid-morning chocolate biscuit with some fresh or tinned fruit or chopped veg with hummus.
5. Sneak them into recipes. Up your daily portions by adding extra veggies to pasta sauces, stir-fries, soups and even cakes!

Over the last few weeks, many of my clients have told me that they’ve been fighting off bugs or been floored by viruses and are feeling generally run down and lethargic. It’s not surprising as we come to the end of a long winter season. Our immune systems and vitamin D levels are depleted and we are all craving more daylight, warmer weather and some spring sunshine to throw open the windows and enjoy time outside.

Spring is a time for renewal, growth and rejuvenation. As the days get longer and warmer, many of us feel a renewed sense of energy and vitality. However, sometimes it can feel difficult to shake off the winter blues and get into the springtime spirit. Try these tips to spring-clean your energy for the coming season:

1. Get Moving: One of the best ways to boost your energy in the spring is to get moving! Take a brisk walk or go for a bike ride. The fresh air and sunshine will help lift your mood and increase your energy levels.
2. Get Plenty of Sleep: Make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night to help your body recharge and feel refreshed. Try to establish a consistent sleep schedule and create a relaxing bedtime routine to help you wind down.
3. De-Stress: Spring can be a busy time, but it’s essential to take time for yourself to de-stress and recharge. Book your reflexology treatment to help to reduce stress and boost your energy.
4. Eat Seasonally: Spring is the perfect time to start eating lighter, fresher foods. Incorporate more fruit and vegetables into your diet, and avoid heavy, fatty foods that can weigh you down. Some seasonal veggies you can add to your plate this month are cauliflower, purple sprouting broccoli and spring greens. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and energised throughout the day.
5. Connect with Nature: Spending time outdoors in nature can help boost your energy and improve your overall well-being. Take a long leisurely walk, visit a park, or simply spend time in your garden to reconnect with nature and feel more energised.

October marks Menopause Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness around the natural stage in a woman’s life when her hormone levels decline, and her periods cease.

Historically, menopause has been a taboo subject. “The Change” was a topic discussed in whispers, if discussed at all. Symptoms, such as hot flushes and brain fog, were to be endured in silence. Thankfully, this is changing and over the last couple of years many celebrities have spoken out about their experiences of menopause, including Davina McCall, whose 2021 groundbreaking TV documentary, Sex, Myths and The Menopause, was reported to have been watched by more than 2 million people.

I am currently studying Reflexology for Menopause (developed by renowned reflexologist Sally Earlam), a course designed for reflexologists to develop additional skills to support women through menopause, both in terms of reflexology techniques and self-help advice.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far…

• Every woman and her experience of menopause is unique.
• A woman is said to have reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months.
• The average age of menopause in the UK is 51.
• Perimenopause is the transition time before menopause during which a woman may experience symptoms of falling oestrogen levels but is still having periods.
• Perimenopause generally starts between 40-50 years of age and typically lasts 4 years but it can last anywhere from 1 to 12 years.
• 8 out of 10 women in the UK experience some symptoms, the most common of which are hot flushes and night sweats. However, there are said to be around 34 recognised symptoms of menopause and perimenopause including insomnia, mood changes, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, poor concentration, memory lapses, incontinence, itchiness, joint pain, aching muscles, headaches and weight gain.
• Post-menopausal women are at an increased risk of long-term conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
• Symptoms no longer need to be endured. There are lots of effective treatments available, whether you decide to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or not.

The role of oestrogen

Oestrogen is one of the main female sex hormones and plays a vital role at every stage of a woman’s development, from puberty to the menstrual cycle to pregnancy. It also plays a role in bone strength and other functions of the body. In fact, women have oestrogen receptors around the whole body, including the reproductive organs, breast tissue, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, skin, cardiovascular system, thyroid, central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, so you can see how falling levels of oestrogen in the perimenopause and menopause can play havoc with every area of a woman’s health and her quality of life can be seriously affected.

The impact of stress on menopausal symptoms

Menopause happens at a time in her life when a woman may have higher stress levels. Often she is focussing on looking after others and not always prioritising looking after herself. She may be dealing with the following: 

• A demanding job
• Teenage children or children leaving home
• Ageing parents

A study has shown that chronically elevated cortisol (a stress hormone) increases the likelihood of severe menopausal symptoms. (Cagnacci et al, 2011. Menopause, 18, 273-8) Therefore lowering stress levels may help to reduce menopausal symptoms.

How can Reflexology support women through menopause and help ease symptoms?

As a gentle, hands-on, holistic therapy, Reflexology aims to optimise physical and emotional well-being by:

• Aiding sleep
• Improving mood
• Releasing tension
• Promoting relaxation
• Improving your sense of wellbeing

If lowering stress levels can reduce menopausal symptoms, why not see how the deep relaxation from reflexology makes you feel?

In her course, Sally Earlam emphasises that menopause is a time to pause and reframe: a time to ask “who do you want to be for the next phase of your life and how can you achieve that?”.

Whilst Reflexology offers one element for taking a natural, holistic approach to menopause, Sally believes that viewing menopause through a positive lens and looking at lifestyle is also key for well-being and healthy ageing. She outlines five main ‘pillars’ of menopause:

1. Diet and nutrition – a more plant-based diet, high in vegetables and fruit, low in processed food and added sugar.
2. Exercise – including weight bearing, strength training, aerobic exercise, flexibility and balance.
3. Relaxation – stress can make menopausal symptoms worse but deep relaxation allows the body to heal and repair which can ease symptoms. This is where reflexology can help, as well as building in daily relaxation practices, such as meditation.
4. Sleep – sleep disturbance is common in menopause. Cultivate a good sleep routine to ensure you are getting adequate, good quality sleep.
5. Having a sense of purpose – finding your flow. What lights you up? What is your reason for getting out of bed in the morning?

I hope to complete my practical studies in Reflexology for Menopause in the next couple of months to enable me to start supporting women going through this key transitional stage in their lives.

For now, I will leave you with this final thought from Sally:

“Menopause can be a new beginning: a time when our sense of purpose as women can change enormously.

An opportunity for transformation and growth”.

I’m delighted to have become a Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Independent Consultant which enables me to offer their beautiful range of natural skincare products, essential oils and supplements to support your well-being. Some of you will have noticed these iconic blue bottles appearing in my treatment room recently.

Since 1981, Neal’s Yard Remedies has been a pioneer in organic beauty and well-being. They were the UK’s first certified organic natural health and beauty company and have been certified by the Soil Association since 1991.  Their award-winning products contain ethically sourced herbs, botanicals, and essential oils. They do not contain parabens, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, or other nasty chemicals and have never been tested on animals, only willing humans.

The skin is the body’s largest organ and an active barrier between our bodies and the environment. That’s why it’s important to know exactly what is in the products you use on your skin. NYR Organics follow the Precautionary Principle – you won’t find anything in their products they believe could cause you or the planet harm.

You can follow this link to find out more about the ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients used in Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic products and those harmful ingredients that are not included.

NYRO Ethically Sourced Ingredients

When you visit my treatment room you can sample some of these gorgeous products for yourself. I offer 1-1 skincare consultations to help you to find the perfect products for you or look out for one of my free product showcases or aromatherapy workshops where you can come along and indulge in some pampering and try before you buy.

You can browse my webshop and the full catalogue using these links:

Sharon’s NYRO Website

NYRO Catalogue

For those of you who don’t know me and even for those who do but don’t know the background to how I became a reflexologist, I thought I would share my story. My interest in feet goes a long way back. As a child, I was obsessed with feet! I was always barefoot and I loved my feet being tickled and stroked.  As a teenager, I wanted to be a podiatrist but when I told the careers advisor at school, she laughed at me and said it would be a horrible job and that put me off.

I became a vegetarian at 14 and I was very concerned with animal rights and the environment and later went on to become interested in holistic health therapies. I bought my first reflexology book in a health food shop when I was 18.

In my early 20s, I was diagnosed with endometriosis, a painful gynaecological disorder where tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, grows outside of the uterus and can attach itself to other organs and tissues. Every month I would experience several days of debilitating pain that made it difficult for me to work and enjoy my day to day life. Whilst I was waiting for an operation, I started seeing a reflexologist and I found the treatments to be incredibly relaxing which in turn helped me to cope with the pain. Over time and with regular treatments, I also found that my hormonal-related headaches improved and I experienced fewer PMS symptoms in general.

After my experience, I wanted to find out more about this amazing therapy! There was a centre for healthy living in the next town and they were giving talks on holistic and complementary health therapies including reflexology. I went along and signed up that night for an 8-week introductory course. I enjoyed it so much that when it finished, I took the plunge and started a year-long practitioner course with the Aquarian School in Hertfordshire. I was working full-time as a manager in the NHS at the time but I knew I had to practice reflexology in some form. I qualified in March 2000 with a Practitioner Certificate from the Association of Reflexologists and for the next 15 years, I practised as a part-time reflexologist alongside other jobs. However, when my son started school I found I was struggling to manage the demands of a family together with an employed job and my reflexology clients and unfortunately something had to give. I took a break from practising for a few years but I really missed giving reflexology treatments and supporting clients.

In March 2020, as the pandemic hit, life was changing rapidly for me. I had recently made the decision to leave my job as a clinic manager where I had worked for more than 10 years. For a long time, I’d felt that reflexology was calling to me again and I had time during my lockdown walks to really think about the direction I wanted to take in the next stage of my life. I decided that what I really wanted was to start working as a reflexologist again so I relocated and redecorated my son’s playroom, bought a treatment couch, signed up for some CPD courses to update my skills and knowledge and finally opened the doors to my treatment room to welcome clients on 6th of May 2021.

Starting up during the pandemic was perhaps an interesting decision and some of the restrictions made things slightly more challenging but I’ve very much enjoyed my work over the past year and I am certain in my heart that I made the right decision.

As a child, I wasn’t naturally sporty or good at physical games. I used to try all sorts of tricks to get out of PE, particularly if it was cross country running on a cold, wet day which was my version of hell! However, some of my earliest and happiest memories are of long walks with my grandparents, especially my Nan who was a great walker and was renowned for the ‘magical mystery tour’ walks around her neighbourhood in north London that she would take my brother and me on when we were very little. I remember there was a green paddock, in the middle of an otherwise urban landscape, where a donkey who wore a straw hat lived, and we were always happy to walk that bit further if there was a chance of seeing him.

My grandparents later retired to Sussex, and we would continue our walks when we stayed with them during the school holidays. We’d traipse for miles over the South Downs and seafronts of that stretch of coast although by this time it wasn’t always willingly and often required the bribe of a picnic or a bottle of pop and a packet of crisps in a pub garden somewhere en route!

At home, walks were a daily necessity for our lovely but crazy Red Setter and later, our equally lovely but crazy King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, and Sunday mornings were often earmarked for long dog walks while mum cooked lunch in peace.

In my late teens to mid-20s, I discovered the joys of step aerobics (it was the 90s!) and found that I could enjoy exercise when it was a solo, non-competitive effort although I had no love of Lycra and still don’t! I’d have to walk through the gym to get to the aerobic studio and would look in horror at the muscly men lifting weights and posing in front of the mirrors.

At this point in time, walking wasn’t a big part of my life. It tended to be out of necessity if other modes of transport were unavailable – most often due to the lack of a taxi after a night out and cursing my footwear! However, as I progressed into my career in NHS administration, I found that a walk during my lunch break at work was essential for maintaining my mental health and periods where I felt under pressure to work through lunch and miss my walk corresponded with the times that I struggled most with work-related stress.

In my late 20s and early 30s, I finally plucked up the courage to venture into the gym and found I really enjoyed using the fixed and free weights, as well as clocking up miles on the treadmill and I was probably the fittest I’d been in my life. By this stage, my husband and I had relocated to Aberdeenshire, via Norfolk, and I was working as a reflexologist on a part-time basis which gave me the flexibility to indulge my love of walking and Aberdeenshire offers the most amazing landscape for exploring on foot.

I then had a baby at 35, by emergency cesarean section, which completely changed my relationship with my body and exercising. I felt self-conscious about my new body shape which didn’t ping back to its pre-baby weight and my flat stomach was a thing of the past. I lost a lot of confidence at this time and like most new mums, I found aspects of new motherhood challenging, especially without a family support network nearby and a husband who travelled for work. During this time, walking was my lifeline. I would take my son out for daily walks in the pram as the fresh air and movement were guaranteed to send him to sleep and I would be able to exchange hellos with other passers-by and feel some connection to the world. Walking was also a form of exercise that I could tolerate as I healed from the operation.

However, my son wasn’t happy to stay in the pram for long, and those brisk, long walks soon became very slow, short walks at his toddler pace and then developed into running behind his balance bike, then to family bike rides, and now to being left at home while he and his dad head off on 100-km bike rides at a pace I can’t begin to keep up with!

And so, I’m back to my solo daily walks. I try and walk 4 miles most days and really feel it when I don’t. My mood and sleep suffer terribly. I love to walk in nature and absorb the sounds and smells of the countryside and I’m lucky to have this available on my doorstep. I also love walking in cities and towns. Maybe it’s due to those early walks with my Nan but I find great joy and fascination in exploring residential streets on foot, looking at front doors, imagining the lives of those who live behind them, peering into the gardens of houses to see what they’re growing (I know, nosiness is a terrible trait!)

I’ve also recently rediscovered the benefits of strength training and can regularly be found lifting dumbbells in front of a YouTube video in my living room. I haven’t quite plucked up the courage to go back into the gym yet but maybe one day…

However, I know that whatever direction my relationship to exercise takes over the course of the rest of my life, walking will always be a fundamental part of it. It’s good for my physical and mental health and good for my soul. One day, I hope to be the grandmother, taking my grandchildren on a ‘magical mystery tour’ and inspiring their love of walking.

Walking for Health Facts and Stats

Walking has many health benefits: (reference: May is National Walking Month – Active Nation)

It’s good for your heart – walking helps strengthen your heart and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. A brisk walk for 30 minutes every day is said to reduce your risk of a stroke by 27%.

Helps you to lose weight – if you walk at around 2 mph for 30 minutes then you will burn around 75 calories and if you increase this to 4 mph this will rise to 150 calories. 20 minutes of walking each day could burn 7 pounds of body fat a year.

It can help to lower our risk of dementia – an older person who walks 6 or more miles per week is less likely to have problems such as dementia.

It gives you energy – walking boosts our circulation and increases the oxygen supply to our body helping us to feel more alert and awake.

It’s a full-body workout – walking activates many muscles in the body including the calves, glutes, hamstrings, quads and abdominal muscles.

Increase your Vitamin D intake – many people in the UK are deficient in Vitamin D which is important for our bone health and immune system and a good way to increase your levels is to go outside for a walk in the sunlight.

It makes you happy – many people say that a brisk walk makes them feel happy and can be a great help if you are suffering from depression, anxiety or feeling stressed.

I am delighted to have become an approved Reflexology Lymph Drainage (RLD) Practitioner and to be able to offer this award-winning, evidence-based, reflexology technique that focuses on stimulating the lymphatic reflexes on the feet. The aim is to cause an effect on the lymphatic system in the body. It is a unique sequence that was researched and developed by UK reflexologist Sally Kay BSc (Hons), whilst working in Cancer Care.

Working as part of a team of therapists at a hospice, Sally Kay observed the positive effect that Manual Lymph Drainage massage (MLD) had in reducing the symptoms of secondary lymphoedema in cancer patients and as a result developed the RLD technique based on the anatomy, physiology and function of the lymphatic system, and the principles of MLD massage and Simple Lymph Drainage exercises (SLD). RLD uses the theory of reflexology – that all the systems and organs of the body are reflected in the feet – to mirror these principles on the corresponding reflexes of the feet.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage massage (MLD) is a very gentle, light touch massage technique that aims to promote movement of excess lymph and fluid out of the tissues and back into the lymphatic vessels.

Simple Lymph Drainage (SLD) is a self-help, lymph drainage massage type of exercise that can be done by the individual. In principle, it is a simple basic version of MLD.

WHAT IS THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM?

The lymphatic system forms an important part of your immune system, producing the cells required to defend the body from foreign bacteria and viruses. It also acts as a waste disposal system, removing excess fluid and cellular waste from the body’s tissues, known as ‘lymph’, and moving it via a network of vessels to lymph nodes found in the neck, armpits and groin where it is cleansed and drained back into the circulation system for eventual elimination from the body.

The lymphatic system is a one-way drainage system. Unlike blood circulation, which is a two-way transport system that is pumped by the heart, lymph relies on movement, breathing and gravity to transport it in one direction. Lymph is moved around the body by the massaging effect of the surrounding muscles which forces the lymph forward.

WHAT IS LYMPHOEDEMA?

According to The Lymphoedema Support Network and NHS websites, lymphoedema is a swelling that develops because of an impaired lymphatic system. It can affect any part of the body but is most often seen in an arm or a leg.

Lymphoedema can be described as primary or secondary.

Primary lymphoedema is usually present from birth and is often caused by the underdevelopment of the lymphatic system. Recent research suggests that 6 in every 1000 people in the UK may be affected.

Secondary lymphoedema is the result of the lymphatic system not working properly often through damage or trauma. Examples of secondary lymphoedema are:

• surgery – particularly the removal of lymph nodes during cancer treatment
• scar tissue from radiotherapy can interrupt the normal flow of lymph
• cancer itself can result in a blockage in the lymphatic system
• accidental trauma/ injury or infection causing damage to the lymph vessels
• reduced mobility/ paralysis – muscle contraction is important for lymph movement
• veins not working properly
• obesity

To find out more Lymphoedema Support Network is a registered charity supporting those living with and affected by lymphoedema.

SYMPTOMS OF LYMPHOEDEMA

Initially, swelling may fluctuate. It could be minimal on waking but becoming noticeably worse as the day goes on, especially in warm weather. However, if left untreated, over time the swelling can become increasingly hard and solid and more permanent; it doesn’t subside overnight.

Other symptoms include:

• clothing and jewellery feel tight
• an aching, heavy feeling in the limbs
• difficultly with movement
• distorted limb shape
• hard, tight skin
• repeated skin infections
• folds developing in the skin
• wart-like growths developing on the skin
• fluid leaking through the skin
• loss of confidence and altered body image
• inability to complete everyday tasks, employment, and leisure activities

According to Cancer Research (UK 2011), breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and the lifetime risk of developing it is 1: 8 for women and 1:1014 for men.  Approximately 20% of patients develop secondary lymphoedema of the arm following treatment for breast cancer. Research suggests that survivors with lymphoedema are more likely to suffer psychological and emotional difficulties, be more disabled, and experience a poorer quality of life than survivors without the condition. Improved breast cancer survival rates suggest that approximately 2:3 women survive the disease beyond 20 years. This means that more people are living longer with this debilitating side effect for which there is currently no cure.

In the same way that MLD is used to treat conditions other than lymphoedema, RLD can be used similarly and may be helpful in the management of autoimmune disorders, arthritis, asthma, eczema, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, ME, migraines and headaches, premenstrual syndrome, and sinus problems.

To find out more about RLD please watch this video testimonial and have a look at these photos to see the  results that are possible

 RLD Reflexology – YouTube

Photographic evidence of Reflexology Lymph Drainage – REFLEXOLOGY LYMPH DRAINAGE

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A SESSION?

RLD is a non-invasive treatment. Only your shoes and socks are removed.  If you wish to see measurable results, I can measure your affected, swollen limb before and after treatment with a tape measure and record the volume of fluid using a limb volume circumference measurement system. I can also take optional photographs of the area before and after treatment. However, these measures aren’t essential to the treatment and many people are happy to feel and see the results in their bodies for themselves – maybe their shoes and socks are not so tight or they can wear a watch again without discomfort.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE REQUIRED?

RLD can be used as a standalone treatment protocol or incorporated into regular reflexology sessions.

I would suggest an initial 4-week schedule of treatments is planned. Follow-up sessions can then be arranged as and when required. Some clients have monthly maintenance treatments and others prefer to have one-off sessions when they feel they need them.  It is entirely up to the individual and a treatment plan will be personalised for you and your circumstances.

As with all reflexology treatments I provide, a consultation will take place prior to your first treatment where we will discuss your medical history and general health to allow me to ensure that reflexology treatment is suitable for you and to understand what your expectations are from your treatment.

To find out how RLD can help you, please contact me. I’m always more than happy to talk through any questions or concerns you may have.

References:

Reflexology Lymph Drainage – Sally Kay

Sally Kay’s RLD website: www.reflexologylymphdrainage.co.uk

The Lymphoedema Support Network website: www.lymphoedema.org.uk

NHS website: www.nhs.org

NB: Reflexologists do not diagnose, cure or treat specific conditions. Reflexology is not a substitute for medical treatment. Always consult a GP or other health professional for medical attention and advice.

Discover a whole new world of reflexology…

Reflexology? That’s a treatment carried out on the feet, isn’t it? Well, yes, it is, but did you know that the reflexes of the body are also mapped onto the face?

Worry, stress, fear, and grief and our day-to-day life experiences take their toll on the body and often leave their mark on our faces too. Facial reflexology works on the same principle as foot reflexology, stimulating reflex points to support the body’s natural healing process and promoting a deep state of relaxation – falling asleep within the first few minutes is not unheard of!

Worry, stress, fear, and grief and our day-to-day life experiences take their toll on the body and often leave their mark on our faces too. Facial reflexology works on the same principle as foot reflexology, stimulating reflex points to support the body’s natural healing process and promoting a deep state of relaxation – falling asleep within the first few minutes is not unheard of!

The face’s proximity to the brain and cranial nerves makes facial reflexology exceptionally powerful in impacting the body systems. It has the additional unique benefits of reducing tension and the appearance of stress in the face and giving your complexion a healthy, radiant glow.

As well as supporting your general health and wellbeing, it may be particularly beneficial for anyone suffering from symptoms associated with jaw tension, teeth grinding, headaches, sinus problems, and Bell’s palsy.

Facial reflexology encourages blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, supporting the elimination of toxins and helping to reduce puffiness. Stimulating facial tissues help to strengthen layers of skin tissue, improving skin tone and reducing muscle tension. Over a series of sessions, there may be a softening in the appearance of facial lines.

During the treatment, your face will be gently cleansed before a pre-blended, nourishing facial oil is applied. I use a range of massage techniques and apply gentle pressure to stimulate the reflex points. The experience is incredibly relaxing, and most people find they drift off into a meditative state and report that they feel a greater sense of wellbeing and inner calm afterwards.

I practice the Bergman Method advanced facial reflexology, which draws on a combination of traditional reflexology zone therapy, Native American techniques, and Asian body maps. I completed my training with renowned therapist and award-winning pioneer in modern facial reflexology, Ziggie Bergman. She is the UK’s leading expert in facial reflexology with over 20 years of experience as a holistic practitioner.

If you would like to see and feel the benefits of this amazing treatment yourself, come and visit me in my tranquil treatment room in Meikle Wartle.

NB: Reflexologists do not diagnose, cure or treat specific conditions. Reflexology is not a substitute for medical treatment and if you have any concerns about your health you should consult your GP.