Tag Archive for: reflexology

Energy field

I have always found chakra balancing, colour healing, energy fields and auras amazing subjects.   In 2000 on a cold winters morning I sat waiting for my bus on my way to work at the Reflexology shop in Bayswater and a women looked at me and said’ “I can see you have a silver aura”.   Well that made me feel full of energy, full of positive vibes. I trotted off to work not 100% sure what a silver aura meant, but happy with knowledge that life was not boring, it was magical, mystical and had elements of the unknown waiting to be discovered. Turns out it meant, “An awakening of the cosmic mind”.

Colours, auras, energy centers……Then I made my connection with reflexology. Let the journey begin. The Aura can be considered as a ‘mirror’ that reveals our present mental, physical and spiritual state. Like Auras, Chakras also come with specific spiritual colours. Whereas Chakra is derived from the Sanskrit language meaning spinning vortexes of energy.

The Chakras interact with the body’s endocrine and lymphatic systems, feeding in good energy and removing unwanted energy. It is very important that our Chakras are nourished and balanced in the correct way in order to maintain good health and prevent dis-ease.” For me the balancing of the chakras via the feet can relaxing the entire body and mind on so many levels.

Chakras are energy centers inside your body that are anchored in place.  Each chakra relates to a different aspect of your life and each chakra is a certain colour.  Your root chakra, for example, relates to security, stability, and abundance, and is red.  Your heart chakra is green and relates to compassion, connection with others, and love.  Your throat chakra, which is blue, relates to your ability to communicate and express yourself.
2000 when I first started out as a reflexologist I wanted to learn more and more about the science around the subject as it was still a little hazy. But I also found the more cosmic, spiritual and emotional aspects fascinating, and naturally leaned towards them more.

When working my clients feet they would tell me how they were feeling. One lady mentioned she had a lump in her throat, felt highly stressed with work, as she was not being listened to. This could have meant she had a cold coming or did it mean something deeper. The Throat chakra resonates a blue colour.  When stress occurs it can inhibits speaking or swallowing, which is the outer manifestation of the throat chakra.  So we used the reflexology session to visualise blue during the treatment. I would work on the throat chakra, hormonal balancing and nervous system techniques. Also asking her to breathe in relaxation, breathe out and let go of tension in her body.

For the next few sessions we carried on this pattern and the outcome was a relaxed unstressed lady able to address her issues at work.  We worked on visualisation using colour, breathing, reflex balancing during each session.  The Chakra balancing especially brought about a quiet peacefulness space to my client.

I always noticed a sense of calm and tranquillity, and also notice how you I felt great for having been part of this energy healing. I find it fascinating that we without knowing it, feed and protect our energy system. The clothes and ornaments we wear sometimes can draw attention to a chakra, or hide it. Think of the caps worn by young men, or teenagers with their hoodies even indoors, to protect the crown chakra. There are belts that draw attention to the solar plexus, and necklaces to enhance the power of the throat or heart chakra.

When I incorporate chakra energy points to my treatments, they are highly charged, loaded with vibrant energy, but gentle as light as a snowflake falling.  Revive and feel energised, why not start by wearing your favourite colour today.  See how it makes you feel.

Help flight Cold and Fu

Having a few clients now coming in with headaches, stuffy noses, but leaving somewhat happier and feeling soothed from their ailments.

Acupressure and reflexology is proving to be effective in keeping the symptoms of cold and flu at bay.

Its that time of year! Once a cold sets in it slowly weakening the body’s defence power and immune system, making it weak and lowering the energy level of the body.

I can offer facial massage, acupressure massage techniques and foot reflexology. I work on a combination of some of the methods below. Starting from a 30min relief up to 1.5 hour stress buster treatment.

One of my favourite points to start is the ‘Hoku’ (LI4). Stimulating this point on both hands alternately helps in clearing congestion and helps relieve headaches.

Spread your left thumb and index finger apart. Place your right thumb in the webbing on the back of your left hand and your fingertips on the palm directly behind your thumb. Firmly squeeze your thumb and index finger of your right hand together to press into the webbing. Angle the pressure toward the bone that connects with your left index finger, and hold for one minute. Then switch hands.

For facial relief of blocked noses, these will work a treat! They may feel sensitive at the time but you will feel great after.

B2 Relieves colds, sinus congestion, frontal headaches, and tired eyes.

(LI 20) Relieves nasal congestion, sinus pain, facial paralysis, and facial swelling.

(ST3) Relieves stuffy nose, head congestion, burning eyes, eye fatigue, and eye pressure.

Here’s a diagram of the reflexology area for the lungs. It’s located on the ball of your foot, between the big toe and little toe. The location of the sore points on your feet will correlate to the soreness in your chest.

So if you feel a bit grotty and need a pick me up give me a call.   These techniques and more are combined to make a lovely relaxing, de-stressing treatment for you!  Massage or reflexology combined or a facial massage. You choose!

Budda Stress Free

As a holistic therapist I help to get my clients in the “zone”, helping them to destress and unwind with massage and reflexology.  Once they have left me how do they continue to maintain the relaxation.  Knowing how to relax is vital for ensuring your health and well-being, as well as restoring the passion and joy in your life. Allowing stress to affect you can lead to depression, illness, weight gain and a general sense of malcontent.

Try some of these ways to zone out for 5 minutes:

Give Yourself a DIY Hand Massage for an instant relaxation that calms a pounding heart.

Try a little Acupressure by rubbing your feet over a golf ball.

Deep Breathing take 5 minutes and focus on your breathing. Sit up straight, eyes closed, with a hand on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling the breath start in your abdomen and work its way to the top of your head. Reverse the process as you exhale through your mouth.

Eat Real Foods

Poor diets full of processed foods, grains, sugars and chemicals put a tremendous stress on the body. For many people (some experts estimate close to 85%), grains can put a huge stress on the body. for a stress-reducing, adrenal nourishing diet, focus on getting your nutrients from fresh, real foods in as close to their natural source as possible. Drink a lot of water and avoid the caffeine.

What you put into your body will give it the fuel to give you energy!

 

DIY Reflexology tips

Your feet take us everywhere; they carry our bodies all day long.  Have a little look at your feet after they’ve spent a day in those lovely leather shoes, or peering out of your open toe sandals.

What do they look like? Feel like? Are your feet pink and healthy and ready to go? Maybe, maybe not…  Possibly your ten toes are pressed against each other like sardines in a can. The skin of your feet looks lifeless, perhaps grey in colour and slightly clammy to the touch. Let’s liven them up with a foot massage!

I think most of us would agree that many of today’s illnesses could be attributed to stress and tension, manifesting in conditions such as backache, headaches, insomnia, constipation, and IBS. What I have found helps hugely though is reflexology.

Here are five ways to reap the benefits of reflexology at home.

  1. Quick mood lifter

To give yourself a quick mood boost simply bring your endocrine system back into balance by working the reflex for the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. To do this simply massage your thumbs on both hands and/or both big toes, paying particular attention to the center of the widest part of the toe or thumb. This area could be a little sensitive to begin with but will improve with continued massage.

  1. Beat stress and lethargy

To give yourself an energy lift, banish lethargy and beat stress focus on the areas on the feet or hands which relate to the adrenal glands. By stimulating this area you will regulate your metabolism, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and motivate sluggish intestines. To do so simply massage the middle inner sides of your feet or hands.

  1. Stay mentally alert

To give yourself a mental boost you need to focus on the reflex which relates to the thyroid gland. You do this by using your thumb to walk around the base of your big toe or thumb. This is also the area to focus on to aid weight loss, nervousness, rapid heart beat, dry skin and to control the levels of cholesterol in the blood. This gland has also been called the third ovary and has been known to have to have a big impact on women’s health.

  1. Banish tension

Deal with stress induced tension, either physical or emotional, by massaging the reflex point with correlates with your nervous system. The spinal cord transmits millions of messages back and forth between the brain and the body while spinal nerves connect to the body’s organs, glands ands structures. It is no wonder then that any abnormal tension on the muscles or ligaments will cause pressure on the spinal nerve. To work your brain roll your finger over the tips of your big toes and to release tension on the spine massage the inside of your foot. Massaging these areas can also help with headache, PMS and constipation.

  1. Overall boost

Even if you don’t have a particular problem reflexology can help improve your overall wellbeing and make you feel more energized.

You can do this by massaging your solar plexus and diaphragm. Do so by drawing an imaginary line down from the second toe to just below the ball of the foot until you find a hollow. If under stress use your thumb to hold this point, while pressing slightly upwards, for 20 seconds. Don’t lose contact as you release pressure, just relax it gently. Try this three times, breathing in as you press in and exhaling as you breath out.

Alternatively you can receive the benefits of reflexology in these and other areas by running a golf ball around in your hands, focusing on the areas where you feel you need the most help. This can even be done while waiting at traffic lights.

It might also to help to walk on smooth pebbles in a driveway. This can’t pinpoint specific reflexes but can help boost a sense of well-being.  Nafisa is also available for reflexology sessions to restore and revive. Click here to contact Nafisa and discuss a treatment plan that is right for you.

 

 

 

PMS

 

Starting to feel a little bit emotional, angry, snapping at the slightest thing…. Are you starting to feel like your coming out in spots, need to eat chocolate NOW! Maybe a little tired, a bit more than usual…? What’s going on?

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) maybe upon you!

PMS can be caused by a trigger by a change of hormones within a menstrual cycle, it can women sometimes make women well up with emotions, suffer headaches and cramping and just blowing up at slightest thing. Legs and abdomen can feel bloated and backs can sometimes ache. Sometime men think women use PMS as an excuse for a lot of things.

Over the 16 years I have been working as a reflexologist I have seen great results in PMS symptoms with regular reflexology treatments. I have treated women regularly at different points in their monthly cycle, reducing some of the symptoms they have experienced. Reflexology has helped their wellbeing.

I have found that reflexology seems to lessen severe symptoms through relaxation and stimulation of endorphins. Lessened the pain associated with cramping before and during menstruation.

reflexology-banner

Reflexology treatments can focus on reflex points that influence the endocrine system, particularly the glands in the reproductive system as they are responsible for hormone production and distribution.

What my clients have told me: “Reflexology has allowed their body to relax and de-stress”. “ My back seems to be aching less”. “My abdominal cramping has eased up”. “My periods are more consistent”.

What I have told them: “ Reflexology has stimulated the body’s own healing system to work more efficiently to help the body return back to its natural state of balance – also to let go of emotions”.

A little self help:

LUMBER SUPPORT: When your lower back feels achy to help soothe the pain: Find the bone that runs from your big toe to the heel, along the instep, rub up and down with a little oil. Do each foot for a couple of minutes.

EASE BLOATING: Massage the top of your ankle. This is the area for your Fallopian tubes, they can tend to get swollen. So find your ankle bone and massage all the way around it as if you were wearing an bracelet around your ankle. Work back and forth for a couple of minutes, then move onto the other foot.

Have you ever considered that reflexology could help to alleviate some of symptoms? Or maybe stop them altogether.

My aim is to bring the body back into a state of balance. If you feel more balanced, surely that’s a good thing.

 

 

 

 

Mindfulness

Mindfulness isn’t just the thing you practice during a 10-minute morning meditation. It can be something mixed in throughout your daily life by simply paying a little more attention to your activities as you are in that moment.

You could start by engaging in your creative play, that could be putting out the washing, gardening or even playing your favourite sport. See what happens to your thoughts, sometimes they flow. You become in the moment with your surrounding and let life just be. Even if it’s just for a short time.

How to be mindful.
Start by the focus on your breathe. Meditation master Thich Nhat Hahn describes the most foundational and most effective mindfulness practice, mindful breathing, in Shambhala Sun:
“So the object of your mindfulness is your breath, and you just focus your attention on it. Breathing in, this is my in-breath. Breathing out, this is my out-breath. When you do that, the mental discourse will stop. You don’t think anymore. You don’t have to make an effort to stop your thinking; you bring your attention to your in-breath and the mental discourse just stops. That is the miracle of the practice. You don’t think of the past anymore. You don’t think of the future. You don’t think of your projects, because you are focusing your attention, your mindfulness, on your breath.”

Get outside.  Go out and spend time in nature, get drunk on fresh air and light. Smell the green grass and the flowers. It’s a powerful recharge and gives the body the rush of endorphins again. Take off your shoes, feel the grass under your feet, laugh with the birds, feel the sun or rain on your cheeks. Lie back and be in your moment.
Feel your thoughts.  Mindfulness isn’t about being happy all the time. It’s about acceptance in the moment. Allowing yourself to feel whatever you feel without trying to resist or control it.  Excessively trying to be happy all the time can be counterproductive. It can lead to an unhealthy attitude towards negative emotions and experiences. Mindful people don’t try to avoid negative emotions or always look on the bright side — rather, accepting both positive and negative emotions and letting different feelings run alongside each other.
Mindful eating.  We are hungry, so we eat. Can you always remember the lemon zest or the hint of coriander, running through your healthy salad lunch. Not always, as this time you had to rush to get to meeting. Mindful people make a practice of listening to their bodies — and they consciously nourish themselves with healthy foods, prepared and eaten with care. Sit down to eat, take time to acknowledge the tastes and sensations.

As a holistc therapist, I get my clients in the “zone”. Help to distress and unwind, offer self help tips to get less stressed. But it is easier said than done. It’s also frustrating when you don’t know how. Knowing how to relax is vital for ensuring your health and well-being, as well as restoring the passion and joy in your life.

I hope this mindful chat has brought you closer to being in your moment.

Self care

Our lives can get so busy, and life doesn’t stand still or slow down for the menopausal women. It carries on as normal, whilst we are left to carry a new bag of emotions, sweats, and sometimes tears. We should be allowed to let go and understand the need to let go and allow the change to happen. It’s not an overnight thing, it can happen gradually and because people cannot see the symptoms from the outside, some don’t have empathy towards it.

It typically happens between the age of 45 and 55 years and is an absolutely natural process. Having treated many women whom it affects emotionally, physically and mentally, it is clear that it’s a phase that some women fear and cannot embrace. It can make a women feel insecure effecting life’s balance on so many levels.

There are so many ways to look after ourselves and nurture our body as nature intended. Walk in nature, eat fresh, be mindful of exercising, laugh and cry if you want to.

Acupressure massage and reflexology treatments are also one of the ways  to support a menopausal woman, helping them to tune into their body’s needs, highlighting imbalances and areas, which need attention. It can relieve the symptoms of menopause by balancing the qi flow through the endocrine system. Having a treatment with an empathic therapist and a tranquil environment can provide a safe space in which to relax, be self-focused, and allow you to let go.

Stimulating some acupressure points through massage and reflexology can help balance the fluctuating hormone levels, aiding a woman to have a smoother transition to menopause.

Some of Points that can be worked:

Gall Bladder 20 –  used to relieve the most common symptoms like hot flashes, dizziness, stress and irritability. It is also called the ‘Wind Pool’ point, and it is located on the ridge of the occipital bone, midway between the ear and the spine, between the two joining muscles.

 

Reflexology regulates hormones and glandular functions of the body, also helping to alleviate and balance both the physical and emotional systems. By working with the hypothalamus and pituitary, reflexology can help to restore balance to the endocrine system. This in turn can alleviate menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and anxiety. By calming the central nervous system, sleep disturbances can also be alleviated and anxiety and stress levels reduced. By regulating calcium and phosphorous levels in the thyroid gland, bone loss can prevented. Reflexology also helps the ovaries to regulate their oestrogen secretions and the uterus to maintain its natural health and flexibility.

Liver 3 – one of the most functional acupressure points for menopause that helps in relieving all varieties of menopause symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, headaches and dizziness. This can be found on the foot and reflexologist can manipulate this point each session.

 

Spleen 6 – an extremely important acupressure point that is called the Three Yin Crossing. This point is positioned three finger widths above the inner ankle bone, along the back of the tibia. It is the crossing point of the kidney, liver and spleen meridians. This point is useful in acupuncture and menopause for promoting the general balance of all issues of female regulation.

Research carried out at the UK School of Complementary Health in Exeter indicates a marked decrease in anxiety, depression, insomnia, hot flushes and night sweats among menopausal women who received regular reflexology over a 4-month period. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12269681

The effects of reflexology are cumulative and depending on specific needs and symptoms, a course of treatments is usually recommended. Many people find it beneficial to have 4-6 weekly or fortnightly sessions initially, followed by a more general ‘maintenance’ session every 4-6 weeks.

So if this is your stage of life, call Nafisa for a chat and book in your session today.

 

 

 

 

Gift voucher

 

So say ” I appreciate you”, “Your Loved”, “Your Cherished”, “You Are An Amazing Mum”. Here is your ‘YOU TIME!’.

We often don’t stop for a moment to think what we or our loved ones need.  An impulse buy of a bunch of flowers or chocolates to say “thank you” or “I love you”, doesn’t give the same nurturing feeling as a massage or reflexology treatment.

If you are hunting for a Valentine’s Gift or a Mother’s Day Gift, then a massage would be both a thoughtful and beneficial gift – some ‘me’ time & relaxation.

Gift vouchers are available for any of our treatments, so please contact us to buy one – we can deliver by post or email so even very last minute purchases can be made!

Stretch

Stretches to energise your morning

Here are 6 stretches you could do as a morning routine to feel strong, flexible and grounded.

Ground your thoughts, take a moment focus on your breath.

Keep warm when you do your stretches, so great after a morning workout or after a hot shower. But if your just getting out of bed, start the stretches gently. These exercises cover major muscle groups and can be followed any time of day. A great way to start your day.

                                                                                                                     

 

Upper Back Release Targets the upper back and back of shoulders

Standing with feet hip-distance apart, clasp hands and round upper back keeping arms straight and active. Think about the shoulder blades spreading wide across your back. Hold stretch for 2-3 deep breaths.

 

Chest Release  Targets the chest, front of shoulders and biceps. 

Holding a wall or window ledge with left arm, step forward with left leg and turn entire body to the right especially at the hips. Hold stretch for 4-6 deep breaths increasing stretch with the pivot at the hips.  Repeat on the other side.

 

 

Side Stretch  Targets the IT band (outer thigh), obliques and shoulders. 

Standing with right hand on bed or wall, cross left leg in front of right leg, feet pointing forward.  Shift into the left hip and reach left arm up and over head, creating a long line from the left ankle to the left fingertips.  Hold and take 2-3 deep inhales and exhales.  Repeat on right.

 

 

Seated Spinal Twist  Targets the spine, neck and shoulders.

Sitting on a chair or edge of bed with legs together, lengthen spine rotate from the waist, placing one hand behind you and the other hand on your outer thigh for support. For a deeper stretch for the neck, turn your gaze to look over your shoulder as well.  Hold 2-3 deep breaths.  Repeat other side.

 

 

Standing Hamstring Stretch  Targets hamstrings.

Supporting yourself for balance as needed, bring right leg up onto a step or bench, increasing height as flexibility increases.  Keep legs hips distance and parallel and keep back leg straight (if possible) and front foot flexed.  If you need to increase stretch, hinge at the hips (not the waist or back), keeping the spine completely straight.  Don’t round the spine.  Take 4-6 deep breaths. Repeat other side.

 

Standing Quad Stretch  Targets quadriceps.

Holding a chair, wall or bed for support, stand with feet hip-distance apart. Soften left knee and reach for your right foot or ankle, bending the right knee to point straight down to the floor.
Keep pelvis neutral and spine tall with the crown of your  head reaching to the ceiling.

Doing these everyday will help to keep you supple and flexible. TRY IT!

Acupressure Massage - Nafisa Massage and Reflexology - Teddington London

Do you get headaches?

New Year has began we have started rushing around again, clients have been coming to me with headaches and need of a destress.  This is a great way to help yourself!

The theory is that the body has special “acupoints”, or acupressure points, that can be found along invisible “energy channels” of the human body. These are the same points that are targeted for acupuncture and part of the same overall system or theory. These channels are believed to be the passage of the body’s vital energy or the life force called Qi.

12 channels connect the different organs of the body. These points start at the fingertips, travel to the brain, and then disseminate to various channels that reach a specific body organ.  Stimulating the body and relax the muscles. When acupressure is regularly practiced, this self-massage technique is believed to improve health and minimise recurrence of illnesses.

The most common, and probably the easiest point to target for acupressure, is point between the thumb and index finger, Known as the ‘Hook Spot’. This is called the hook spot in Chinese medicine. It is widely reported to be the most effective target point for relieving headache and numerous people agree that self-massage of this pressure point brings relief.

Generally, what you do is press the points firmly, while doing a rotary movement or an up-and-down movement for 30 seconds up to several minutes at a time. There is no limit to how many times you want to do it in a day. Just be sure that while doing it, you are in a comfortable position – relaxed and eyes closed while breathing deeply.

This is a self-massage technique, but other people can still provide the massage for you, too.