Foot Massage

Reflexology

1.5 Hour Reflexology Foot Massage – $150 ($135 Members) – Includes one hour foot reflexology, express pedicure, foot exfoliation and warm lime and peppermint scented foot soak.

Included for free in all our massage packages (see right).

Where We Found It: Beijing

“Just up near Tiannamen Square, I found the place I had been looking for.

A small room, kind of resembling a doctors office.

The receptionist at the hotel had assured me that this was where I would get the best reflexology treatment in Beijing.

So with a mix of English and a smattering of pathetic Chinese, the lady at the massage clinic took pity on me and said “English okay.”

Either that or she didn’t like her language being butchered by another foreigner.

So that barrier aside I then had my feet soak in a mix of Chinese herbs (27 apparently, kind of like the Kernels secret herbs and spices but for the feet).

And then the most sublime foot massage I’ve ever had.

Within minutes, all the traipsing up and down the wall had disappeared

So good in fact that I went back the next day…oh and the next.” Ali

Reflexology Theory

The therapy of reflexology is based on the idea that health-giving energy flows around your body. When this energy flows freely,

Reflexology theory

physical and mental well being is maintained. If the energy flow is blocked or stagnant, you can become unwell or unhappy.

Gentle pressure applied to points on your feet- known as reflexes- can be used to stimulate energy flow and release any blockages. Your feet contain a “map” of the entire body: every organ and body structure relates to a precise point on the top, side or sole of the foot.

For example, your brain is connected to the top of your big toe, while the bladder point is at the base of your heel.

When an area of your body is out of balance, the related reflex will be tender to the touch.

We will gently work a tender point, which helps to break down deposits and restore energy flow through the zone. The massage action also has the effect of stimulating the circulation of your blood and lymph to the area and feels highly relaxing.

The areas that correspondent are as follows:

Your head is represented in your toes. The right big toe corresponds to the right of your head and the left big toe to the left of

Foot Massage

your head.

In addition, the eight smaller toes hold the reflexes to specific parts of your head, such as sinuses and ears, and these can be used for fine-tuning imbalances in these areas. Your neck reflexes can be found in the “necks” of your toes!

The reflex area for your spine can be found on the inner sole of your feet, the same area as where your abdomen. Your chest reflex can be found in the balls of your feet, and on the same area on top of your feet. These also house the reflexes to the air passages, lungs, breasts, heart, thymus gland and shoulders. The lower edge of the chest area is represented on the feet by the diaphragm reflex which runs across the base of the balls of the feet.

The whole of your heel all around your foot contains the reflexes to your pelvic area: they lie on the sole and the sides of your heel and also across the top of your ankle.

The limbs are clearly represented on the outer edge of your foot but also, and most particularly, on the corresponding upper or lower limb.

Working along holistic principals, reflexology takes into account body, mind and spirit as they are all interrelated. Whatever happens to you will affect all levels of your being, whether you notice or nor. If you feel under pressure or stressed, the effect on your body will be detrimental, as your muscles remain tense and taut, constricting the circulation and nerves and compromising their function.

Reflexology works quite simply and in a highly effective, efficient way. It manages to relax and overcome any build up of excess tension in your muscles. Consequently, during treatment all parts of the feet will be stimulated and the significant dual effect is to relax your muscles and also to increase the efficiency of the circulation to all parts of the body. You will quickly notice the positive effects of reflexology.

A little bit more about Reflexology

Reflexology Massage is a Chinese style of foot and feet massage. As well as being a beautiful way to spoil your feet, reflexology massage also has the underlying belief that your whole body is reflected in your feet.

So when you receive a reflexology massage, your whole body is being massaged at the the same time. In reflexology, various parts of your feet relate to organs and areas of your body.

For example the tips of your toes relate to the the top of your head, the ball of your foot pertains to the Thyroid glands, and the side of your foot to the spine.

At Ripple massage, we include a reflexology massage in every one of our lush massage packages.

Healthy feet are important to how well you feel so we like to spoil them in your massage or you can book our 1.5 hour Foot reflexology package to really spoil your feet. Your reflexology massage will include a peppermint and lime scented foot bath to begin.

Then as part of your massage, your feet will be massaged in gentle but firm style, from the tips of your toes to your heels.

As the feet ( and to a lesser extent the hands and ears) are regarded as a microcosm of the body in traditional chinese thinking, reflexology uses pressure applied to reflex points in the feet to relieve stress and tension and improve circulation.

Six major energy meridians terminate in the feet; the spleen, kidneys, liver, stomach, gall bladder and bladder, as do some of the major

Reflexology

nerves.

Using thumb pressure to press and deeply massage each of the tiny reflex zones in the feet, a skilled reflexologist can stimulate the associated organs adn glands thereby activating correcting imbalances. The big toe for instance is connected to the head, and simply stimulating it through massage can help ease headaches.

Reflexology is suitable for all ages and has been proven to help improve circulation, ease pain, relax the body and treat a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses ranging from post natal depression to skin conditions.

We use a range of techniques including pressure of thumb and fingers and gentle stretching. Don’t worry if your feet are ticklish. We massage in such a way so it’s just really lovely.

Of course if you would prefer to skip the reflexology part of your treatment, please just let us know and we will spend the extra time on the rest of your body.