Recharge with Reflexology
By Fran DeNunzio
With midterm season in full swing, I have found myself feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. On top of that, the rising number of COVID cases on campus and the impending election have me feeling very anxious. The combination of all of that has started to take its toll. My back and shoulders have been hurting from constantly leaning over while studying and doing homework, and my brain has felt pretty frazzled trying to keep up with all of the news. If you are feeling similar stress, I have a remedy to help relieve some of the stress and tension you may be experiencing: reflexology.
Reflexology is a type of massage and medical therapy that is based on the theory that certain areas of our feet and hands are connected to specific organs or systems in our body. This therapy uses the practice of a targeted pressure-point massage to manipulate these specific areas, which in turn stimulates nerve endings and the flow of blood and nutrients to the targeted parts of our body. This helps to re-establish the flow of energy to the parts of your body you wish to feel relief in. It is believed that applying pressure to the parts of our feet or hands that correspond to the different areas of our body leads to healing, the release of tension and stress, and pain relief in those body parts. The practice of reflexology is also said to increase circulation throughout your body, contribute to improved immune and body functioning, and cleanse the body of toxins, ultimately contributing to overall enhanced health and well-being.
Reflexologists use foot charts, also called reflexology maps, to guide their practice. These charts illustrate the zones of your feet and hands that are connected to the different organs and areas of your body. The left foot and hand corresponds to and stimulates the entire left side of your body and the right foot and hand does the same for the right side of your body.
While there are certified reflexologists and reflexology centers that you can go to for a reflexology session, the busyness of school and the fact that we are still very much in the middle of a pandemic makes scheduling an appointment a bit challenging. However, you do not have to have to go to a certified center in order to reap the benefits of reflexology. You can easily perform reflexology on yourself! Here are a few tips to follow for a DIY reflexology session:
Decide the area(s) of your body you are wanting relief in and identify them on a reflexology chart to determine which pressure points you need to focus on.
Make sure you are sitting comfortably during this process so that you are relaxed.
Squeeze your hand or foot before beginning to encourage circulation.
Then, apply pressure (only as much as you are comfortable with) to the specific zone on your hand or foot. I suggest using a technique called thumb-walking which involves using just the tip of your thumb to apply pressure to the targeted pressure point. All you have to do is move the tip of your thumb up and down and around in circular motions in the same spot, continuously pressing down and applying pressure to the targeted pressure point. Make small movements to ensure that you reach all areas of the zone you are massaging. Make sure that you use your other fingers to steady the hand or foot you are working on. You may also use the technique of finger-walking, which is essentially the same process, but instead you are applying pressure with the tips of one or two of your other fingers and using your thumb to steady the hand or foot you are working on.
Repeat the same actions on the same zone of your other hand or foot to provide relief to both the left and right side of your body.
Continue massaging until you have applied pressure to all of the zones you wish to treat or until you feel relaxed. I suggest spending about 30-45 seconds on each targeted point to achieve the desired effects of stress and tension release.
There are a plethora of benefits to the practice of reflexology. If you are feeling tense or stressed, I highly encourage trying reflexology on yourself. It will help calm your central nervous system, reduce your stress, and provide you with effective relaxation. It will leave you feeling rejuvenated and more energized, ready to tackle the rest of your day.
