I like…no I love…no I adore having pedicures…but the pedicure I had last week was simply the best…that’s because my manicurist was also a certified reflexologist…and she showed me how to flex my feet…she not only trimmed and painted my nails in preparation for my trip to Florida (although now that I am back from Florida I can honestly admit that my magnificently manicured toes were only on view for maybe a few hours since the weather did not cooperate)…but she massaged my feet…and she taught me all about reflexology…so much so that I definitely…absolutely must book a full-fledged reflexology appointment in the near future.

So what exactly is reflexology? It’s about all the pressure points in your feet,” said Rene, a manicurist and certified reflexologist. “Your feet can impact your entire body,” she said…and I listened intently as Rene described the different parts of my big toe and how it was related to my liver…and to the energy in my body.

I do agree that when my feet hurt me…I’m not in very good spirits…and that can happen quite often…my 50 year old feet start to ache at the end of each day…so if I can learn how to improve my feet…maybe my whole body will improve too…maybe even my aching back.

Rene said I can always try soaking my feet in warm water and Epsom salts…I have done that in the past…but I should try it more often…I think I will do that next time I have aching feet.

I wanted to learn more about this treatment called reflexology…it was intriguing…I read the brochure as Rene painted my nails…”Reflexology promotes the body’s marvelous ability to adjust and balance during times of stress…reflexology has been shown to improve circulation, increasing circulation boosts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and other tissues and speeds the elimination of waste products such as lactic acid and stress hormones”…(did they say stress hormones…sign me up…sign me up…there are definitely…positively stress hormones running all over my body lately…and if I can get them out of my feet…well…it might be a good place to start this treatment…tell me more…tell me more.)

I read on, “this in turn, reduces muscle tension and soreness, decreases healing time for injuries and reduces swelling from injuries or illness. Immune function, skin tone and the ability to concentrate also improve when circulation is increased.” (I’m sold…I’m going to make another appointment for sure…it may also help with the wrinkles on my face…imagine…from my feet to my face…stress hormones really know how to travel.)

I also found out that there are “over 7000 nerve endings in the soles of my feet”…who knew…who knew…no wonder they control the stress in my body…so now I can blame my feet…finally after 50 years I have a body part…actually two body parts…with ten toes in all…to blame for the stress that is moving around my body.

To think that a reflexologist may be able to help balance my life…and my body…I’m ready to take the pain…if it will help with my long-term success…if this age old massage is good for those in Egypt, India, Japan, China, and Europe…then it is good for my two 50 year old feet.

And it also works on the hands too…well…I can’t do too much massage…I do need my lavender facials…I can’t give them up…my 50 year old face needs my monthly facials…but I’m ready to start some flexing of my feet…I will put this on my ‘to do’ list for the next 30 days…I owe it to my feet…and the 7000+ nerve endings that need to be cared for.

Judi