I’ve been a reflexologist for almost as long as I’ve been a massage therapist. I have had nearly 15 years experience in the power and efficacy of both these complementary therapies.
There is a real need for both and I’ve witnessed first-hand just what they are capable of helping people achieve and also overcome. However, I have to admit to a real love for and affinity with the simplicity and effectiveness of reflexology: of helping people regain a sense of control, of wellbeing; of being free from pain or discomfort; of bringing them closer to achieving their goals.
I never fail to be astounded at what is effectively a simple massage of the feet can allow our bodies to do. Reflexology can be AMAZING! And on children’s feet, who are so receptive and haven’t built up the barriers that we as adults have to deal with, it can be a real game changer.
Now as an adult, we know where to go and who to go to help us with those issues that don’t make us feel very happy. But as a child? Until we learn the power of speech we can’t do this so we have to put our faith in those we love and trust the most to help us. And that’s you. The person reading this.
It All Began With Baby Massage
This arrived in the UK nearly 40 years ago and has taken the last 40 years to get to where it is today. Namely, very widely used and acknowledged.
Lots of mums will book themselves onto a baby massage course as soon as their little one arrives. Everybody knows that it can soothe babies, ease constipation and can introduce a calming bedtime routine. When you’ve undressed them for bath-time or bed and can spend time gently massaging them, encouraging that strong bond and a calm parent and baby, it’s ace!
But what about working the feet? Or the hands? Or even the reflex points on the face? (As all reflex points are three-dimensional and run from the top of your head to your feet.) Instantly accessible at any time of the day or night; when you’re at home and when you’re out and about. No set routines; no designated amount of time given to working certain points in a certain order at a certain time of day. It can be given anywhere and without having to get little ones undressed too.
It Continues With Children’s Reflexology
If you have an unhappy, unsettled or slightly unwell little one and have a few minutes – gently take a foot or a hand and use specific reflexology points to help them! Which is where the amazing Susan Quayle and her Children’s Reflexology comes in.
Susan created the award-winning Children’s Reflexology Programme in 2014, where trained instructors were able to teach parents, grandparents and carers to work on little one’s feet and hands.
This was the beginning of a movement to bring Reflexology to families across the world so that they could not only see the benefits to be gained by children receiving Reflexology but they could also experience the enormous benefits to be gained when giving Reflexology.
As Susan herself says: “I am a massage therapist and I love massage and am aware of the many benefits it has to offer. This gives me absolute clarity in saying that the benefits of giving your children Reflexology far outweigh the benefits of massage. It is on a whole different scale. It facilitates your bodies’ own ability to self-heal which means that you are actually in control of your own healing processes. Reflexologists are working the remote control for your own body to respond in whichever way is right for you.”
We all know the benefits of massage because it has been a movement with forty years of research, interest and support behind it. All reflexologists and supporters of families truly hope that it won’t be another forty years for Reflexology to reach the same position.
Reflexology can be used to support a huge range of conditions; from constipation to anxiety, from deep stress of newborns who are ill, to tantrums, reflux, teething and sinus issues. In fact there is very little it won’t support within your family, from your little ones to your grandparents. It is non-invasive and relaxing and gets you touching each other with love.
Even when you feel like you’re being driven mad or feel like you’re losing it from sleep deprivation, there are ways of responding to your child’s challenges with a focus and a love that they respond equally well to. It doesn’t have to be much, it could be the colour of their eyes or the softness of their skin, but it will change your energy and how your child responds to you.
The Importance of Touch
Touch is our very first language and research studies have shown that regular, routine touch by a parent, grandparent or any loving caregiver are vital to a baby’s wellbeing and can have an enormously positive impact on their communication and learning and physiological, cognitive, emotional and social development.
We know the importance of skin-to-skin contact at all times of life. Which is why your newborn baby is placed on your chest or abdomen as soon as they arrive into the world. And both massage and reflexology utilise the importance of that positive touch.
The Benefits of Regular Massage May:
Help you and your baby understand each other better
Soothe babies and reduce crying
Aid digestion and help relieve colic, wind and constipation
Help babies to sleep more deeply and for longer
Relieve nasal congestion and teething discomfort
Help develop good muscle tone, co-ordination and suppleness
Enhance body awareness
Boost the immune system
Improve skin texture
Help calm and relax both parent and baby
Boost parents’ confidence in handling their baby
The Benefits of Regular Reflexology May:
Help you and your baby understand each other better
Soothe babies and reduce crying
Aid digestion and help relieve colic, wind and constipation
Help babies to sleep more deeply and for longer
Relieve nasal congestion and teething discomfort
Boost the immune system
Help calm and relax both parent and baby
Boost parents’ confidence in handling their baby
Learn life-long skills
Help support babies both pre and post immunisation
Relieve coughs, colds and earache.
Ease tantrums and their after-effects
It’s Down To You To Take Back A Bit Of Control!
As much as we reflexologists love what we do, we aren’t on call at all hours of the night to help your little one when they need it most. And when they need help to soothe and settle, seeing a strange person in a strange place might not be the most helpful thing. Children who are unwell, or just distressed or upset for some reason, want to stay close to the people and places they know and love.
To help your child in the best way you can and therefore also giving yourself time to decide what the most appropriate course of action will be: a visit to a reflexologist, a trip to the doctor, some more of your own treatments or perhaps even just a loving cuddle.
And the beauty of Kids Reflex is that they cannot have too much reflexology! They will always let you know when they’ve had enough or just aren’t in the mood!
Babies In Their Mummy’s Tummy Love Reflexology Too
I know I’ve witnessed it and our mums would agree. And I know lots of you have felt your little ones respond in utero too. There is a lovely burst of activity and extra wriggling and movement before they relax into it – and probably have a little nap! Especially if mummy is beautifully relaxed and napping too! So if they enjoy it in the womb, then why wouldn’t they love it after they arrive in the world too?
Children are our future, so the opportunity to pass wellbeing techniques onto future generations is a wondeful thing. If we show children the importance of positive health and wellbeing and ways of helping both ourselves and others to achieve that, the future is in good hands.
If you’d like to find out more about learning how to work on a little one’s hands and feet then book a free, no obligation call with me or drop me an email and I will happily talk you through things in more detail.
