Give a Reflexology Massage

How you start a reflexology massage session sets the tone for the duration of the treatment. Most reflexologists develop their own routine after they have treated a dozen or so clients. This article outlines some of the more popular routines practitioners use to start a reflexology massage.

Steps

Prepare the Space Where You’ll Administer the Reflexology Treatment

  1. Make sure the temperature in the room is comfortably warm so that your client doesn’t get a chill. Remember that your client will be lying still for at least one hour so your treatment room has to be warm.
  2. Have a blanket on hand in case your client gets chilly.
  3. Prepare extra blankets or towels to use to keep your client’s feet warm in between pressure treatments.
  4. Dim the lights in the room for ambiance.
  5. Play soft, melodic music. Try not to play any music with lyrics because that can be distracting to both you and your client.
  6. Provide a bottle of water for your client.
  7. Trim your fingernails if necessary and wash your hands.

Prepare a Warm Footbath for Your Client

  1. Pour warm water into your foot bath container.
  2. Add 1/4 cup (56 g) Epsom salts to the water. When magnesium sulfate from the salts is absorbed through the skin, it draws toxins from the feet, calms the nervous system, reduces swelling and relaxes muscles.
  3. Stir the Epsom salts until they dissolve in the water.
  4. Place the footbath container at the end of your treatment table or treatment chair so that your client can comfortably immerse his feet into the footbath.
  5. Allow your client to soak his feet for at least 10 minutes.
  6. Lift your client’s feet out of the footbath, one at a time, and dry each foot thoroughly with a terry cloth towel.
  7. Remove the footbath container and drain the water while your client gets into a comfortable position for his reflexology treatment.

Give Your Client a Pre-Reflexology Foot Massage and All-Over Foot Squeeze

This helps to increase circulation and encourage deeper relaxation.

  1. Grasp the heel of your client’s left foot with your left hand and place your right hand over the top of the foot near the ankle.
  2. Gently squeeze the top and bottom of the foot. This squeezing action helps break up uric acid crystals that develop in the feet; breaking up these acid crystals helps increase circulation.
  3. Place one of your hands over the top of your client’s ankle and cup the heel in the palm of your other hand.
  4. Gently tug the client’s foot and leg toward you. Tug just enough for the foot to move towards you an inch or so.
  5. Place your right hand horizontally over the top of your client’s foot and place your left hand vertically along the bottom of the foot.
  6. Press down on the top of the foot using your right hand, while pressing up against the sole of the foot with your left hand.
  7. Release the pressure and then repeat three more times.
  8. Use both your hands to squeeze and twist your client’s foot using the same motion you would use to wring out a wet rag. Use a gentle but firm motion.
  9. Tap the soles of your client’s feet with the back of your hand. Start at the toes and use a slapping motion to tap the sole of the foot all the way down to the heel and back up to the toes again. Slap hard enough so the client can feel it, but that it doesn’t sting the skin on your client’s foot.
  10. Massage your client’s leg starting at the ankle and continuing up the shin to the knee.
  11. Bring your hands back down to the foot by massaging the back of your client’s leg starting from the back of his knee, continuing over his calf and back down to his ankle. If your hands are large enough, you can massage the front and back of your client’s lower leg at the same time.
  12. Work the back of the leg with your fingers and the front of the leg with your thumbs.
  13. Apply pressure with your thumbs to the reflex points for the diaphragm on your client’s left foot.
  14. Wrap the client’s left foot in a towel to keep it warm while you repeat the relaxation massage process on his right foot.
  15. Begin your regular reflexology treatment session.



Tips

  • If you can’t get your treatment room dark enough, offer an eye mask to your client.
  • Ask your client if he wouldn’t mind the addition of a few drops of an essential oil, such as Lavender, to the footbath. Explore other essential oil scents and consider adding aromatherapy to your reflexology routine.
  • If you use scented candles in your treatment room, keep in mind that they give off heat and burning too many of them may make your room uncomfortably warm or too heavily scented.
  • Make the pre-reflexology part of your session as relaxing as it can be. Some first-time clients may be a little nervous or wary about having their feet worked on. The mood and pace you set will go a long way towards easing any anxiety your client may have.

Warnings

  • You may not want to offer a foot bath if your client has any cuts or open sores on his feet.

Things You’ll Need

  • Foot bath container
  • Epsom salts
  • Towels
  • Bottled water
  • Blanket
  • Cd player and CDs (optional)
  • Scented candles and essential oils (optional)

Sources and citations

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