Reflexology: How to practice it and its health benefits
mis à jour le 15 July 2014 à 12:56Foot massages help us feel relaxed from head to toe…but that’s not all they are good for. We share the benefits of three types of foot massages that you can do all by yourself!
In Chinese and Indian medicine, the foot is a mirror of the human body, says Carla Gaspar, reflexologist and author of “La Réflexologie au quotidien” (Daily reflexology) (ed. Mango), an illustrated guide which details how three different types of foot massages work. Used for millennia, the study of the massage of these “reflex” zones has been gaining traction even in Europe. In the 1920s and 1930s, researchers and therapists have demonstrated the existence of a precise map that links each organ and area on the foot. Regularly massaging them rebalances the energy flowing in the body, and helps to relieve tension and common ailments – sinusitis, bloating, etc. The Golden Rule: find a comfortable position to massage your foot, leaning back, sitting cross-legged or on a chair, foot on the opposite thigh, without compressing the abdomen.
Our 3 pro tips:
- For maximum comfort, warm your hands with a little vegetable oil (almond, jojoba, apricot kernel, etc.)
- To avoid getting your arms in a knot, massage your right foot with your right hand, and left foot with the left hand.
- Do not practice reflexology in the case of phlebitis or venous thrombosis!
Read more from our special Reflexology report:
Foot massage to fight against stress
Foot massage to combat neck and back pain
Foot massage for a good sleep
Isabelle Soing
