Therapeutic Reflexology should be a journey, not a destination. In today’s post, we’ll consider the journey with Therapeutic Reflexology.
We are living in an era where people want everything instant, instant food, instant entertainment, instant gratification, and even instant health. It is within this mindset that Western Medicine is used to get instant relief from symptoms using allopathic or chemical medication. Often, the same instant requirements are brought to a Therapeutic Reflexology treatment session and people sometimes expect an instant cure of a condition they have been struggling with for many years; a totally unrealistic expectation as Therapeutic Reflexology does not offer miracles, but it does offer effective complementary therapy.
Embarking from this perspective, let’s consider the fact that Therapeutic Reflexology is a complementary therapy and not a replacement for medical care. Therapeutic Reflexology is a formally recognised and regulated healthcare therapy in South Africa offering the ultimate form of relaxation while assisting the body to heal itself by activating and stimulating its innate healing ability, or at least, attempt to balance itself from the inside out to restore homeostasis amidst the contemporary lifestyle of inactiveness, additives, and instant gratification.
Therapeutic Reflexology is often approached just like Western medicine is approached, by wanting instant relief from symptoms and instant health. This is an unfair approach because Therapeutic Reflexology works with your body to stimulate its own healing abilities, it does not work like Western medicine where a chemical product is used with the ability to interrupt normal bodily function to provide relief. Therapeutic Reflexology does not interrupt your normal bodily functions, it merely stimulates it so the body can restore its own healing abilities to get rid of toxins, reducing excessive stress levels, decreasing pain, restoring balance, increasing circulation, and many other abilities the body must maintain homeostasis that is often interrupted because of modern lifestyle, diet, and toxins affecting the normal functioning of the body. Thinking that Therapeutic Reflexology is going to work as allopathic medicine does, is an unrealistic expectation; it is two totally different approaches. Therapeutic Reflexology does not replace medical care, but merely complements it and can be used alongside any allopathic medication and treatment as it supports it instead of interfering with it.
Looking at it practically. You experience pain somewhere in your body. Modern society wants instant relief, so you visit the pharmacist to buy over-the-counter pain medication but if it does not work fast enough, you visit your medical doctor to give you stronger medicine to overcome the pain symptoms as soon as possible. You get medication and experience quick relief from the pain symptoms, but the medication did not necessarily address the reason why the pain is there. If the pain is there due to obvious reasons like a broken bone or an injury, that needs to be addressed as well. The doctor may send you for X-rays or MRI scans to determine why you have the pain, but sometimes you may have pain and the doctors may not know why. Ask me, I know, as I have personally experienced medical specialists looking me in the eye and telling me that they do not know why I have certain symptoms and that they do not know how to rectify them medically. You may then be referred for other treatment and therapy like visiting a dietician to change your diet or a physiotherapist to deal with any muscle-related stiffness, strains, sprains, or injuries. Physiotherapy also does not offer instant relief and a few sessions may be needed before relief is experienced.
Therapeutic Reflexology usually does not offer such instant relief, although everyone’s body reacts differently to treatment and some people may experience quick relief. As a patient informed me the other day after just one Therapeutic Reflexology treatment session: “Christo…THANK YOU…I slept for the 1st time in a long time without pain…THANK YOU…Really!”
Therapeutic Reflexology is more of a journey than short-term therapy, although some people may experience quick relief of symptoms; it is all dependent on how the person’s body reacts to treatment. However, just because relief is experienced from certain symptoms does not mean that treatment should immediately be discontinued because the underlying cause may still be present so give your body enough time to counteract the cause of the problem. People may experience quick relief in some instances, but usually, Therapeutic Reflexology is not a short-term or once-off treatment; use it as a preventative healthcare therapy by addressing the underlying imbalances and allowing the body enough time to restore balance.
When including Therapeutic Reflexology into your healthcare regime, include it as a healthcare journey rather than a once-off consultation. You may be surprised as to the benefits you may experience because of keeping stress levels under control. Allow Therapeutic Reflexology to become part of your life and your journey of not only overcoming signs and symptoms but of living a healthy life to experience complete wellness in all areas of your life. To accomplish this, you need to journey with Therapeutic Reflexology.
It does not mean you need to be in Therapeutic Reflexology every week, although it may be beneficial to you, especially if you deal with high-stress levels. Some patients get a session weekly, others biweekly, yet others monthly and others as the need arises. The best results are obtained if you receive regular treatments; in my own instance, that means once a month. Your Therapeutic Reflexologist will be able to help determine what is the correct sequence of treatments for you because each patient is dealt with on an individual basis.
As a Therapeutic Reflexologist, I always value the journey of Therapeutic Reflexology and love to walk it with you. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the patients I see on a regular basis and for allowing me to walk the journey of health and wellness with you.
The year is coming to an end very fast, but that should be no excuse for you to make your first Therapeutic Reflexology appointment so you can begin to experience the benefits of this amazing healthcare modality while setting yourself up for regular treatments next year.
Let 2022 become the year of regular Therapeutic Reflexology treatments for you and as your fatigue and stress decrease, and your overall energy increases, you may just feel like a new person able to deal with everything the new year is going to offer.
Make your Therapeutic Reflexology appointment today and let us walk the journey with you!
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243