In today’s post, we’ll explore what the benefits of Therapeutic Reflexology are.
Therapeutic Reflexology is a complementary, foot-centred therapy that is formally regulated in South Africa by a statutory health council, namely the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA). As the profession is formally regulated, you are ensured of professionally trained and experienced Therapeutic Reflexologists, recognised by their AHPCSA registration number. Therapeutic Reflexology is a recognised healthcare modality and may thus be covered by your medical scheme, depending on your medical aid and the plan/option that you are on, if your AHPCSA registered Therapeutic Reflexologist holds a valid practice number. Therapeutic Reflexologists should hold a recognised two-year professional Diploma in Therapeutic Reflexology currently only offered by the Potchefstroom Academy which is South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)-accredited qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 6. You are thus ensured that you are not receiving Therapeutic Reflexology from a “fly-by-night” that completed a weekend course or an overnight online course, but by a highly skilled and qualified therapist that underwent two years of professional training including community service practical hours.
Practicing Therapeutic Reflexology without AHPCSA registration in South Africa, is illegal and a criminal offence.
Therapeutic Reflexology offers many benefits, but it is a therapeutic healthcare modality which does not diagnose illness conditions, nor replace medical treatment, but offers excellent complementary healthcare alongside your doctor, physiotherapist, podiatrist, psychologist or other healthcare professionals.
Let’s have a look at the main benefits of Therapeutic Reflexology:
- Deep Relaxation
Modern times we are living in constantly tell us to just “go-go-go” as we continuously must answer yet another email, join another meeting that will result in draining your time without ending in any clear solution and definite decision taken. We tend to become busy without necessarily accomplishing much.
Therapeutic Reflexology offers you that pause that is needed just to exhale, creating permission for your nervous system to stop performing for a while and just to reset by moving from constant tension to calmness.
- Stress and Fatigue Management
Ask the average person, “How are your stress levels?” and the answer will probably be something like “I’m not that stressed”. That is true in their minds, because they have become so used to the constantly high stress levels, that it becomes their new normal.
Therapeutic Reflexology does not remove your challenges and pressures, but it created an intentional opportunity to recover from them to feel a complete sense of decompression from the mental and physical overload.
- Nervous-System Regulation
When we are constantly under pressure, our sympathetic autonomic nervous system keeps you in a heightened “fight-or-flight” response. Therapeutic Reflexology helps the body move to a calmer “rest-and-digest” response by means of the parasympathetic nervous system. Stating this practically, steady intentional Therapeutic Reflexology touch, a quiet practice office and individualised sessions create the optimal environment for your body to settle.
- Physical Tension Reduction
All your tension and life pressures usually settle somewhere in your body. Many patients arrive for a treatment with tired feet, feeling heavy and restless or just general physical tension and fatigue. Therapeutic Reflexology does not force relaxation but creates the ideal conditions where your body can let go of all the unnecessary tension.
- Restful Sleep Support
When you are stressed, your sleep is negatively affected, either by you not being able to switch off and go to sleep, or you sleep very restless and usually wake up tired. Therapeutic Reflexology helps the body to relax that may result in better sleep quality as many of my patients can testify as they begin the relaxing sleep on the treatment bed already. The ideal is to receive regular Therapeutic Reflexology sessions and if possible, get it in the late afternoon or early evenings.
- Emotional Decompression
The most awesome benefit is usually the feeling of finally having permission to pause. Just think what you have been doing the past while. You will probably think about a long list of work and family obligations that you had to take care of. We have lots of responsibilities and many people depend on us to be constantly available and ready to do something and whenever you feel like you can just take a breath, you feel guilty for not being busy.
A Therapeutic Reflexology session creates uninterrupted space where you are simply allowed to receive care and patients often indicate that sessions make them feel more grounded, emotionally lighter and refreshed.
“Taking time for myself will not remove the feeling of guilt for not being busy” you may say. Well, think about it this way, if you do not schedule time for self-care, you may end up in a state where you are unable to care for all the others. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Consider a regular Therapeutic Reflexology session as your self-care hour during the week where you get to recharge and then you can deal with all your obligations fully charged instead of running on empty and burning yourself out in the process.
- Self-Awareness
An interesting benefit mentioned by patients is that regular Therapeutic Reflexology makes them more aware of themselves making it easier for to know when you need rest before it ends in burnout. Regular Therapeutic Reflexology creates opportunities to notice your own stress levels, energy levels, sleep quality, physical tension and recovery times.
Conclusion
Long workdays, emotional responsibilities, hormonal changes, family commitments, work pressures and constant mental overload can leave very little room for recovery. Therapeutic Reflexology offers something increasingly rare, namely protected time to slow down and breathe.
Therapeutic Reflexology may not be a diagnosis or a cure, but it can become a valuable part of your personalised wellbeing routine delivered alongside your usual healthcare. The most powerful aspect of Therapeutic Reflexology may simply be in creating space for your body to remember what calm feels like.
Take hold of your own health and wellbeing without burning out as year-end fast approaches, and make your Therapeutic Reflexology appointment today!
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
DTR (Cum Laude), PhD
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 0737453
Tel. 072-800 7243