The Holistic Reflexologist

14/11/2025

The weather is hideous in Ickenham today - 100% chance of rain all day and 0% chance of sun!
However, the rain gives us and the rest of nature the water we need to survive (and maybe even thrive) and there is still plenty to appreciate and give gratitude for in this slower, darker month of November. The natural world is still beautiful at this time of year. If you can, go outside and take it in. If you can’t (or it’s also torrential rain where you are), take some time to look out of a window - at the sky, at some trees, at some birds in flight or find some awe for the rain that provides our water.
I am building up enthusiasm for going to the allotment this morning to dig over compost heaps.
We haven’t got sunflowers in November, but we do have chrysanthemums (very soggy chrysanthemums 😂)!

22/09/2025

Today marks the autumn equinox - day and night in perfect balance.
For a lot of people now, this passes without acknowledgement, but it used to be a time for harvest, a celebration of abundance, with the knowledge of darkness and more meagre times ahead. A time for reflection.
Even though the more traditional meaning of this seasonal turn or Mabon is not celebrated by so many now, the change in season and approach of winter is still a good time to reflect on how we can keep ourselves healthy and happy or content through the colder and darker months.
How will you be caring for yourself?

19/09/2025

* LONG POST ALERT (possible rant)

I’ve received my copy of the AoR quarterly journal. You’ll see from the photo, it’s all about research this time. I’ve read some of it and flicked through all of it and as always it’s very interesting. However, a number of things concern me about reflexology research and they’re not sample size, methodology or treatment blinding!

Caring for people, whether personally or professionally is an ever evolving action - an art form. Every client that I see, even if they present with the same symptoms, is different. An individual with different reasons for their symptoms, different exacerbating factors and different ways in which they are able to help themselves.

We are not carbon copies of each other. I have 3 sons and they have required entirely different ways of being from me as they’ve grown and continue to need this (shamefully, I think it took me longer to work this out for them than it did for my work). One of the reasons I left nursing was that the conditions under which to provide individualised care - the best care - was being taken away from health care professionals as medicine became more focused on cost effectiveness and research based outcomes. People were reduced to numbers on waiting lists and episodes of care.

On balance, reflexology research may be necessary to promote efficacy and gain wider acceptance in general healthcare and by the general public. However, reflexology is not a medical intervention and does not fit a medical research model. In my opinion, one of the ways in which general healthcare has opened itself to criticism is the reductionist approach that research can promote. It is very rare to encounter a healthcare professional now who spends time or has the time to consider people as individuals.

Society in general has a growing intolerance of difference in all its forms. I believe we should do everything we can to resist and challenge this. Whilst I acknowledge the importance of research, as reflexologists please let’s not allow our art and skill in working in partnership with clients to provide them the best care, treatment and advice to be reduced down to narrow research based outcomes and treatment protocols.

I have to congratulate you if you’ve made it all the way to the end of this 💪. Thank you x

19/09/2025

Did you know that BUPA allows clients of AoR Members to claim back their reflexology treatments*

*conditions apply

06/09/2025

27/08/2025

Whether you’re feeling the pressure of getting the kids back to school, juggling work and home life, the influence of the changing season or realise you need some self care, get in touch to ask about booking some reflexology and find out what it could do for you.

07/03/2025

Please get in touch to book a treatment or buy a voucher.

01/01/2025

There is always time to change and adapt - whatever the time of year or stage of your life.
Be gentle with your New Year Resolutions. I recently heard them called New Year Practices. Practice the change you want to make - you might stumble, but it’s à only a practice; you can learn from it

19/09/2024

Improved sleep is just one way reflexology could help improve your health and well-being.
Check out my website or get in touch for more information.