Valley View Reflexology

26/01/2026

When the ‘mother of reflexology’, Eunice Ingham, says it like this, then you are best to LISTEN‼️

x Karen x

26/01/2026

10 powerful foods that support healthy lungs and easier breathing 🫁

Your respiratory health is deeply connected to what you eat. These anti-inflammatory foods work through multiple pathways to reduce airway inflammation, support immune function, and protect lung tissue from oxidative damage.

The standouts:
🍎 Apples contain quercetin—a natural antihistamine that reduces asthma symptoms
🥦 Broccoli activates detox enzymes that eliminate respiratory toxins
🫚 Ginger relaxes airway muscles and thins mucus naturally
🥬 Leafy greens improve oxygen delivery throughout your body
🌰 Omega-3s from walnuts and flax calm airway reactivity

The research is compelling: People eating 5+ apples weekly had better lung function. Higher omega-3 intake is linked to reduced asthma risk. Adequate vitamin C supports stronger immunity and healthier lung tissue.

Whether you're managing asthma, recovering from respiratory infections, or simply want to breathe easier—these foods provide natural, science-backed support for your lungs. 💚

21/01/2026

A little IVF journey, a little break away… and a beautiful beginning

I’m over the moon to share that my first Cork baby is on the way 🤍

One of my lovely fertility reflexology clients travelled from Cork and stayed locally after her transfer, enjoying a few restful days and three reflexology sessions here in Roscommon. Today, she’s pregnant and I couldn’t be more honoured to have been part of her journey.

For anyone considering travelling for IVF support, this area truly is something special. Just down the road from my clinic is a gorgeous Airbnb, St. John’s Old School House, run by my friend Marie () a peaceful, welcoming place to rest, reset and be nurtured. Nearby there is also The Hudson Bay Hotel.

Nature lovers are spoiled here. The ancient St. John’s Wood / More Park Forest offers beautiful walks, stillness and space to breathe, while Lough Ree glistens nearby, reminding you to slow down and soften into the process.

If you fancy exploring, Athlone is just a short drive away with so much to enjoy shopping, Athlone Castle, the charm of Sean’s Bar, cosy cafés and riverside strolls. Closer to home, we’re blessed with wonderful local pubs and food spots including Coffey’s Pub, The Claypipe Bar, Ned’s Bar, and the much-loved Murray’s in Knockcroghery home of Jamie Murray for all GAA fans.

This part of Roscommon is ideal for an IVF mini-break a place where treatment can be gently supported by rest, nature, nourishment and reflexology. A chance to step away from the rush, honour your body, and feel truly held during such an important time.

If you’re thinking of combining fertility reflexology with a short getaway, you’d be very welcome here in Lecarrow.

Sometimes, a change of pace and a little extra care can make all the difference.

Check out Lecarrow Walking Club page for walks in the area and St. John's Airbnb Lecarrow.

21/01/2026

The Juice Backed by Science: Supporting Fertility from the Inside Out

Supporting Fertility Naturally & Intentionally with an amazing Juice, Beetroot, Ginger and Watermellon.

Free full-text on PubMed Central, this version includes the complete published article.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10712821/

As a fertility reflexologist, I take a truly holistic approach and you all know how much I rave about juices, especially celery juice. Since the end of October, ALL my IVF clients that I have worked with who consistently drank this juice, practised seed cycling and followed my nutritional advice, and maintained a holistic lifestyle alongside reflexology has fallen pregnant.

A 2023 clinical study (PMID: 37459441) found that women undergoing IVF/ICSI who drank a daily juice made with beetroot, watermelon, and ginger from embryo transfer to pregnancy test had higher implantation and clinical pregnancy rates than those who did not.

Why this matters:

Beetroot supports healthy blood flow, essential for uterine receptivity

Watermelon provides hydration and nutrients that support circulation

Ginger is traditionally used to support digestion and reduce inflammation

As a fertility reflexologist, I see time and again that when nutritional guidance is combined with reflexology and lifestyle support, the body is better supported not just to conceive but to sustain a pregnancy and carry it to full term.

No time to make the full juice?
Even pure beetroot juice alone can be highly beneficial and is a simple, accessible way to support fertility naturally.

Holistic fertility care is about creating the right internal environment supporting circulation, calming the nervous system, nourishing the body, and working with medical treatment, not against it.

If you’re trying to conceive, preparing for IVF, or supporting early pregnancy and want a personalised, holistic approach, I’d love to support you.
DM me to book to learn how fertility reflexology and tailored nutritional advice can support your journey.

Save this post for later or share with someone who may need it.

15/01/2026

Brilliant visual on how our lymphatic system work. Reflexology activates the body’s natural drainage system stimulating lymphatic flow to flush out toxins, reduce inflammation, and restore balance from the inside out.

11/01/2026

Why you should avoid spraying perfume directly on your skin, especially your neck, and especially when trying to conceive!

Perfume may smell beautiful, but many fragrances are made with chemical cocktails your body never signed up for, particularly when they are sprayed directly onto the skin.

Most perfumes contain synthetic fragrance chemicals, including phthalates and other compounds that can act as endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors interfere with hormones, and hormones play a critical role in ovulation, s***m quality, implantation and overall fertility.

When perfume is sprayed on the skin, those chemicals do not just sit on the surface. They can be absorbed into the bloodstream, especially in areas where the skin is thin and blood flow is high, such as the neck and wrists.

The neck is also close to the thyroid, a gland that helps regulate metabolism, menstrual cycles and reproductive hormones. While research is still evolving, many health professionals recommend reducing exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals near this area, particularly if you are trying to conceive or support hormonal health.

This is not about fear. It is about reducing unnecessary chemical exposure.

If you choose to wear fragrance, consider spraying it on clothing rather than skin, avoiding the neck.

When you are trying to conceive, small daily choices add up. Your hormones are doing delicate and important work, and they deserve as much support as possible.

Your body already knows how to do the hard part.

10/01/2026

Immune-Boosting Lentil & Roasted Vegetable Soup

A warming, nutrient-dense soup rich in vegetables, plant protein, and immune-supportive spices. Perfect for supporting overall wellbeing, immunity, and nourishment during fertility journeys.

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 large onions, peeled and quartered

6 cloves garlic, peeled

2 parsnips, peeled and chopped

6 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 large red pepper, deseeded and chopped

Seasoning & Stock

2 Kallo vegetable stock cubes

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon chilli powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon mixed herbs

Protein

1 cup cooked lentils or 1 tin lentils, drained and rinsed

Olive oil (for roasting)

Water (enough to cover vegetables in the saucepan)

Method

Roast the vegetables
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan).
Place all chopped vegetables onto a large baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, and toss gently.
Roast for 35–40 minutes, until soft and lightly caramelised.

Transfer to saucepan
Add the roasted vegetables to a large saucepan.
Pour in enough water to just cover the vegetables.

Add seasoning and stock
Crumble in the vegetable stock cubes.
Add cayenne pepper, chilli powder, paprika, and mixed herbs.

Add lentils
Stir in the lentils for added plant-based protein and fibre.

Simmer
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for approximately 30 minutes, allowing flavours to develop.

Blend (optional)
Blend until smooth using a hand blender, or leave slightly chunky if preferred.

Serve
Serve warm with slices of brown bread for a satisfying, nourishing meal.

Nutritional Notes

Rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, fibre, and plant protein

Warming spices support circulation and digestion

Lentils provide steady energy and nourishment

A comforting, grounding meal ideal for immune support and general fertility nutrition.

My family and friends absolutely love it, it's a very nutrious meal.

06/01/2026

Nollaig na mban — A Tribute to Courage, Resilience & Unbreakable Women

Tonight I’m thinking of all the brave, strong women who have gone before me, especially my great-great grandmother, Bridget Blaney.

Around 1910, Bridget lost her husband Edward, in a drowning accident on Lough Ree near Coosan Point. Despite this devastating loss, she carried on with strength and courage. According to the census, she was 64 with her youngest child, Sarah was only 13, she would have been around 51 when Sarah was born.

There’s a beautiful family story that she gave birth while out walking wrapped baby Sarah up and carried on home. I can hardly imagine the resilience that took.

Life doesn’t follow a timetable, and the stories of women like Bridget remind us that strength, love, and possibility don’t have an expiration date.

I’m also thinking of my great-grandfather, Edward Blaney, Sarah’s older brother who died in 1975 aged 87. I was told by my grandmother, he was an amazing, kind, gentle man. His wife Lily lived to the age of 99, I remember her well, I was 8 when she died, she was such a gentle soul. The threads of family, love, courage, and legacy weave through generations in ways we often don’t fully see until later in life.

Thank you to my wonderful 3rd cousin for sharing this beautiful piece of family history about Bridget and Sarah.

As a fertility reflexologist, I’m continually humbled by the journeys of women, past, present, and future and the sacred work of carrying life, healing, and hope.

So to all you brave, strong women out there, those who came before us, those walking with us now, and those who are still dreaming big dreams x Happy Nollaig na mban to you xx ❤️ 💙 💜 💗

Photo: Mona (Blaney) Collins, Lily Blaney 1981.

02/01/2026

Ovulation Is Not a Moment — It’s a State

Ovulation does not simply “happen.”
It is the result of a finely coordinated conversation between the brain, the ovaries, the immune system, and the nervous system.

There is a very short window around 12–18 hours when an egg can be fertilised. But what matters just as much as timing is the internal state of the body during that window.

Around ovulation, the body makes intelligent, deliberate adjustments. Rising estrogen signals a temporary modulation of the immune response. This is not weakness, it is precision. It allows the body to tolerate s***m, which is genetically foreign, while still maintaining immune protection. Institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic outline how estrogen influences immune behaviour and inflammation during this phase of the cycle.

This level of coordination requires regulation.

When the nervous system is overloaded through chronic stress, inflammation, under-recovery, excessive exercise, emotional burden, or hormonal disruption the body does exactly what it is designed to do: it prioritises survival. Ovulation may weaken, delay, or not occur at all.

Reproduction is not an emergency function.
It requires safety.

This is why I pay such close attention to how a body is functioning, not just when ovulation is expected.

In my work, I often recommend reflexology around day 10 of the cycle, just before ovulation. This is a critical preparatory phase. Reflexology supports nervous system regulation, circulation, and deep relaxation key foundations for effective hormonal signalling. When the body settles, communication improves. When communication improves, function follows.

Time and again, I see the same pattern: when stress lowers and the system becomes more regulated, ovulation strengthens. Cycles become clearer. Luteal phases stabilise. The body becomes more responsive.

Many clients have gone on to conceive with reflexology as part of their ovulation support. Reflexology is not a fertility treatment but supporting the conditions the body requires to ovulate well is not insignificant.

01/01/2026

A quiet symbol of new beginnings ... a little piece of straw from a crib.

Visit the crib quietly. Take a small little piece of straw.

This simple act is a Christian tradition,
a gesture of faith in new beginnings.
The straw, humble and ordinary,
is a symbol of hope, renewal, and life yet to come.

Hold it with intention.
Offer a prayer.
Trust that what is meant to grow will grow in its time.

A small sign, carried gently,
for hope, patience, and new life. 🤍

If you can't get to a crib today, don't worry I have some.

31/12/2025