The Reflection Zone

01/01/2026

Happy New Year and thank you for being part of this space at the Reflection Zone, with your presence and your comments and reactions. You all matter to me.

The Reflection Zone was started so people ( you) would have a space ( both online and in the clinic) where they could feel visible and understood in their struggles. I SEE you and I UNDERSTAND you. I acknowledge your need for respite and to be cared for yourself.

This time of year comes with many pressures, to “be” a certain way, to be joyful and present and often to give more of yourselves when sometimes what you need is to just take some time to know your needs are important too.

One thing that I encourage you all to do is to take self care - of yourselves - seriously. I know that nearly all of you are focussed on everyone else. Take time each day this year to do some self care, and I guarantee your body and mind will thank you.

Here are some tips I find useful, about self care no matter what amount of time you have - ( applicable to everyone, not just parents!) https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/self-care-strategies-for-parents-no-time

Your positive support of yourself makes a measureable difference to the of your everyone around you. Promise!

Sending you all much respect, support and encouragement for each day of this year we’re now in.

Whether you find yourself with a free hour or can barely find 1 minute, we've got suggestions for making the most of your time for some worthwhile self-care.

22/12/2025

There are gifts you can give yourself every day.
They cost nothing except a few seconds or a few minutes of your time.
These gifts, when you give them to yourself over and over, accumulate into something very precious: a calmer nervous system, a clearer mind and the ability to focus on what you want to focus on ( and not on what you don't).

Merry Christmas to you.... from you ❤️❤️❤️

Taking care of your mental well-being goes beyond just relaxation techniques—it’s about taking small, yet powerful actions to soothe your nervous system. From the calming effects of hugs to the stress-relief of yoga and laughter, there are countless natural ways to find peace in your day. These practices don’t just benefit the mind, but can rejuvenate your body and soul as well.

Engaging in grounding activities like walking barefoot on grass or pet therapy can reconnect us to the Earth and offer relief from stress. Whether it's cold exposure or simply practicing deep breathing, your nervous system can find its balance naturally.

These free regulators are powerful tools that anyone can incorporate into their life. Embrace these holistic practices for a calmer, healthier you.🌸🧘‍♀️

22/12/2025

🎄 Christmas Recipe for Self-Care

✔️ 1 cup of quiet moments
(To reset your nervous system and breathe.)

✔️ 3 tablespoons of forgiveness
(For others, and for yourself.)

✔️ 2 heaped spoons of boundaries
(Because “no” is a full sentence.)

✔️ A generous sprinkle of rest
(Without guilt, without rushing.)

✔️ 1 handful of fresh air
(To clear the head and soften the shoulders.)

✔️ 2 teaspoons of asking for help
(Even when you’re used to “doing it all.”)

✔️ A pinch of perspective
(To remember what truly matters.)

✔️ 1 scoop of joy-filled small things
(Warm socks, candles, a walk, a laugh.)

✔️ And a dusting of compassion
(For the tired, brilliant human doing their best. ❤️)

22/12/2025

This is the last client of the year preparing for Christmas in the very best way... 😴😴😴 😊😊😊

And whether you are working or holidaying this holiday season, may you find many moments to treasure and to R E S T and have a very restorative / connected / calm / fulfilling festive time.
Thank you to you all for entrusting me with your hearts, minds and feet again this year.

I'll be back at work on 15 January 😁

20/12/2025

Believe it or not, my first 3 clients today were ALL experiencing back pain.

👀 Client #1: Ex police officer with multiple occupationally related chest and back injuries. Now experiencing chronic stiffness in hips, and pain in diaphragm and mid back. After an hour of reflexology hips were free, 70% of diaphragm pain had released and mid back felt better.

👀 Client #2: Disability Support worker with chronic low back pain that impacted them walking and sitting. Today was treatment number two. Client felt pain free after an hour of reflexology two weeks ago. A small amount of pain returned yesterday and settled with half an hour of reflexology today.

👀 Client #3: Middle aged woman with multiple old back injuries from domestic violence. Currently awaiting further surgical assessment. Client struggled to sit into treatment chair due to lumbar pain. After 40 minutes of reflexology lumbar pain had noticeably diminished and client was able to move and bend more easily.

Working on the reflex zones for the musculoskeletal skeletal system, in conjunction with deep relaxation techniques it is possible to achieve significant improvements in pain scores over the course of one treatment.

Monday 22 December is my last clinic day for 2025. And after my Christmas break I will be on a significantly reduced number of appointments during January (and most of those are already booked) but if you need a treatment and can't see any available times, please message me as I may be able to create a space for you.

Meri Kirihimete everyone! Behind to yourselves and your bodies over the summer.

Rest and restore if you can.

🙏🙏🙏

18/12/2025

Gosh, does the pace of days seem to be gaining speed every day we get closer to Christmas??

When overwhelm hits, the smallest act of kindness toward yourself can shift everything.

Ask yourself, “What’s one kind thing I can do right now?”
Then choose something tiny — a sip of water, a stretch, a breath of fresh air.
Do it slowly, as if you truly deserve it.
Because you do.

Self-kindness isn’t a detour from progress.
It is progress. 💛

14/12/2025

Your gut and your feet are more connected than you think 👣✨
When you calm the nervous system, digestion often follows - relaxing, balancing, and getting back into flow.
Here are a few quiet ways reflexology can support your digestive wellbeing. 🌱

07/12/2025

Your nervous system loves reflexology more than you know ✨

Gentle pressure, slower breathing, calmer thoughts - it all adds up.

Here are a few ways reflexology helps bring you back to centre...

03/12/2025

It’s not unusual to feel sleepy, heavy, or even emotionally drained after a reflexology session, and it’s actually a good sign that your body is responding.

Reflexology activates the parasympathetic nervous system - the “rest and digest” branch responsible for slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and triggering recovery processes. When the body shifts out of a chronic stress state (sympathetic dominance), it finally has permission to relax, repair, and rebalance.

That deep relaxation can sometimes feel like fatigue, especially if your system has been running on adrenaline or stress hormones for a long time. The tiredness isn’t a side effect. It’s a signal that your body is resetting its internal balance.

📚 Research supports this response:

Studies, including McVicar et al. (Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2007), show measurable reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety levels following reflexology - clear indicators of parasympathetic activation.

A 2011 pilot study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that reflexology sessions produced significant decreases in salivary cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone), reinforcing the link between reflexology and stress reduction.

Improvements in sleep quality and relaxation have been documented across multiple clinical settings, from cancer care to maternity wards, all pointing to the same physiological mechanism of rest and regulation.

💧 How to support your body afterward:

Drink water to help the body process metabolic by-products released during deep relaxation.

Avoid caffeine or alcohol immediately after your session to prolong the calm.

Rest if you can, even a short nap or quiet time helps integrate the benefits.

Feeling tired after reflexology is simply your body exhaling and catching up on the rest it’s been asking for. 😴

02/12/2025

Feeling “a bit off” has become so normal that most people don’t even question it anymore - the tiredness, the stress, the tension, the sleep that never quite restores.

But your body always sends signals, and reflexology is one of the gentlest ways to respond instead of ignoring them.

This visual highlights the symptoms we tend to brush off… and the moments reflexology can genuinely support your body back toward balance.

A small step, a consistent session - it all adds up. 🌿✨

02/12/2025

P R E G N A N C Y

I used to be a Midwife before I became a Coach and Reflexologist.

And a very special part of my Coaching work today is supporting women who have had

🦋 a very difficult previous pregnancy

🦋 a miscarriage or stillbirth

🦋 a traumatic birth

I work with these women to help prepare them for their subsequent pregnancy and birth with confidence and calm.

Sometimes I meet them for the first time pre-conception and sometimes they are already pregnant. The approach is called B I R T H D E B R I E F I N G and it always begins with them sharing their STORY.

As the weeks go on, it's wonderful to see them feeling more ready, and increasingly confident that they WILL be able to navigate the next birth (which is quite likely to be highly medicalised) in a way that feels good to them.

Here are some short text messages I received from one woman during the last ten weeks of her pregnancy

" Thank you for the session today. I felt really good about it"
" I'm feeling quite calm"
"Thank you so much. Your support has been incredible".

If you, or someone you know is pregnant following a very difficult birth, I'm very happy for you to contact me to chat about how I could help.

Liz@reflectionzone.co.nz
www.reflectionzone.co.nz

28/11/2025

W O V E N E A R T H and the people behind it ...

This incredible local organization is doing some hard mahi. Each week, using mostly donated items, the team of staff and volunteers furnish homes (not houses) for families restarting their lives after escaping domestic violence.

This is very, very precious work, but it is HARD work and relentless work. As we near the end of 2025, tally of houses nears 1,000.

I am SO proud to be the provider of Woven Earth's team wellness programme. This programme allows each team member to access regular, free Reflexology and Coaching to support their physical and mental resilience. It doesn't come out of Woven Earth's budget, but is 100% donated by because my personal and business ethos is that we MUST care for the carers.

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