What is Facial Reflexology and Zone Therapy?

Facial Reflexology focuses on Reflex (pressure) points on the face, which help stimulate the body’s healing mechanisms and help improve circulation and nerve conduction. It encourages the release of toxins from the body via the lymphatic system. Balancing Reflex points in the face connect to and help balance the entire body.

The award-winning Bergman Method is clear and simple to understand; it has been developed over more than 20 years and is based on “Zone Therapy” which most Reflexologists will be familiar with as it forms the basis for modern Reflexology. It was created by Dr William Fitzgerald who studied Native Americans who used pressure point therapy to relieve pain. Dr Fitzgerald charted ten energy zones which start at the crown of the head, five on each side of the face and each side of the body extend down to the toes and fingertips. Zone Therapy uses the whole body including the face.

The Power of Facial Reflexology

Facial Reflexology is currently used to treat or ease common conditions, such as headaches, migraines, sleep disorders, including insomnia and sleep apneia, sinusitis; and less common ones, such as Bell’s Palsy.

It relieves pain through applying a compression technique to stimulate reflex points in which the thumb or finger applies pressure and also “walks” over a zone in a caterpillar motion by bending and straightening, whilst always maintaining pressure across the area.

The face provides a beautiful and precise tool to read what is going on within the body’s internal organs, central nervous system and neuro-biological systems. The face’s close proximity to the brain and cranial nerves make Facial Reflexology very powerful in impacting the body’s systems.

The Problems with Stress and How Facial Reflexology Helps

Stress is any interference that disturbs your physical, emotional or mental wellbeing, leading to an upset in the body’s natural balance and rhythm. When stressed, the body prepares for fight, freeze or flight. Whilst useful when there is real danger, sustained stress can have negative repercussions for our body.

Facial Reflexology helps rebalance the body and provides an invaluable tool to reduce the effects of stress. Symptoms of stress include anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, digestive ailments, insomnia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, hypoglycaemia, diabetes, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, and memory loss. Severe stress can also negatively affect the menstrual cycle.

Identifying the cause of stress is the first step in managing it effectively. Facial Reflexology helps open up neural pathway, assisting in the control of stress levels. It has an analgesic effect, reducing pain by releasing endorphins (natural painkillers) into the body. Thee Facial Reflexology sequence covers the major areas of the body affected by stress.

As part of the treatment at MindBody Oasis, you will also be given some simple to follow aftercare advice, such as walking in fresh air before an evening meal, giving you some reflex points to work in between treatments that focus on your specific problem areas, having an evening bath or listening to relaxing meditations and music daily.

Special Offer

During Tinnitus Awareness Week (3rd-9th February), take advantage of a half price treatment by booking online using the coupon code FacialReflex50. The offer will be available until the end of February 2020.

Below, before and after image of a client after one session.

Our modern way of working means that we are working less and less outdoors, and in more sedentary occupations and for longer hours. In fact, just two hundred years ago 75% of the population worked outdoors, now less than 10% of the population work in natural outdoor light. Our modern-day habits also include watching more TV, phone, tablet and computer screens. This all has had an impact on our physiological as well psychological wellbeing.

In the summer this may not affect us so much, but in the winter as we get up in the dark and return home in the dark, we begin to suffer from UV light deficiency. In the UK we are more especially affected as we are in the northern hemisphere, where the daylight hours distinction between summer and winter is more pronounced.

Our circadian rhythm or body clock struggles to make sense of this. This is important, because the circadian rhythm affects our internal body functions, such as food digestion, appetite for food, energy levels, sleep quality and length, and mood. Having insufficient quality and length of natural light can cause symptoms of SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as the Winter Blues.

Symptoms include:

• persistent low mood, depression even
• low energy: lethargy, lack of enthusiasm for life, sluggishness
• low libido and sexual appetite
• disruptive sleep patterns
• irritability
• carb / sugar cravings – a yearning for comfort foods
• feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness
• despair and prolonged sadness
• overwhelm and anxiety
• introversion – not wanting to be social or going out to meet people.

Here are our 7 best suggestions to counteract SAD:

• More exercise, especially outdoors (go for walks, runs) – as exercise stimulates the release of the pain-relief and feel-good hormones of endorphins and dopamine.
• Book a reflexology treatment as this can re-balance your hormones and stimulate the pineal gland – the body clock gland.
• Book a massage treatment – to stimulate release of endorphins and serotonin, especially the latter for enhancing your mood.
• Book an Energy Alignment intensive session with Esther (ask about the special promo offer). This session aims to help you release all the negatives in your life and align to a positive resonance. Call Esther on 07864 056919. Once you’ve tried it, you may like to start my new 8-week programme Life Lift Therapy – read here for more information.
• Check in for a session of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (I have a client who does this and can recommend her);
• Light therapy – use of a light box to simulate exposure to sunlight.
• Book a mini vacation – perhaps even get connected with someone who lives in a warmer climate and who might consider a temporary house-swap. This could be a great way to manage regular escapes to the sun during our bleaker months here.

Special Offer Update

Check out our Power of 5 Wellness and Winter Boost packages, where you can choose monthly treatments of either massage or reflexology (or both if you opt for the Boost package) from just £39 and £70 per month respectively. For more details, visit our Packages & Offers page.