A few years ago, a friend gave me a reflexology session as a gift, and I was looking forward to a good old foot rub. But I was surprised by how my entire body relaxed—more than during a full-body massage!—and how refreshed and revitalized I felt leaving the salon. According to reflexology practitioners, reflex points on your feet and hands correspond to your whole body, so stimulating those points helps release tension and gives you a feeling of overall well-being.Why not try it at home? Could be a fun date night, right? My friend and illustrator Erin Jang and I put together this super basic, just-for-fun reflexology chart. Look up your partner's ailment—headache? stuffy nose?—and see if you can foot-massage it away:)
(Illustration by Erin Jang for Cup of Jo. Thanks, Erin!)
Never have, but have always wanted to. Thanks for this simple chart - I'll try it on My Beloved!
ReplyDeleteI would love this as a date! Foot massages are the best!
ReplyDeleteI will have to tell my husband that next time I have a headache, he'll need to give me a foot rub!
ReplyDeleteCan you and Erin do another one that is all yellow? I get headaches often and really just want to use them as an excuse for some foot massages ;)
ReplyDeleteFoot massages are beneficial before and during labor, too! Certain pressure point helped induce my second labor and relax me during both of my natural deliveries. Just don't massage those points too much before baby is ready!
ReplyDeleteDefinitly gonna try. If it is right, it can save my day :)
ReplyDeletethanks again for amazing tips
alvaquasetransparente.blogspot.com
I've never gotten a foot massage but I'm extremely ticklish!!
ReplyDeleteI need to show this to my boyfriend! Maybe just maybe he'll give me one!!
Ergo - Blog
Ah! I love this! Perfect boyfriend instruction manual!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend,
xo
Sasha @ sashapearl.blogspot.com
Oooh, this is so great! Straight to the point :) Happy Friday!
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ReplyDeleteI used to have reflexology socks- they had a diagram on the bottom telling you which part of the foot corresponded to which part of the body. They were white on top, and were also toe socks, so they made my feet look like I was wearing magicians gloves!
ReplyDeleteGood idea. My 1 1/2 yr old son loves foot massages while he takes a bath. It's adorable!
ReplyDeleteI love this! My 2 year old always relaxes completely when I give him a footrub. I think I need a print of this!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! A Japanese friend told me that her doctor told her she should rub in between the joints at the base of her toes to relieve her strong PMS symptoms (I love that there a places where docs give DIY solutions!) and it's done wonders for her.
ReplyDeleteAnd related to Anna and Megan above, my almost 3 year started requesting massages at bedtime a couple of months ago and it totally works for her!
Yes, I totally just emailed this to my husband. A subtle hit, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleted'you think reflexologists get tired of duran duran references? i sure hope not.
ReplyDeletetry not to bruise it,
LMO
Nice artwork, ERIN!!
ReplyDeleteI love Cup of Jo so, so dearly, but as a clinician with a physical therapist boyfriend, this is total bunk.
ReplyDeleteTotally appreciate your dissenting voice on this, Megan. <3 from a skeptical RN.
DeleteJust adding 2 cents that there is some discussion whether foot reflexology is safe during pregnancy, because it can induce uterine contractions, and therefore theoretically pre-term labor. A gentle foot rub is of course always OK!
ReplyDeleteSuch a small world, I blogged about pregnancy reflexology only this morning. I'm no expert but if you go to a specialist pregnancy reflexologist it is actually a really lovely and relaxing thing to do at the end of your pregnancy. I have had two sessions recently (I am 39.5 weeks) and loved it! If you want to read more check out my blog post, there is a link to pregnancy reflexology info there.
ReplyDeleteOh man, this is a slam dunk! My boyfriend and I have "foot-rubbin" night on Sundays and this chart looks like an essential. Can't wait to try it out :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Kristina
Such an awesome chart! My roommate who is a physical therapist also taught me that if you put pressure on the space between your thumb and first finger it can relieve headaches, I use that trick all the time :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chart! What an informative post!
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Awesome chart!! I love getting foot massages!! I always go to those $20/hr Asian places and have never done it at home but maybe I should give this to my bf and tell him I have every ailment on the chart ;D
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So would the left foot be the foot on my left, or their left foot?
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering too. 'cause my feet are not like this :D
DeleteWhat a wonderful chart! So interesting.. will definitely try out! :)
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Great post...Thanks for sharing these..ill try it
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Thanks for the next date idea ;) As newlyweds on a budget and pedicures coming every couple of months rather than weeks this is going to be a well used image! Ha thanks!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Maybe it will work for my back. Thanks - enjoy your Blog.
ReplyDeleteThis drawing is so useful thanks for sharing i can't wait to try
ReplyDeleteCammi @ cammilicious.com
GREAT POST:)
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Have a great week dear
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
(sweden)
If my husband and I weren't both so incredibly ticklish I would love to give this a try!
ReplyDeleteLove the illustration! And super way to take away all that stress.
ReplyDeleteLearn about Reflexology at www.ocr.edu !
ReplyDeleteMy husband loves going to get a massage, there's this place in Burien, I swear he loves more than me. I don't like going though. So he can look at this and give me one! :)
ReplyDeleteVery useful steps you shared here.
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THIS TOTALLY WORKS!
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Thanks for the post, and I can remember my first time that I went to the reflexologist and before my appointment I was very nervous. But after him aligning my back and my neck, I can't wait until my next appointment until he gets to do it again.
ReplyDeleteReflexology covers a lot of areas with regard to massage. It can target different parts of the body just through pressing the right spots on the foot and soles, a therapist could typically do it in a 30 minute session and that would help enough on the vitality of someone receiving the massage. I can always remember my first reflexology session when I have felt it was totally painful, but it was stress relieving. In some way I know of another type of massage that could get some physical and mental benefits which is through the sensual massage.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to have a foot massage. Thanks for the share.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the idea behind this great post.You are doing a fine job.Keep it up.
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love this!
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for this chart and I found here, thank you for sharing it.
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Very help full tips of the trigger points.
ReplyDeleteI barely have an idea on how to massage, much less a reflexology massage. I'll just ask someone to do it on me, so I can just sit back and relax. Haha! TheHealingStation.net
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