60 Before 60 Project: #16 - Try Reflexology

It’s interesting how life can bring you some unexpected opportunities.  

After a speaking engagement I did some time back, I was approached by Wendy Reichental after the presentation. Wendy had recently retired and was starting her journey of discovery and deciding what she wanted to do next. We exchanged a few emails and at that time Wendy wrote a very popular article for us entitled Navigating an Out of Sync Marriage.  

In her early 20’s, Wendy had studied to become a reflexologist but had not pursued that path. Instead, she choose to work full time at a major University. Once she retired, she decided that it was a great time to revive her passion for reflexology and she went back and completed her recertification. 

If you’re not familiar with reflexology, it’s an alternative form of healing and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The idea is that different parts of your feet correlate to different organs and parts of the body. By applying pressure to different spots of your feet, it is believed that reflexology can calm your central nervous system, reduce stress and help promote healing.  

Wendy happened to notice my 60 Before 60 Project and offered me a reflexology session to add to my list. I had never done this before and jumped at her generous offer to give it a try. 

To start the session, Wendy asked me some questions about my health while I soaked my feet in a bath of warm water. Once done, I then reclined in a chair and was covered with some blankets to keep me warm. Once Wendy ensured that I was comfortable, she asked me to relax as the session would take about an hour. 

When she told me that, I couldn’t imagine how anyone could spend an hour on my feet but to my surprise, that is how long it took. Wendy had a very methodical approach as she massaged and applied pressure to certain areas of the bottom of my feet. As she worked, she would share with me what part of the foot she was working and the area of my body it correlated to. Once she was finished with the reflexology portion of the session, she then gave both my feet a relaxing massage. 

To be honest, before the session I wasn’t actually sure I would enjoy this. I was concerned that my feet would be ticklish or I would find the treatment weird or uncomfortable. 

But this experience was amazing! 

At the end of the session, I felt extremely relaxed. I asked Wendy whether she finds giving reflexology sessions tiring. She shared with me that she actually finds it energizing as it was a way of sharing positive energy back and forth between herself and her clients. Along with her own reflexology practice, Wendy also generously volunteers to provide sessions to cancer patients to help them as well. 

I was very grateful to have been able to experience this. Not only did I get to try something new, I may have even made a new friend in the process. 

My 60 Before 60 Lesson: Sometimes wellness and relaxation can be found in your sole  

Interested in seeing all my 60 Before 60 experiences? Click here.