Yahoo News Ease stress, headaches and anxiety with these at-home reflexology pressure points
Can't shake a headache or need a little detox boost now that summer is well and truly over?
To celebrate World Relexology Week 2019 and to help ease you back into the daily grind, we asked reflexologist Gemma Ireland, co-founder and director of Bodyflow (@bodyflowlondon), who counts Millie Mackintosh among her clients, for some simple tips on using reflexology pressure points on the hands and feet to help revive and restore.
Here she shares six self-care tips to for a mini wellness boost at-home.
To relieve headaches and migraines
A post shared by Gemma Ireland (@bodyflowlondon) on Mar 23, 2019 at 9:05am PDT
If you're suffering from a headache which you can't seem to shift, Ireland says pressing into this point in the middle of your thumb and index finger, front and back, can sometimes help to relieve pain.
"It’s a wonderful release point and will help you through your day," she explains.
To relieve shoulder pain
A post shared by Gemma Ireland (@bodyflowlondon) on Aug 19, 2019 at 9:28am PDT
"So many of us carry tension and stress in our shoulders," says Ireland. "Apply pressure to this point, breathing as you go. You will fly away with floating wings."
For a liver detox boost
If you've been guzzling rosé all summer long and could do with a mini detox, at least before the bank holiday rolls around, Ireland shares an at-home hack that may help to give you a boost.
Read more
What is reflexology and does it really work?
"Pressing on this acupressure point will help give you a new lease of energy. It's very cleansing and detoxifying, great if you are not sleeping properly too, waking at 3am for example and finding it hard to get back to sleep," she says.
"Slowly increase the pressure on the inhale and release the point on the exhale, this may feel a bit sensitive, this is fine, keep breathing until the pain releases."
To relieve pressure in your head
Whether you have a headache, neck pain or are just dealing with a bout of brain fog, Ireland recommends this sequence to relieve pressure in your head.
"Working around the big toes, little massage movements will help release headaches, the jaw and a stuffy head. It will feel sore at first, but then dissipate."
To help deal with anxiety
If you're feeling a little anxious or fearful, Ireland suggest another pressure point on the foot.
"Press in quite firmly on this point doing anti clockwise circular movements, breathing in and out as you do it.
"Release any tension you have and you'll feel stronger and calmer almost instantly. Living a stressful life can always make us feel slightly out of control so it’s good to bring the body back to balance on a daily basis."
To ease a sore neck
If you feel you have a crick in your neck, pressure points on the toes, may be able to help.
"The purple shaded bits of your big toes are wonderful pressure release points for your neck," says Ireland. "Rub and apply pressure to these areas, either sides at the same time and breathe in and out as you do it. You will feel a little discomfort, but continue massaging it until it releases and you'll start to feel ease in your neck."
Finally, she adds: "Don’t sleep with more than one pillow to keep your neck in alignment."
