FAQs

Reflexology has its roots in antiquity. Hieroglyphics showing physicians applying pressure with their hands to the soles of their patient’s feet were found in Egyptian physician’s tombs dating between 2500 and 3000 BC.

In modern times, the early 1900’s, an American doctor William Fitzgerald developed the theory of there being 10 zones of energy pathways within the body which influence the internal organs. He described this as Zone Therapy.

This concept was developed further by a fellow American, a therapist, Eunice Ingham, who is regarded as the pioneer of Reflexology in its modern form. The International Institute of Reflexology was then formed.

Reflexology has grown since. Today there is a Reflexology network in Europe representing over 20,000 reflexologists in 20 countries across Europe.

Reflexology can help just about anything.

Reflexology is beneficial for restoring balance and harmony in the body and releasing tension. It can help facilitate a deep state of relaxation, produce a serene mind and calm emotions.

Often imbalances within the body appear on the feet before it’s obvious to the individual, so prevention may be implemented. Referral to the appropriate qualified professional can made where necessary.

In addition, specific studies have shown that reflexology can reduce pain and anxiety, decrease premenstrual symptoms, and reduce fatigue and insomnia. It can also be used in relieving the following:

• Chemotherapy-induced nausea
• Post-operative pain
• Help deal with fibromyalgia symptoms
• Back Pain
• Heel spur
• Migraine headaches
• Infertility
• Pregnancy
• Heart attack
• Immune system
• Constipation
• Arthritis
• Sleep disorders
• Hormonal imbalances
• Sports or accident trauma injuries
• Digestion
• Stress-related conditions
• Eye strain

Heart Attack: Pressing a specific reflex point relieves tension in that part of the body. Scar tissue cause by surgery, heart attacks or injuries may be worked indirectly thereby reducing the possibility of further damage or agitation to the area.

Infertility: Studies in Denmark show reflexology assisted 15% of the women who had been diagnosed as infertile for at least 2 years and had no previous children became pregnant after 6 months, and all of the other women in the study who had menstrual or ovulation abnormalities, completely recovered from their symptoms. (FDZ Research Committee, Denmark, 1994).

Pregnancy: Designed specifically to support both mum and baby after the first trimester but especially from week 26 of the pregnancy. Reflexology gently assists your heart and kidneys function providing you with much-needed relief. A pregnant women’s heart increases the blood volume output to supply the baby with oxygen, continually increasing throughout the pregnancy and will result in an increased heart output of 30-50 percent by the time of delivery. Studies have shown women that have regular reflexology treatments in their last trimester have shorter, less painful deliveries. Source: http://www.reflexology-research.com/Abstracts#pgfId-424932

Reflexology treatments can still be carried out even if you are having medical treatment but please let us know if you have any concerns.

These are specialised advanced reflexology techniques and taught by specialised Reflexology School as the primary modality .

Once you have experienced a reflexology treatment with Lidia Lipic, who holds an Advanced Practitioner Certificate, Diploma of Reflexology, and a Certificate in Multi-Reflexology (face and feet), you will be surprised and positively delighted with your reflexology treatment!! These advanced techniques cover the reflexes in the body in much greater detail and sometimes relate to the smallest of reflexes imaginable.  There are 4,200 reflexes on each foot, and over 300 on the face.

In one study of 4 out-patients cases, 3 had primary infertility (never been pregnant) and 1 had secondary infertility (pregnant once but not able to conceive again), ages 26-30, were given 30-40 minutes of foot reflexology daily for 10 days along with an adjustment of the excretory and nervous-humoral systems. Reflexology was not given during menstruation. All 4 cases became pregnant after the sessions.
http://www.reflexologyresearch.net/ReflexologyInfertilityResearch2.shtml

In another case, a 37-year old woman was described as sterile, with very few menstrual periods and unable to get pregnant in ten years of marriage, was given foot reflexology. In the first week, there was significant improvement in her overall health. She continued with self-reflexology and became pregnant 5 months later.
Source: http://www.reflexologyresearch.net/ReflexologyInfertilityResearch3.shtml

We often see people who have had reflexology before and commented that the reflexology experience with us felt more like an authentic reflexology treatment. Be aware that there are a number of qualified remedial massage therapists who have studied a simple Module of Reflexology very briefly as part of their schooling to become remedial massage therapists. An authentic reflexology treatment consists of precise pressure being applied with fingers and thumbs on specific reflexes found all over the entire foot to decongest the body for improved health and well being. An authentic reflexology treatment will work on all of the bodies major and important reflexes.

If you want to be certain you are seeing a real reflexologist check they are registered as a professional member with the Reflexology Association of Australia (RAoA) – http://www.reflexology.org.au. If they are registered you can be sure they have undergone specialised training in reflexology.  We had been a member of the RAoA for 20 years until 2020 (and since a band of 600 Doctors called The Friends of Science) applied pressure on the Government to stop rebates to members of Private Health Insurance costs for Reflexology Treatments) and the outbreak of the 2020 Virus we decided not to renew our RAoA membership.

Research has shown the specific techniques of reflexology to be effective and beneficial in many ways, impacting a variety of physical and psychological concerns. This discussion notes results gathered from a year-long research project of 170 reflexology studies from 21 countries with findings published in Evidence-Based Reflexology Research for Health Professionals and Researchers (Kunz and Kunz, 2008, RRP Press, ebook, 224 pages).

Assessment of the 170 studies showed nine areas of effectiveness for reflexology application: relaxation, pain reduction, ameliorating of health concerns, improvement in blood flow, aid to post-operative recovery, impacts physiological measures such as blood pressure, enhances medical care, eases pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum effects, benefits mental health, eases pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum effects and complements cancer care.

Source: http://www.reflexology-research.com/

No, unless you have a condition that requires more frequent treatment. For example, a heel spur may require daily treatment. Daily treatment is not always possible and so we will give you clear instructions on what you can do to help yourself at home.

We predominantly use the International Institute of Reflexology Advanced Ingram Method, and Zone therapy, however we also incorporate Thai relaxing foot massage techniques.

A reflexology treatment typically lasts for about an hour. During this time, your feet will be squeezed, stroked, rubbed, massaged and finger and thumb pressure will be applied to your lower legs and feet. The amount and location of the pressure, as well as the effect of the treatment, is said to depend on the unique needs of each individual. Your aching feet will feel revived and soothed treatments are designed to improve all bodily functions. Regular reflexology therapy will improve your health and vitality naturally.

Advanced reflexology techniques locate problem areas and reduce congestion to the specific reflexes and zones correlating to the anatomy and physiology of the body with precision. Reflexology can reduce the detrimental effects stress can have on your body and can alleviate insomnia for a restful night sleep essential for your body to do its repairs. It has also been known to restore blood flow and energy with ongoing therapy.

Often imbalances within the body appear on the feet before it’s obvious to the individual, so prevention may be implemented.

Bowen therapy is a subtle yet powerful light series of ‘challenges’ (pushes) made by the therapist using thumbs or fingers, across fibres, the ‘rolling’ of a muscle, a tendon or a ligament (called the ‘move’) at specific points in the body. The gentle, but powerful moves send neurological impulses to the brain, that then given the time process, at specific intervals, feed impulses back to realign the body. During these intervals your therapist will often leave you to relax and enjoy a quiet moment allowing the process to work its way at relaxing specific points along the body. Most moves are done either at the origin, insertion or belly of the muscles where receptors are located, informing the neural pathways on the state of tension, length or stretch in the musculotendinous tissue. This often changes a pain/muscle spasm loop.

The feedback we receive from people who’ve experienced Bowen for the first time is that they didn’t notice anything at all during the treatment however improvements were felt either immediately following treatment or over the next 3-5 days.

Bowen bodywork will continue to be integrated by the body over the next 7 days.

For the most serious conditions only 3 – 5 sessions, one week apart.

Yes, to gain the results you expect you are best advised to do some easy homework:

• Observe the 30-minute rule; for the 24 hours following treatment we suggest you avoid sitting for periods longer than 30-minutes, lying down is perfectly fine. If you must sit for more than 30 minutes, make sure you get up and walk around for 5 minutes. This rule should not be underestimated. Please observe. Lying down flat or sleeping is fine, lying down is fine and does not apply to the 30-minute rule.
• Walk; the perfect gentle exercise. Walk for at least 15 minutes a day for the next 5 days (avoid vigorous or impact exercise for 7 days).
• Water; increase the amount of water you normally drink by at least 2 standard sized glasses a day.
• Wait; before trying any other modality (of treatment) to alleviate your presenting condition, please wait until 5 days have passed, it can sometimes take 5 days for Bowen to be integrated by the body. However, since we are all so unique, please speak to your Bowen therapist to discuss your situation. Remember we want to help you to fully recover and quickly.

Relief can be profound, lasting anywhere from a few months to 6 months to permanent; affecting back pain, range of movement, digestive, respiratory, glandular and energetic systems just to name a few. The Bowen technique subtly and profoundly stimulates energy flow, promoting the body’s in-built healing mechanism.

In this regard, some clients elect to have maintenance treatments every 3 or 6 months whilst others enjoy the feeling of wellbeing from treatments and choose to receive Bowen therapy every 8 weeks. We can make recommendations but ultimately it is up to you to let us know when you need a maintenance treatment.

Some babies start to experience reflux from 6 weeks of age. Bowen treatment has a high success rate for relieving colic; the colic is often resolved after just 1-2 visits. If a further visit is necessary the parent or carer may be taught these moves to do in the comfort of your own home. Baby Bowen consists of a few very light-touch moves. Generally these gentle Bowen moves are performed whilst the parent or carer is holding the baby. Babies and children respond very quickly with Bowen treatment and Bowen has even had success in treating children with Cerebral Palsy. The moves will be carried out on your baby whilst you hold him or her and consist of very light single finger moves which will not cause any pain or discomfort in any way. Babies respond very positively to Bowen and often the results are immediate but sometimes it can take up to the 24 hours.

Auricular medicine is a highly effective treatment for the entire body using the outer ear. Originated from China, but redeveloped in France and Germany over the past 40 years. Prior to that, Egyptians used earrings to treat vision and fertility problems. The Romans also learned this technique and used it to cauterize specific points on the ear for pain relief of sciatica.

Nowadays effective treatment starts with a foot reflexology massage followed by gentle manipulation of specific points on the ear.