Find out more about the benefits of yoga nidra through the results of recent research studies, plus a few of my favourite recordings so you can try it out for yourself ­– at any time and in the comfort of your own home.

Ever been to a yoga class? If so, it’s likely you’ve already experienced yoga nidra. Many yoga teachers incorporate a flavour of this practice towards the end of each session.
 
Yoga nidra is a guided relaxation that encourages you to enter a place of deep rest. Originally passed down individually from teacher to yogi, this ancient practice was documented for the first time by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in the 1970s. More recently, yoga nidra is sometimes coined as ‘non-rest deep state’ (NRDS), with spin-off protocols emerging, such as iRest. 
 
Simply put, a yoga nidra practice involves bringing attention to your breath and rotating your awareness around different parts of the body. It may also involve some intention setting, together with observation of thoughts and feelings.

During the practice, the chatter of the mind quietens down as you become more aware of your entire being. Similar to what can happen during a reflexology treatment, it's common to enter a deeply restful place, somewhere between wakefulness and sleep.
 
Studies have shown that even just 10 minutes of yoga nidra per day can be beneficial (see the 2020 study below). But even doing one of these guided meditations on a weekly basis, or as and when needed, can still be a great support for encouraging more presence and toning down that over-thinking ‘monkey mind’.

Some consider yoga nidra to be a more accessible form of meditation or mindfulness practice. Certainly, if you find silent meditation challenging, this could be something to try instead. All you need to do is follow the guided instructions.
 
Mental health therapist, James Reling, accurately pinpoints the difference between yoga nidra and meditation, saying that it’s unique approach to deep relaxation helps to heal reactive nervous systems.
 
“Traditional meditation often involves focused attention, and observing thoughts and sensations,” he shares on his website. “In contrast, Yoga Nidra emphasises letting go and surrendering to the experience, allowing the mind to enter a state of effortless awareness.”

I regularly recommend clients who are experiencing anxiety, heightened states of stress or poor sleep patterns to try out yoga nidra and consider incorporating it into their routines.
 
Here are the main benefits of yoga nidra. Advice on how to practice, together with free yoga nidra recordings, are all listed below.

Similar to what you experience during reflexology, the relaxation during a yoga nidra meditation can penetrate deep within the nervous system.
 
This helps to balance the autonomic nervous system in two ways: by reducing the activation of your fight, flight or freeze response, and by enhancing your parasympathetic response – your ability to feel calm, rested and safe.
 
Such a response can help to reduce blood pressure and overall stress levels. In fact, a 2020 study (Moszeik et al) reported ‘substantial decreases’ in stress within a large and diverse sample group practicing yoga nidra for just 11 minutes per day.

While yoga nidra is often used by insomniacs to help induce sleep, studies show that practicing it on a regular basis – at any time of day – can help to improve overall quality of sleep.
 
When we are in a deep sleep, our brainwaves slow down to delta mode. This is valuable time for our bodies to heal and repair, allowing us to feel rejuvenated when we wake up.
 
But for those experiencing chronic stress, the brain can be so overstimulated that it is difficult to enter this delta state. Commonly, these people will sleep for eight hours and still feel exhausted in the morning.
 
One study by Karuna et al (2022) found significant improvements in sleep quality – including sleep duration and efficiency – when yoga nidra was practiced each morning for two weeks. Electroencephalogram (EEG) data revealed a marked increase in delta brainwaves during sleep following the fortnight of practice.
 
Just as with many relaxation and holistic therapies, the data points to yoga nidra helping to train the body to relax, and allowing those suffering from insomnia to fall into a deeper sleep more easily.

The Moszeik study of 2020 also found how yoga nidra can help to create balance between emotional states of negative and positive feelings. This is an important component in improving how we navigate stress and our mental resilience.   
 
Overall, the study highlighted improvements in stress, sleep and wellbeing in the participants doing a regular yoga nidra practice. What’s most interesting is that these positive effects continued to last for the medium term: for six weeks after finishing the practice (particpants did 11 minutes per day for 30 days).
 
Reling, who specialises in supporting neurodivergent adults with autism or ADHD, calls yoga nidra a ‘therapeutic powerhouse' that bridges the gap between mind and body. He explains that it is this practice of interoception (tapping into how you are feeling in any given moment) that helps to foster a greater sense of self-awareness and capacity to manage mood swings.
 
He summarises, “I appreciate the accessibility and adaptability of Yoga Nidra as a profound ally in the journey toward holistic health and self-discovery.
 
“Yoga Nidra offers a sanctuary for healing, a pathway to resilience, and a key to unlocking the transformative potential within.”

A quick search for ‘yoga nidra’ on Spotify or YouTube will provide you with a myriad of recordings, and all of varying lengths.
 
It’s important to find a recording with a speaker’s voice that resonates with you. Also, when starting out, you may want to go for a shorter practice of 10 or 20 minutes before increasing them to 30 minutes or more.
 
I’m growing a playlist of favourite yoga nidra recordings on Spotify. Feel free to follow it as more recordings will be added over time. Or get in touch if you have a favourite of your own you'd like to add.

Recently I came across Rachel Hanrahan, Melbourne-based yoga teacher and meditation facilitator who has trained in iRest. I particularly like how she directs the practice and the soothing tones of her voice.
 
Rachel has shared a few free recordings on both Spotify and YouTube. For more options, she is creator of The Dream Space app, which offers a diverse range of meditations on subscription.

If you prefer to be guided, go right ahead. But some may find that after a few listens to a yoga nidra they can guide themselves through the practice. This can be especially helpful at night when you’re struggling to get back to sleep.
 
Personally, I like to mix things up – there are those times when I can easily drop into the relaxation and other times when I'm in need of some extra guidance. 
 
Consider it as an extra play with interoception: go with what feels right for you in each given moment.

Another great discovery has been yoga nidra for children.

If you have little ones, the incredible New Horizon Holistic Centre offers a free app containing bedtime sleep stories and guided meditations. Each has the added elements of fun, wonder and imagination. 

There are many benefits to yoga nidra, however it may be not be a suitable practice for everyone, such as for those experiencing psychosis, or with severe psychiatric conditions.
 
If you have a severe heart condition or uncontrolled hypertension, speak with your healthcare professional first before trying the practice. Likewise, if you have severe respiratory problems, adaptations to the guided breathing exercises may be needed.

Barefoot or minimalist shoes promote natural movement and your foot's natural strength.

Crucially, they are designed to let your feet do the work: for better balance, improved feeling and – ultimately – stronger, healthier feet.

When buying barefoot shoes you're looking for four essential components:

• A wide toe box – allowing toes to naturally spread and comfortably move
• Flexibility – the upper part of the shoe should be light and flexible
• Zero drop – between the front of the shoe and the area under the heel
• Thin soles – while still comfortable, they feel more like walking barefoot

Sadly, there are currently no shoe shops selling barefoot shoes in Western Australia, and certainly not here in Albany.

While in the process of searching for my own barefoot shoes, I've managed to land some discount codes for reflexology clients so you can benefit from savings. Read on for the codes and how to activate them. 

Buying shoes online is not without its problems. But luckily these two online stores offer great support in helping you find the best fit. They also offer straight-forward returns.

Options are available for men, women and children.

Sole Mechanics are an online store selling shoes that promote healthy foot movement. They have a store on Hampton Street in Melbourne, which also offers in-store running analysis.

Primarily catering for the active footwear market, most of the shoes Sole Mechanics sell are for running, hiking and sports. They also stock casual shoes and sandals.

Brands include the ever-popular Vivobarefoot, along with Altra, Xero, Hickies and Luna Sandals.

Free foot assessment
One of the best things about Sole Mechanics is the very informative free foot health and sizing assessment they offer.

While the in-store assessment is naturally the best option, I still found their online foot assessment to be incredibly valuable.

Over a 30-minute video call, their advisor gave me enough information to confidently buy the right brand and model of shoes that are a functional fit for my individual foot size and shape.

For some people, the transition to getting used to barefoot shoes can take a little time. So a foot assessment with one of their experts also offers advice on how best to make this transition.

Discount code for Sole Mechanics
For 15% off barefoot and minimalist shoes at solemechanics.com.au, use the coupon code:
REFLEXOLOGY15

Note: clicking any of these links to Sole Mechanics automatically discounts 15% off the shoes you purchase.

Bprimal are another online seller of barefoot shoes that are passionate about feet freedom.

Next month they are opening a Sydney store. But for us in the deep south of WA, buying barefoots online are currently the only option.

Bprimal offers a large selection of brands and shoe types, some of which can even be used for work and formal occasions.

Brands sold by Bprimal include Lems, Freet, Barebarics, BeLenka, Altra and Vivobarefoot, along with others.

Shipping is from $10 per order. Add $1.99 to your order for a free shipping returns label (see their website for the full terms).

Printable size guides
While Bprimal don't offer the online foot health assessment that Sole Mechanics do, their support in helping you to find the right shoe size and fit is still second to none.

Each pair of shoes listed on their site has a printable size guide. Simply print it out, fold over the corner as outlined in the instructions and place it against a wall to measure your feet (your longest foot).

Be aware, these sizing guides differ for each brand of shoe. And there can even be different guides for different models of shoes within the same brand. Yes, the world of barefoot is a little bamboozling at first!

In light of this, they also recommend measuring the length of an inner sole of a shoe that fits you well. It's a useful sanity check to make sure you have chosen the right size.

Note: While checking sizing for my own barefoot shoes, I did also try the interactive app on their site called 'WHAT IS MY SIZE?'. Using this function, you can take a photo of your feet against a sheet of A4 paper. Then, your phone somewhat magically, reports back on your size. However, I did have issues with this as the sizing didn't at all match up with the printable size guide or with measurement of my insole. Personally, I don't recommend this method, unless you're also using the other two methods to check it's correct.

Bprimal are on hand if you have any questions. Just give them a call.

Discount link for Bprimal
Use this link to save 10% off Bprimal purchases: bprimal.com.au/reflexology

This discount is available for purchases shipped within Australia and New Zealand.

As a reflexologist, feet are obviously the focus of the work that I do. It's common to see clients with callouses, blisters, bunions and hammer toes, and those experiencing foot pain such as Morton's neuroma and plantar fasciitis. What's intriguing is how often these conditions align with the shape of the shoes we regularly wear.

Emerging insights on foot health are revealing how modern shoes, with their narrow toe boxes, inflexible soles and extra support, are impacting the health of our feet. And, as the feet are our bodies' foundation for movement, poor foot strength and function has a huge impact on our posture and overall health.

On a physical level, reflexology helps to ease out aches and pains in the feet (though there are many other benefits to the practice).

For those who are interested in exploring their foot health further, I can point you in the right direction for getting the right support to help strengthen your feet and improve your foot function.

I'll be sharing more about my own barefoot journey over the coming months, together with advice on choosing barefoot shoes that are best suited to the shape and size of your feet.

To stay in the loop, and hear about additional one-off discounts, send a message and ask to be added to my email list, or follow barefootholistics.au on Facebook or Instagram.

It can difficult to relax when you are experiencing ongoing or long-term stress.
 
The triggers to this stress could be an intense workload, relationship rifts, money worries, health concerns, unresolved trauma and fear over the state of the world.
 
Any one of these ‘stresses’ on their own can be enough to place our nervous system in overdrive. When experiencing a combination of them, life can feel tough and like you are constantly in panic mode or trying to stay afloat.
 
Coupled with the micro-stresses that regularly arise each day, and the ‘always on’ society we live in, it’s no wonder so many people are finding it increasingly difficult to switch off and relax.
 
Earlier this year, I completed additional training for supporting clients navigating long-term stress, burnout, anxiety and depression. This training was with Sally Earlam, a professional trainer and reflexologist of 25 years.
 
If you’ve had reflexology before, you may be wondering… but isn’t every session relaxing and beneficial for stress-relief?
 
And yes, you’re completely right.
 
In fact, research has demonstrated how regular reflexology sessions can help to reduce anxiety levels, lower heart rate and improve overall wellbeing. 
 
But if you are feeling overwhelmed with life and what’s on your plate, then a specialised stress-relieving session may be the thing for you.

Reflexology is, by its very nature, an immensely relaxing and restorative practice.
 
But with a specialised session for stress relief, we target those areas that are involved with how your body reacts to stress. We also focuses on those parts of your system that commonly need some extra TLC when experiencing chronic stress.
 
A course of weekly sessions, over just a few weeks, can sometimes be a catalyst to breaking your body’s heightened stress response. This in itself can help you respond to the daily ‘stresses’ from a more grounded and calmer place.  
 
Here are just a few of the techniques that are used during these stress-relieving reflexology sessions:  
 
Mindfulness and breathing practice
Being fully present is important for every type of treatment. Your session will begin with some gentle breathing techniques to help you ground in the space and begin the session with some supportive intentions.
 
Sensitively working your nervous system
While some spinal nerves are linked to the nervous system’s ‘rest and digest’ response, others relate to ‘fight or flight. These nerves, as they correspond on the feet, are either stimulated or sedated accordingly.
 
Sedating the HPA axis
Stress activates the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenals (HPA) axis. Each stage of this feedback loop initiates the release of stress hormones, creating a chain reaction. Sedating the HPA axis aims to break this vicious cycle.  
 
Activating your vagus nerve
Your vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve connecting the brain stem and the body. Heavily involved in the gut–brain axis, activating the vagus nerve can help to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting rest and digestion.

In addition to reflexology, there are practical things you can do outside the treatment space that will help to support your stress recovery.
 
As part of the session, I may offer one or two simple self-help techniques that you can apply at home.  
 
These techniques may involve a breathing practice, tweaks to your diet, useful daily habits, or ideas to promote a good night’s sleep.
 
A few tips for stress relief are outlined in this leaflet. Drop into our centre if you would like a copy, or get in touch for a few more copies to share with a community group or place of work.

Simply book an appointment and ask for a stress-relieving treatment in the booking comments. Alternatively, if you’d like to find out more or have a chat first, do feel free to get in touch with me directly.
 
At the start of your session, we will discuss where you’re at right there and then so I can personalise and build a treatment just for you. 
 
A course of treatments may be advised to offer you the support that’s needed to help you create a positive change.

Every now and then I arrange a day of mini taster sessions for stress relief.
 
Keep your eyes peeled for more info, or get in touch if you’d like to receive a notification on the dates coming up. 

If you’re an employer or team manager based in Albany or the Great Southern region and are interested in arranging an in-house day of stress relieving treatments for your employeees, drop me a line and we can discuss the options. 

Here are five ways of releasing built-up stress and tension... Spoiler alert – reflexology is one of them!

These tips are outlined by Dr Rangan Chatterjee in his book The Stress Solution, an extremely easy read that is full of insightful tips and advice for breaking the vicious cycle of stress response and soothing nervous systems in overdrive.

Here are Dr Chatterjee's main suggestions for releasing stress and tension.

Think 20 press-ups, some star jumps, a brisk walk, or even a cleaning or garden blitz!

This intense activity will help you to 'process' the stress that has built up in your system.

Rangan says we're no different than animals. Polar bears, for example, shake vigorously or tremble after traumatic incidents so they can get rid of feelings of stress. 

Think of it this way: you've got to move to move it!

Deep belly breaths can immediately help to change your physiology and signal to your brain that the world is a safe place. They can help you get out of that 'fight or flight' state and over-thinking, anxious thoughts.

I particularly like the 3–4–5 breath. It's simply:

Breathe in for three seconds.

Hold for four seconds.

Breathe out for five seconds.

Using a longer out-breath engages with the 'rest and digest' part of your autonomic nervous system. Think of those natural sighs you may find yourself doing from time to time. It's your natural response to calm things down.

Do a few rounds of the 3–4–5 breath and see how you feel afterwards.

Have you ever noticed how much better you can feel after crying?

Additionally, "it can often be easier to take full deep breaths after a good cry" says Rangan, which help to calm your system.

It's easy to fall into the trap of taking life way too seriously. Laughing uncontrollably can help to release stress in the body.

Watch a comedian on YouTube or have a laugh with your friends. You'll help to release feel-good endorphins that can relieve stress.

While deep-tissue massage, body work and mindful breathing during yoga stretches can all help to shift stresses that are stored in the body, Rangan singles out reflexology for reducing levels of stress hormones.

"Studies have shown that this gentle and relaxing therapy can help reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol," he says.

"Many patients have reported back to me that reflexology helps lower their stress levels and improve their sleep quality."

Specialised stress-relieving reflexology treatments work to sedate parts of the nervous system associated with fight and flight responses, and activate those areas associated with rest and digest.

For example, the sacral and cervical spine are both associated with the rest and digest – or thrive – division of our autonomic nervous system, known as parasympathethic.

Other reflexology techniques involve working the vagus nerve, cranial nerves, limbic system (our emotional and behavioural brain) and the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, all represented on the feet.

It’s really common for reflexology to be referred to as a foot massage. Likewise, foot massage treatments are often referred to as reflexology.

While there are some similarities between the two practices, there are also striking differences – in the techniques used, and in the aims and benefits of the treatments.

Not wanting to add more confusion to the matter, but many reflexologists incorporate massage techniques into their treatments. Similarly, massage therapists may activate some basic reflexology points during their sessions.
 
So how do you work out which treatment is best for you?

I need to be upfront – I am a reflexologist! And as such, I have witnessed and experienced the long-term effects of this ancient complementary therapy for myself.
 
So, in any review weighing up foot massage and reflexology, I do have a natural leaning towards reflexology.
 
Despite this, I’ve tried to offer an independent-as-possible look at how the two practices differ so you can easily work out which treatment will help you reach your health and wellness goals.
 
Without further ado, let’s start with taking a look at exactly what the two practices are.

Foot massage is a physical therapy that involves manipulating and loosening the structure of the feet through massage techniques. A massage may involve long light strokes, deep pressure, friction and/or rubbing.
 
While many Swedish-massage therapists and Thai masseuses include foot massage as part of their sessions, there are some practitioners who offer foot massage as a treatment in itself.
 
Commonly in Australia, dedicated foot massage sessions are offered at massage and spa parlours in city centres and shopping precincts. Often these sessions run for shorter times than a full body massage or reflexology, from 15 minutes and up to 45 minutes.

Reflexology is a holistic health therapy. Although reflexology treatments may include some foot massage, sessions mainly involve the precise manipulation of hundreds of ‘reflexes’ that are found on the feet and ankles.
 
Believed to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 4,000 years ago, reflexology is based on the belief that by precisely working these reflexes you can invite balance to the rest of your being – not only physically, but also emotionally, energetically and spiritually.  
 
There are many explanations as to how foot reflexology works. While the therapy still operates on a physical level, improving circulation, activating nerves and boosting the immune system, it also activates and balances the body on an energetic level. Essentially, this happens through accessing the meridians outlined in traditional Chinese medicine.
 
Reflexology sessions generally last for 45 minutes or one hour. A consultation is held beforehand so the reflexologist can find out about your treatment goals and how to personalise the session for you.
 
A trained reflexologist will detect imbalances in your feet. Likewise, you may feel spots that are tender or 'lively'. While reflexology should not be used as a diagnostic tool, these imbalances can prove helpful when noted alongside changes in your symptoms over a course of treatments.

Still unsure about which therapy to choose? Here’s a quick-reference comparison chart of the main differences between foot massage and reflexology so you can easily decipher which therapy is the one for you and your feet.

Different to a foot massage, reflexology helps to trigger a healing response in the body.

By activating energy pathways and thousands of nerve endings, the body can be brought into a place of harmony. As such, clinical trials and research studies have shown reflexology to reduce pain, fatigue, anxiety levels, migraines and the side effects of chemotherapy.

Ultimately, any physical manipulation of the feet is a good thing, and especially those methods that encourage you to enter a deep state of relaxation and get you out of the increasingly common fight-or-flight mode.
 
As massage can play a role in both practices, it is quite commonly confused with reflexology.

Both foot massage and reflexology help to loosen up the structure of the feet, improve circulation, activate nerve endings and boost your immune system.
 
It was these similarities that got researchers thinking:

Can the far-reaching benefits of reflexology simply be experienced through a basic foot massage? Or can the long-term healing effects only be achieved through reflexology?

In hope of answering these questions, a randomised controlled study in 2016 investigated the impacts of reflexology and foot massage among 120 women who were moving through menopause.

The participants, aged between 40 and 60 years old, were all experiecing hot flushes and night sweats. They were split randomly into two groups: one that received foot reflexology, and the control group receiving non-specific foot massage.
 
Following the treatments, the study revealed a decrease in hot flushes, sweats and night sweats (vasomotor complaints) among the reflexology group. Importantly, this was reported as a statistically significant improvement when compared with the foot massage group.
 
Researchers did also note improvements in quality of life across both groups following the treatments.

Other research studies comparing foot reflexology with body massage have also found marked improvements in the reflexology groups.
 
Notably, a 2022 randomised clinical trial compared the effects of foot reflexology with Swedish massage on restless leg syndrome and sleep quality in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
 
The results showed that restless leg syndrome and sleep quality improved in the foot reflexology group, much more than the Swedish massage and a sham (placebo) therapy.
 
Researchers said that although both reflexology and Swedish massage can improve restless leg syndrome and sleep quality, “foot reflexology massage had been more effective”.

While foot reflexology may involve massage to loosen up the muscles and connective tissue, reflexology itself involves much more than a massage.

A reflexologist applies precise pressure to hundreds of reflex points found on the feet. The aim is to encourage the whole body to return to balance and induce a deeply state of reflexation where your body can more easily repair.

A foot massage focuses on manipulating and realigning the tissue of your feet to improve circulation and ease aches and pains. While foot reflexology has similar benefits, this holistic practice works on a deeper level by precisely accessing reflex points found on the feet.

Rather than using set techniques, a reflexologist will personalise treatments to you and your health or wellness goals.  

I'm a firm believer that reflexology should not hurt. The style of my practice is extremely relaxing and restorative, coaxing you into a place of deep rest so your body can more easily heal and repair.

Occasionally, you may find a particular reflex to be tender or sensitive. What clients often note is that this tenderness gradually disappears once the reflex has been properly activated. 

If you ever experience pain or discomfort during a reflexology session, please tell the practitioner. They can then adjust their pressure and technique to suit you.

Had reflexology or something like it before? We're all completely different, and whether you prefer a foot massage or reflexology really comes down to personal preference and your treatment goals.

If you’re still unsure about which treatment is best for you, there really is no better way than trying both therapies out for yourself. Think of it as your own little experiment. The things we must do in the name of science, eh?! I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments below.
 
If you want to find out more about reflexology and how it can help to promote whole-body healing, get in touch or explore barefootholistics.com.au to find out more.

 In the research project 'Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology', even the team’s most sceptical scientists were stunned after analysing the data from thousands of brains scans taken while participants were receiving foot reflexology.

The images were captured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which monitors changes in blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain.

The results of these studies raise important questions about the inter-connectedness of the human body and the validity of reflexology as a powerful therapy.
 
Last week, reflexologists Kevin and Barbara Kunz launched the results to the reflexology community. Kevin and Barbara helped to run the project and are also researchers in their own right and published authors.
 
Here is a summary of the incredible findings that Kevin and Barbara shared, based on the webinar to the reflexology community in May 2024. 

About the research on reflexology and the brain
When Dr Stefan Posse walked into his very first reflexology session, on the encouragement of his wife, Kevin could tell straight away that this esteemed professor and physicist was sceptical about whether the therapy would really work.
 
Following the session, the physicist – who also runs an MRI research lab at the University of New Mexico – was certainly intrigued by the practice. 

In fact, that reflexology session was enough to spark the makings of an entire research project looking at the impacts of reflexology on the brain.
 
Over the coming months, Dr Stefan joined forces with Kevin and Barbara, together with a small team of other doctors and researchers also interested in the mind-body connection.
 
Fast-forward four years and we now have prelimary results from their investigations, based on two fMRI studies run at the University of Minnesota’s School of Medicine.

Brain scans taken during reflexology
The first part of the research study happened in April 2023. Using a small group of healthy participants, the team investigated the effects of reflexology on blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain.
 
The study used cutting-edge technology to collect real-time brain scans of each participant while set reflexology techniques were applied to the feet.
 
Once the reflexologists had applied the pressure, the researchers naturally expected the imagery to show activations in the sensory-motor cortex related to the feet.
 
What was startling was that deeper parts of the brain were activated.

Not only that, some of the areas of the brain that were activated had no direct connection to the feet.
 
What’s more, the areas being activated were consistent across the study’s participants.
 
Ultimately, the unexpected happened.

Reflexology lights-up the brain ‘like a Christmas tree’
Following the initial results, Dr Stefan and his team ran a further study in September 2023, this time comparing the same group of healthy participants with a group of stroke patients. Each of the patients had all experienced a stroke within the last 4 to 17 years.

In Kevin’s words, the researchers and neuroscientists were ‘blown away’ by the results of both studies. Dr Stefan even commented that he witnessed the brain ‘activated like a Christmas tree’ during the fMRI scans.

“We saw unexpected changes in the blood flow to specific parts of the brain," shared Kevin. 

Whereas the neuroscientists naturally expected to see real-time changes in the brain's sensory motor cortex when the participants received reflexology, the changes in blood flow went 'way beyond' this part of the brain. 

In essence, the preliminary results show how foot reflexology activates deeper parts of the brain that are not connected to the feet.
 
“This study is not only going to change the way we view reflexology, it's going to change the way we view how the human body operates.”
 
How reflexology affects the brain
A reflexology session will often see you drifting away to what feels like another time and space. Some clients describe it like being in a deep meditation, and many report improvements in their symptoms following the session – and especially after a course of treatments.
 
What the research showed is there’s a lot more going during a reflexology treatment than previously thought.

Here’s a little run-down of what they found through these studies.

The insula cortex was one of the areas of the brain found to be activated across all participants.
 
Buried deep within the brain, Dr Stefan refers to the insula as the ‘seat of consciousness’. This cortex is linked to our psyche and emotional state. Notably, it controls and regulates different parts of our nervous system and plays an important role in psychiatric disorders. 
 
Another area of the brain that consistently lit up was the supramarginal gyrus.
This part of the brain plays a role in the body-mind connection and our sensory fields. Working with other parts of the brain, this gyrus helps us to process information from our inner and outer worlds.
 
Finally, the middle temporal gyrus was part of the brain that was consistently activated among stroke patients who participated in the study.
 
Memory, understanding language and processing emotions are all functions of this area. It also helps us to visually recognise familiar faces and objects.
 
Interestingly, the middle temporal lobe is the earliest region of the brain to show atrophy during Alzheimer’s disease.
 
Limitations to the research
There were a few downsides to the study, the main one being the small sample size of participants.
 
As a proof of concept study, just eight subjects were sampled among the two groups of healthy participants and stroke patients.
 
Another downside was that the techniques had to be applied in ‘on-off block patterns’ to isolate the effects of each reflex within the fMRI scans. In comparison,  the reflexes during an actual reflexology session would be worked much more thoroughly and without the set intervals between each reflex.
 
Finally, the reflexes that were accessed were not consistent across the two groups. This was mostly due to the physical limitations of the fMRI equipment and difficulties working within a closed space, especially with the stroke patients.  

To illustrate, within the group of stroke patients, the reflexologists worked the reflexes on both feet that correspond with the eyes, vagus nerve and brain stem.
 
With the healthy participants, the reflexologists worked the pituitary gland, eye, vagus nerve, adrenal gland and temporal lobe, but only on the left foot.
 
The researchers emphasise that this was a prelimary study. Certainly, they are the first to agree that more research is needed.

Despite each of the limitations, the neuroscientists still stress the robustness of the data due to the findings being consistent within each group of participants.
 
What’s next for fMRI reflexology?
In Singapore earlier this month, Dr Stefan presented the study to 5,000 scientists at the annual meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
 
Following this presentation, him and his team will be writing an academic paper sharing the results of the pilot study. I’ll share the paper as soon as it comes available.
 
Larger trials and with even better technology are planned for the future. In fact, they have already applied for grants for further research studies.

Also of note, one of the more sceptical researchers on the team was so astounded by the results that he’s looking into running further research himself.
 
In the meantime, if you want to watch the full webinar covering the prelimary results, Kevin and Barbara have kindly made it available for everyone to watch on YouTube.

Other reflexology research
Although more trials and studies are needed to delve into the benefits of reflexology, double-blind studies and clinical trials have already been carried out. Take a look at summaries of some of the more prominent research projects so far.