Wondering what reflexology actually involves? Here’s exactly what happens during a session at Family Holistic Health in Lymm — from the moment you walk in to the glass of filtered water and chat at the end.
If you’ve never had reflexology before, the idea of it can feel a bit mysterious. People hear “pressure points on the feet” and aren’t quite sure what they’re letting themselves in for. Will it hurt? Do they have to talk? Do they need to do anything special beforehand?
I get asked these questions all the time, so I thought it was worth writing down exactly what happens during a session in my treatment room — from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.
Before you arrive
There’s nothing you need to do to prepare. You don’t need to fast, you don’t need to scrub your feet, and you don’t need to bring anything with you. Wear something comfortable that you can relax in — my clients keep all their clothes on apart from their shoes and socks. If you’ve had a busy day, you don’t need to “settle” first. The session itself does that for you.
Arriving at the treatment room
My treatment room is at home in Lymm. There’s space to park on the driveway outside, and the room is set up to feel calm and unrushed — soft lighting, a heated reclining therapy couch, gentle music if you’d like it (and complete quiet if you wouldn’t). For foot reflexology you can either have the couch sat up, or lay flat, however for facial reflexology the bed will be flat. If you struggle with lying flat I have a variety of bolster cushions to make you comfortable.
When you arrive, we’ll have a short chat. If it’s your first session, this chat will be a bit longer as I will take a health history — nothing intrusive, just enough to know what’s going on for you, any conditions to be aware of, and what you’re hoping to get from reflexology. If you’ve been before, we’ll just have a catch-up about how you’ve been since the last session and what would be most useful today.
On the couch
You’ll get comfortable on the reclining therapy couch, fully clothed apart from your shoes and socks. I’ll cover you with a blanket if you’d like one — most people do. Your feet sit at a comfortable level for me to work on, and your body is fully supported. Many of my clients fall asleep within ten minutes, which is absolutely fine and actually a sign your nervous system is settling.
The treatment itself uses my hands — specific thumb and finger techniques on the reflex points of your feet (or face, or hands, depending on the treatment we’ve agreed). If you are having face reflexology I may use some crystal tools. It’s not a foot massage, although it does feel lovely. It’s more precise than that. Different areas of the feet correspond to different parts of the body, and I work systematically through them, lingering on areas that need more attention.
There may be a moment or two where a particular spot feels tender. That’s useful information, not something to push through — I’ll always adjust the pressure to what’s comfortable for you. Most of the time, the sensation is just deeply relaxing.
You don’t have to talk
This trips a lot of people up at the start. You don’t need to make conversation, ask questions, or fill any silence. Some clients chat, some doze, some go somewhere quiet in their own heads. All of it is fine. The treatment works just as well whether you’re awake or asleep.
After the treatment
When the session ends, I’ll bring you back gently and we’ll have a glass of water and a quick chat about how you felt. I’ll let you know anything I noticed during the treatment that might be useful for you — areas that felt tense, patterns that came up — and we’ll talk about whether a follow-up would help.
You might feel slightly floaty for a couple of hours afterwards — that’s normal. Drink plenty of water and try not to dive straight into anything stressful if you can help it. Some people feel a deep sense of calm; others feel energised; a few feel a bit emotional. All of these are completely normal responses as your body recalibrates.
How to book
If you’ve been curious about trying reflexology, I’d love to welcome you. A foot reflexology session is 60 minutes and costs £55. You can find all my treatments and book on my website — or just message me and I’ll get you in the diary.
