1. Know the Difference Between Reflexology and Massage
Reflexology is a healing technique during which you press the sides of your thumbs or a knuckle into specific areas of the hands or feet to stimulate healing in a different part of the body. What you are doing is stimulating the nerve endings that exist in these areas. Reflexology is not always comfortable, in that you are having firm, precise pressure held in areas that are often generally untouched and sensitive. Massage, on the other hand, is generally considered relaxing and pleasurable, with little--if any--pain involved. During massage, the muscles are rubbed in long, lengthy strokes that avoid sharp, focused pressure on any area. This is why massage often results in sleep or a hypnotic, somnolent state in which one is not quite asleep, but can still generate dreams. This is rarely the case in the far more challenging reflexology. However, these two treatments can work very well together. The person who does not want or cannot stand a one-hour reflexology treatment can often handle 10 minutes of footwork if she knows it will be followed by a 50-minute massage. Health needs and pain tolerance levels are unique to each person. The idea is to offer as much healing as possible--within the patient's limits.
2. Use Two Practitioners
If you are a massage therapist and have a colleague who is a reflexologist, you can create a comprehensive healing treatment by working on a client at the same time. While you work on the neck, back and shoulders, the reflexologist can stimulate the feet. While the reflexologist works on the hands and ears, you can massage the legs. A practiced duo can help the client achieve advanced states of relaxation, and this can be a successful spa offering for busy professionals.
3. Combine Reflexology and Hot Stone Massage
Since reflexology is so active on the practitioner's part and hot stone massage so passive, these two modalities work well in conjunction. After placing warm stones on a client's back or areas of other distress and then covering the stones and client with a blanket, you have about eight minutes to perform reflexology on the hands or feet before needing to replace the cooled stones with warm ones. With eight minutes on each hand and foot and five minutes on each ear, as well as the time to place and replace the stones, you can create a superb one-hour full-body massage.
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