Episode 7 | Revitalizing Your Sole: Reflexology, not just a foot massage with Naturopath Jean Squires
Join Naturopath Jean Squires in this captivating episode as we dive into the world of reflexology.
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Podcast Transcript
Episode 7: Revitalizing Your Sole: Reflexology, not just a foot massage with Naturopath Jean Squires
Ep7 Reflexology with Jean Squires
[00:00:00]
[00:00:41] Amy Squires: Hello and welcome back to the Holistic Health Show. Thanks for joining me again this week. And this week is our very first guest episode with video recording. So today we have Jean Squires. Jean is a naturopath in Newfoundland, Canada. She [00:01:00] specializes in Reiki and reflexology. Thanks for joining us today, Jean.
[00:01:05] Jean Squires: Hi, Amy. Thanks for having me on.
[00:01:08] Amy Squires: Of course. Now, many of you may already know. That Jean is actually also my mother. I thought it fitting to have mom on the show. If you had heard my previous, I think episode three, it talks about why I became a Reiki practitioner or a Reiki master teacher. And it all started with my grandmother and then was kind of handed down to us, uh, my mom and then me.
[00:01:34] So I just thought it was fitting to have mom on the show as one of the first. guest episodes. And today what we're going to talk about is reflexology. Now, mom, one of the first things I kind of want you to go into is why or how did you come to this journey? It wasn't in, you know, it wasn't something that my sister and I grew up with.
[00:01:57] We never practiced reflexology, or you didn't. [00:02:00] And it wasn't until Nan brought Reiki to the family that we even kind of entered this world of holistic health and that was when I was about 13. So how did your journey with all of this start?
[00:02:13] Jean Squires: Uh, well it started with My mother, as you said, uh, she was one of the first people, uh, that I knew were in Newfoundland, really, that, uh, was practicing Reiki.
[00:02:25] So she needed people to practice on, and we, of course, were the closest to her, so... Uh, I started with her, she was practicing on me and gradually she started to teach me Reiki level one and two. And from there on, I, I guess I was kind of intrigued by it, but I was pretty busy. My, I was working, I was, you know, raising you two girls.
[00:02:54] And just never had time to really explore anything until you [00:03:00] guys got a bit older. And then I was looking for things to add into my life, some of my own interests. So I did do some more training with mom and gradually became a Reiki practitioner myself. And as I was doing that, I was It piqued my interest, so I was looking for other things to do as well, and Reiki, sorry, Reflexology was one of the things that came up, and I gradually just kind of looked for somebody who could teach me, found someone, and Just began practicing on people and when I started to see the result of the treatments on people That's pretty much when it hooked me in and I realized that yes, this is something that I want to continue on.
[00:03:56] Amy Squires: Yeah, of course. That was a few years ago now. Um, I [00:04:00] can say that I'm definitely happy that you do it because I love getting a reflexology session. But for those who have never had reflexology or maybe haven't heard of it, what, what is it?
[00:04:11] Jean Squires: Reflexology is it, well, it's a truly holistic treatment. It works on every level, body, mind, spirit.
[00:04:20] And the nice thing about reflexology is that Because the feet are mapped out to match the body, which means we can actually target specific areas to work on. Not like brachy, where, you know, it goes where it's most needed, it's very beneficial, but with reflexology it's more of a hands on, uh, treatment for specific issues.
[00:04:48] Uh, for example, if somebody has a bad back, we can concentrate on working on the spine. If they have emotional issues, there's different areas that we can work on. But one of the [00:05:00] first things that Reflexology does is activates the parasympathetic system, so it lowers your heart rate, lowers your breathing, lowers your blood pressure, so that you get into a...
[00:05:13] Very deep state of relaxation and once you're there Anything really is possible with healing because you can't heal a stressed body And I just take once the person is in that in that state I just take it there and go with whatever is
[00:05:39] Yeah,
[00:05:40] Amy Squires: I, from my experience, I definitely feel very relaxed when I sit in that chair and I sometimes fall asleep. So I'm not much of a conversationalist when I'm having a treatment, but I really do enjoy it. And it's been. A different experience. I have had reflexology in other [00:06:00] countries. Um, I'm, of course, in Australia now.
[00:06:03] I've had a session here and a little bit in Southeast Asia. I've had a couple of sessions, but they've always been different. And I know that you offer. Uh, I think it's two or three different treatments themselves. So would you agree that, yes, reflexology is performed differently, kind of, in different places of the world, and, you know, maybe why that would be, or, or why you do your different...
[00:06:31] Treatment sessions.
[00:06:33] Jean Squires: Yeah, it definitely is practiced differently in different places. And while the underlying premise of the treatment is still the same, you know, the feet are still mapped out to match the body. There's different, I think the biggest difference is the pressure that's used. Some countries use a very, very deep pressure.
[00:06:54] In fact, they even use tools. Uh, the wooden stick or rocks to [00:07:00] press on the points of the feet that need work. The treatment I do is very gentle. It just is meant to stimulate the nerve endings in the bottom of the feet, which there are about 7 to 8, 000 and the same with the hands. Uh, we stimulate those nerve endings and that causes kind of a cascade effect up through the body because, you know, once you start talking about the nervous system, it travels, everything travels up through the body.
[00:07:28] It hits every organ, every gland, every, uh, part, every cell, I guess, of the body. So, my treatment is not at all harsh, it's very gentle, and I do offer some add on to the reflexology treatment. I see. One is, I do, well, I do a foot massage with every treatment, after every reflexology treatment. And I use oils [00:08:00] that I blend myself.
[00:08:01] So they're therapeutic. I use, uh, doTERRA essential oils to make the blends. And I have them for pain, for menopausal problems, for insomnia. And I can pretty much make a blend for any kind of condition. So that's standard with every treatment that I do. There are a couple of extra ones. One is brand new, , I'm just rolling it out now.
[00:08:27] And it, , seems to be a big hit. I use hot stones at the beginning and the end of the treatment to massage the calves and the feet. And, of course, who doesn't like
[00:08:42] Amy Squires: heat? Yeah, that's one I'm pretty excited to, uh, to try.
[00:08:46] Jean Squires: Yeah, the other one I've been using for quite a while, and it's also wildly popular, is a scrub.
[00:08:54] I get that also made locally, not by me, but by a lady here who makes great [00:09:00] products. And she uses all natural ingredients. And I scrubbed the feet and the calves. So your skin is left feeling just so silky smooth after. And then after both those treatments, I wrapped the feet in hot towels. So the biggest problem I have is actually getting people out of the chair after.
[00:09:23] Amy Squires: Yeah, I bet. Yeah. I can understand that. I can appreciate that.
[00:09:28] Jean Squires: Now, I want to just go... So, deeply, deeply relaxing.
[00:09:31] Amy Squires: Yeah. I wanted to go back to... How you said you use a light touch and I know this, um, from having felt it before, having, you know, received your treatments multiple times, but what do you do when people have particularly ticklish feet?
[00:09:49] Because I hear that quite a lot, you know, I, I hear people say, well, I don't go, I haven't tried reflexology because I'm really ticklish. So what happens if somebody is really ticklish? [00:10:00] Is it just too difficult for them to sit through a treatment? No,
[00:10:04] Jean Squires: not at all. The treatment I do, it, the pressure is firm enough so that it's not a ticklish feeling.
[00:10:12] Uh, so they don't mind the reflexology session at all. The only thing I would suggest that if you have very ticklish feet is, let me know because when I do, if I do the scrub treatment and I'm brushing the scrub. Along the bottoms of the feet. Sometimes that can feel a bit ticklish. Yeah, I could see that.
[00:10:31] But the rest of the treatment is not.
[00:10:36] Amy Squires: And then what do you think? I'm just, I keep going back to the the tools that you were mentioned, uh, you had mentioned some people or places might use. Would it just be too harsh? I know sometimes when you're doing treatments on me or even when I've had them here, It's never really hard, but there are some areas of my feet that are really tender.
[00:10:58] Uh, it's not always the [00:11:00] same, but there's some, I guess, pressure points that you, you get to, and they really are tender. So I can imagine somebody who's poking that with a stick. That might hurt.
[00:11:11] Jean Squires: I don't know. Oh, definitely. It would definitely hurt and the thing about the the sensitivities, the sensitive areas that you feel Usually they correspond to an area of the body that you're having trouble with.
[00:11:26] So say for instance you have a problem with with your shoulder. If I'm working on the shoulder area Then you will probably find a sensitivity there. It doesn't usually hurt to the point where you can't stand it, but it just feels sensitive or it feels different from the other parts of the foot that I'm working on.
[00:11:49] You notice it more, I think. You do. And that is one of the fun parts of the treatment, uh, because when I am doing, before I start, I'll explain everything, especially to new clients [00:12:00] and I'll tell them, if you find an area. That is tender, it's sensitive, it feels, if you, if you feel it in your foot or you could feel it in your body.
[00:12:10] So going back to the shoulder, when I'm doing the shoulder area, you may feel it on your foot, but you could also feel it in your shoulder and say, Oh wow, like I feel a tingling or a heat or there's something happening in my shoulder. And I'll say, yeah, well that's because I'm working on that area right now.
[00:12:28] So it's, it's. That is what validates it for me. I know it's working. The client knows it's working. It's not just something, you know, you're coming in to have for relaxation. It really is therapeutic treatment. And the other thing that I can feel when I'm doing a treatment is tightness. I look for inflammation or redness or discoloration.
[00:12:55] I also can feel bumps or kind of [00:13:00] like little crystals under the skin and that tells me that there's a problem with that area of the back. So it is, you know, it is quite fun to pick up on those things and then tell the client and you know, they can, they can validate it for me and say, yeah, well, that's because I have this issue.
[00:13:18] Um, so, those are some of the things that I can feel, they can feel. The other things that people mention to me are feeling of warmth, of tingling, of a flow, kind of like something moving in the area. Especially if I do... Uh, specialized treatment that I, that I've, uh, been doing for about a year and a half called reflexology lymph drainage.
[00:13:50] That one worked specifically on the lymphatic system. And I could go into great detail about how wonderful that is, but, uh, I will say [00:14:00] that for anyone suffering from any kind of inflammation, edema, lymphedema.
[00:14:07] Any kind of chronic illness, that would be the treatment that I would recommend for them because it does specifically target lymphatic system and helps with Any kind of swelling. And a lot of times with that treatment, people actually feel a flow coming off their body and draining, a flow coming down their chest, which is where the lymph actually drains.
[00:14:37] Amy Squires: Yeah, well, I don't think I've ever had that treatment. That sounds quite remarkable, really. Would, would this treatment, you mentioned previously reflexology for the hands and feet. So first, I guess there's kind of two questions. So I'll start with this one. Are the hand and the feet treatment, aside from using different parts of the recipient's body, [00:15:00] are the treatments different?
[00:15:01] Are the results or the benefits changing if you're using a hand versus a foot?
[00:15:06] Jean Squires: No, not for the reflexology treatment. Okay. The hands and the feet are mapped out pretty much exactly the same. So I can target, uh, all the areas of the body, either, with either treatment. The only... So would it
[00:15:23] Amy Squires: be... Yeah, sorry.
[00:15:25] Would it be, you know, the tips of the fingers or the tips of the toes? If you were looking at the hands versus the feet, and you know, the palms here of the hands, I don't know if you can see, or... Yeah,
[00:15:36] Jean Squires: it's the whole hand. So, it's the same as with the foot, so, uh, you think of it as, you think of the fingers as the hand.
[00:15:44] Same as the toes. So the tops of these fingers are the brain, the face is behind, in the back of the fingers, the sinuses are the front, the shoulders here, all the organs are in this part of the palm of the hand, say. [00:16:00] And the spine comes up along here, same as it does on the side of the foot. The only time I would say that you would Go with one or the other is if you have a problem, say, with your hand, if they're arthritic, if you have carpal tunnel, if they're very tight, uh, I would say come and get a hand reflexology because.
[00:16:25] I can work out those areas when I'm doing the massage part, and I also do the forearm when I'm doing it. So, tennis elbow, tight arms, tight hips, of course, people now, because of the, there's so much computer use, keyboarding, and. You know, work with the hands. People do find their, their hands are really tight.
[00:16:50] They have a lot of pain. They may have joint pain from arthritis, and I can work that out. So, the other thing would be, [00:17:00] if you have a problem with your foot, if you have, say, Uh, broken skin or athlete's foot or any kind of skin condition or broken bone or something on your foot. I would never touch that. I would always recommend that you get the hand
[00:17:18] Amy Squires: done.
[00:17:18] Okay. What do most people do? Feet. Yeah, yeah, everybody loves to see more relaxing to me, I guess.
[00:17:26] Jean Squires: Yeah, and it's it's a bigger area I guess it's easier for me to work back. Yeah, because it is a bigger area But most people love absolutely love getting their feet done now I do have some regular clients that only do hand and it's It's funny because everybody's so different and once they get a treatment that they love, they just stick with it.
[00:17:52] Amy Squires: Yeah. I'm thinking now when I go get a massage, this doesn't always happen. It's, it depends on, you know, the masseuse, but sometimes at the very end, they'll [00:18:00] do a hand massage and I really, really enjoy that. But I never think when I'm getting a reflexology of hands, I think feet. Always. Yeah.
[00:18:11] Jean Squires: I would say it's, you know, it's a great idea to try both because their benefits to both are just amazing and you don't actually realize how, how much you need your hands worked.
[00:18:25] You always think of your feet hurting and, and being stiff and sore, but you don't realize how nice it feels. Get your hands massaged down as well. Well,
[00:18:35] Amy Squires: sign me up for both.
[00:18:40] Now, what about any myths? Are there any myths or, you know, misconceptions that come along with reflexology? Is there anything you get asked
[00:18:53] Jean Squires: a lot, or? Well, some people, yeah, some of the things I get asked would be, [00:19:00] the biggest one I guess is does it hurt? And it shouldn't hurt, not the treatment I do, especially if people have traveled and gotten them in other countries and they've just walked out of there thinking that was extreme feeling and I can't get out of there.
[00:19:13] Um, some people think it's a massage and they just come in expecting me to massage their feet and that is, like the show says, it's not just a foot massage. It's actually a very therapeutic treatment and they think it just will help the feet or the hands, but it actually helps the whole body and it can help with.
[00:19:39] any kind of pain, anxiety, any kind of emotional issue, um, any kind of itis, arthritis, you know, anything that causes or is a result of inflammation. So it's not just for the [00:20:00] area that I'm working on. It really is a full body treatment. Yeah.
[00:20:05] Amy Squires: And I wonder with the, um, Um, you know, the harsher treatments that people would receive elsewhere.
[00:20:14] I wonder if that's kind of a no pain, no gain mentality that needs to be overcome. You know, where you think, you know, you kind of have to hurt to make a difference.
[00:20:23] Jean Squires: Almost definitely. Yeah. And some people love that. Yeah. Some people, some people love that feeling and you know, I get some people, I have had people come in to me and say, You know, I was expecting a much deeper treatment, much deeper pressure, and that's what I'm looking for.
[00:20:45] And I'd say, well, you know, you need to find somebody else because that is not what I do. And not only that, I wouldn't be practicing very long if I was doing that, because my hand just couldn't take it. It would just be so hard on [00:21:00] my thumbs because there's a lot of thumb work with this, and I need to keep practicing as long as I can.
[00:21:07] Don't want my hands to get out now. No,
[00:21:10] Amy Squires: not at all. Now, you mentioned, um, you know, some benefits are anxiety, pain, itis. Are there any real specific conditions or is it, you know, exactly as you say, it's truly holistic and you can really gain benefits. from all parts, other parts of the body.
[00:21:31] Jean Squires: It really is. It really is a full body treatment.
[00:21:36] Um, some people have come to me just for foot pain, say plantar fasciitis. And when I know that I will leave some extra time for the foot massage at the end and I will use the blend I have for pain and they find that very beneficial. But I only do that after I had done the full reflexology treatment. So they end up getting all the benefits.[00:22:00]
[00:22:00] And are usually quite surprised by. Not only has their foot pain been relieved, but how well they feel overall or how it has impacted, you know, another condition that they have.
[00:22:16] Amy Squires: Yeah, and even just the, you know, coming in and de stressing, you know, I say sometimes these treatments are like a 60 minute holiday, you know, you really come in, you relax and just kind of take a break from the world or the week or whatever's been going on.
[00:22:33] So it must, You know, I can imagine you'd even sleep better if you were getting regular treatments, even, you know, with, with the benefits that you'd receive from whatever conditions that you're struggling with, but also having that time to de stress and kind of get your body back to a state of relaxation.
[00:22:51] Jean Squires: Oh, yeah, 100%. It's most definitely, um, a very relaxing treatment and it kind of gives [00:23:00] you a nice reset. I mean, how often do we get an hour just to lie back and they don't, you know, I tell my clients, you don't have to talk to me during the whole session. I'm not here for you to entertain. You can just lie back.
[00:23:13] I put on some soft music and cover them with a blanket, turn down the lights. And that in itself, if I did nothing else, that would be so beneficial to most people. As
[00:23:27] Amy Squires: you're saying and I'm thinking, you know, I'm just sorry, I'm just thinking, make no wonder I fall asleep. It already sounds great.
[00:23:34] Jean Squires: Yeah. And you get the added benefit of me working on the feet, activating the parasympathetic system, getting all those relaxation hormones flowing through the body.
[00:23:44] And it's just, you know, people. Even feel groggy after like they've taken some, uh, but their body unfortunately is not used to that state. So [00:24:00] they feel, they really do feel like, you know, they're a little bit drugged after because, you know, once those, once the feet, that relaxation starts flooding through the body, it's like something that they haven't experienced in probably years.
[00:24:19] Yeah, especially after COVID. I did find that people were a lot of people were just coming for the relaxation part of this. Uh, just to get away from all the stress of the lockdowns and all the news briefings that were scaring people all the time and, you know, the sickness that was surrounding people. So it was really a, an hour break and that carries on with you after you leave.
[00:24:46] It's not just when you walk out the door that all that feeling disappears. It stays with you for a while after and the longer you've been getting treatments and the more often you get them. the [00:25:00] longer that those benefits stay with you. So people to come back and tell me or contact me and say, you know what?
[00:25:07] I felt my reflexology wear off about two days ago. I need to get back. Just, just get it again. So I can, I can feel better again.
[00:25:19] Amy Squires: Yeah, and going back to the holiday comparison, you know, when you need another vacation. So I guess it is, you know, it's, you get that break and it lasts you so long and then you find yourself back in the chair.
[00:25:32] Yes,
[00:25:32] Jean Squires: exactly. And you know, exactly. And people find when they leave here, they're better able to cope. with day to day stressors, they sleep better, and of course, if you're, if you're sleep deprived, you can't deal with anything and you just feel terrible all the time. It reduces, you know, their menopause symptoms, so they're not having as many hot flashes and just feel calmer for longer.[00:26:00]
[00:26:00] So it's, you know, it's really beneficial to helping you cope with your day to day stressors.
[00:26:11] Amy Squires: Yeah, I'm just sitting here thinking, so When you visit again, as I mentioned, mom's in Newfoundland and I'm in Australia So all I can think now is I can't wait to get my next reflexology from mom Try out the hot stones
[00:26:27] Jean Squires: Yeah, sounds like I'm going to be busy while
[00:26:29] Amy Squires: I'm there. It might be a vacation for you and not for me, or sorry, the other way around for me and not for you.
[00:26:35] Yeah. All right. So we kind of went through what people can expect during a session. The pressure and the benefits, is there anything in particular that they can expect after the session? Is there anything that 1 would have to do after attending a reflexology session, whether it be hands or
[00:26:54] Jean Squires: feet? Not really.
[00:26:56] I would. I always suggest to people, after [00:27:00] any of my treatments, that You know, if possible, if they can, you know, relax for a bit, not go out in among a big crowd, just try to even go home and have a nap. Just really
[00:27:13] Amy Squires: maximize on that relaxation.
[00:27:16] Jean Squires: Exactly, and, and just let it flow because it's, like I said, it doesn't end when I stop the treatment.
[00:27:23] It continues to work through the body. It continues almost like a detox or a reset. And just reap the benefits of it for as long as you can, and just let it go through. It's the same as if you would get a massage, you know, I'm sure the practitioners wouldn't suggest that you go out and have an intense game of hockey or baseball or something after, you know, just try to, yeah, just try to let your body absorb the treatment that you, that you just had.
[00:27:56] Yeah, no
[00:27:57] Amy Squires: doubt. I guess it's like, you know, [00:28:00] after I do a Reiki session on anyone, I say, you know, if you can go home now and have a cup of tea and read a book and just find some kind of quiet time for yourself. I mean, it's not always easy to do that. Squeezing in that 60 minutes sometimes is, is more than a challenge, but.
[00:28:18] Exactly. I know. Great to maximize on that relaxation.
[00:28:23] Jean Squires: Life is just too busy, but we, you know, wherever you can find the time to just give yourself a break. It's so beneficial physically, mentally, emotionally, and people, I think, are starting to realize this and, you know, understand that they just cannot keep going on overdrive all the time.
[00:28:51] You know, people start to find that they do have physical and emotional problems that pop up and they're purely stress related. [00:29:00] And I know
[00:29:02] Amy Squires: for myself, when I'm, you know, if I have a lot on the go or, you know, something's really stressful, if I do remind myself, you do have to consciously tell yourself, go take this time, I'm more productive after, you know, I'm happier about what I'm doing.
[00:29:17] And you kind of can take it in stride a little easier. It's just reminding yourself to get there and convincing yourself that you can take that time. It's so
[00:29:27] Jean Squires: important. You know, one of the biggest things I hear from first time clients after I'm done is I'm so sorry I didn't start this earlier. I've been putting it off because I figured I didn't have the time, but now I know I'm going You're more productive
[00:29:42] Amy Squires: for it.
[00:29:43] Yeah, definitely.
[00:29:45] Jean Squires: And happier. We're all searching for happiness and sometimes it just means slowing down. Taking a break. No doubt.
[00:29:54] Amy Squires: I'd imagine that everyone around is happier that you're taking the time as [00:30:00] well. Certainly it would improve your relationships and you're at work or at
[00:30:04] Jean Squires: home. That's right. It benefits everybody in the house.
[00:30:09] Certainly. And at
[00:30:10] Amy Squires: work. I don't work. Yeah. So if anybody wanted to get a Reiki or sorry, I'm, I'm on the Reiki train. If anyone wanted to get a reflexology or learn more about reflexology, where would you suggest they do that?
[00:30:26] Jean Squires: Well, there's some information on my website, as for the reflexology, there's a Canadian reflexology association.
[00:30:34] that has some very nice information. If you're looking for information on the Reflexology Limb Drainage, if you go on my site and click on that, that treatment, you will find links to, the Reflexology Limb Drainage website in the UK, and that gives you loads of information on the treatment and research around it.
[00:30:59] There's [00:31:00] been quite a bit of research in the UK on that particular treatment. And it just, it's just mind blowing. Yeah, mind blowing when you look at the benefits of it. And if you want to book a treatment with me, I do have a website, it's www. jeansquires. com. It's very easy to navigate, you can just book online.
[00:31:22] And I always tell people, if you're looking for a time, and you don't see it on my schedule, you can always... Send me a quick text or an email, and we can work something out, or we can get you on a cancellation list.
[00:31:38] Amy Squires: And for our Australian , listeners, I'll have a look and see what I can find as well, and I'll post all of those links in the transcript below this video once, once it's uploaded.
[00:31:51] Well, Jean, mother, thank you very much for joining me today. It's It's been nice to sit and learn a little bit [00:32:00] more about the treatments that I do get that I don't perform myself, so I don't know all the ins and outs. So thank you very much for sharing with me today and hopefully we'll get you on the show again another time.
[00:32:12] Jean Squires: Alright, it was my pleasure and congratulations on launching the podcast. Thank you. Yeah, very exciting.
[00:32:20] Amy Squires: It has been. I've had lots of help.
[00:32:22] . All right, everyone. Well, thank you for joining myself and Jean Squires from Jean Squires Naturopathic Services in Newfoundland, Canada. I hope you enjoyed what we had to say today.
[00:32:34] And if you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out.
[00:32:38] [00:33:00]
Resources from this episode
The Holistic Health Show
What I used to record this episode
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen