Dawn Richardson Reflexology & Indian Head Massage

11/05/2025

Still looking for practice coaching clients! Are you ready for change?

Ever feel like life’s on repeat… same thoughts, same patterns, same “I swear I’m gonna change” talk? 😅

If you’re nodding right now — this might be your sign. 💫

I’m completing my Holistic Life Coach & Mind Body Practitioner certification and offering
✨ Minimum of 3 complimentary 1-hour sessions (in-person or online) ✨

Think of it as a safe space to pause, breathe, and figure out what’s really going on under the surface — with someone who gets it. 💖

Perfect if you’re ready to…
🌿 Stop overthinking and start feeling lighter
🌸 Prioritize you (without guilt!)
🌼 Find calm in the chaos of life’s changes
💫 Or finally let your adult kids handle their own adventures (you’ve earned it 😉)

Drop me a message if your soul just whispered “yes.” 💛

10/11/2025

Ever feel like life’s on repeat… same thoughts, same patterns, same “I swear I’m gonna change” talk? 😅

If you’re nodding right now — this might be your sign. 💫

I’m completing my Holistic Life Coach & Mind Body Practitioner certification and offering
✨ Minimum of 3 complimentary 1-hour sessions (in-person or online) ✨

Think of it as a safe space to pause, breathe, and figure out what’s really going on under the surface — with someone who gets it. 💖

Perfect if you’re ready to…
🌿 Stop overthinking and start feeling lighter
🌸 Prioritize you (without guilt!)
🌼 Find calm in the chaos of life’s changes
💫 Or finally let your adult kids handle their own adventures (you’ve earned it 😉)

Drop me a message if your soul just whispered “yes.” 💛

06/27/2025

06/24/2025

Reflexology & the Nervous System (Brain-Body Connection)

Your feet 👣 are the gateway to your nervous system.
Every gentle touch during reflexology helps restore the flow between brain and body.

When the nervous system is supported, your whole body begins to shift:
🦋 sleep deepens
🦋 digestion softens
🦋 stress and anxiety ease
🦋 and much more as all body systems function in a more balanced way

This isn’t just touch, it’s communication between the nervous system and the whole body and mind.
Your body remembers how to feel safe, again. With regular follow up sessions, this memory becomes a new regular function.

06/04/2025

What PEMF does for you!

Inflammation is the root of most chronic issues.
PEMF therapy helps regulate your body’s natural immune response—without pills or needles.

05/27/2025

Recharge at a cellular level!🔋

PEMF therapy powers your cells naturally, keeping your energy levels high.⚡️🌟

05/22/2025

A surge of energy awaits with the innovative PEMF therapy, designed to recharge your cells and enhance overall vitality. Discover how this non-invasive treatment can elevate your wellness journey and invigorate your daily life.

05/20/2025

A journey towards holistic wellness begins with a single step. Explore the healing benefits of reflexology and PEMF therapy at dawnreflex.ca and take charge of your health today. It's in your hands, aren't you worth the investment? ❣️

05/19/2025

I have found a softer approach in my Reflexology sessions works very well for clients at the hospice as well as some of my regular clients with chronic conditions.

The debate always seems to be gentle therapy or deep tissue treatments.
What is your view?

Looking at pain ……
Having been inspired by Alison Taylor’s course in London a couple of weeks ago - treating without pain - made me go and look up pain theory and link it to the soft pressure therapies that I am drawn to use with clients.

References for soft touch

there are scientific studies and neuroscience-based insights that support the idea that gentle touch can be more effective—or at least more appropriate—than deep pressure, particularly in contexts like chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and nervous system regulation. Here are some key references and concepts to back this up:

🧠 1.
Gate Control Theory of Pain

Melzack & Wall (1965)
This foundational theory explains that non-painful input (like soft touch) can “close the gate” to painful input in the spinal cord, blocking pain sensations from reaching the brain.
Deep pressure can sometimes stimulate nociceptors (pain receptors), opening the gate instead.

Reference:
Melzack, R., & Wall, P. D. (1965). Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science, 150(3699), 971–979.
Link to paper (DOI: 10.1126/science.150.3699.971)

🌿 2.
C-Tactile (CT) Afferents – Nerves That Respond to Gentle Touch
Studies have identified a type of nerve fiber—C-tactile afferents—that responds specifically to slow, gentle, pleasant touch and sends soothing signals to the brain. These signals help regulate the emotional and pain-processing areas of the brain.

Reference:
Löken, L. S., Wessberg, J., Morrison, I., McGlone, F., & Olausson, H. (2009). Coding of pleasant touch by unmyelinated afferents in humans. Nature Neuroscience, 12(5), 547–548.
DOI: 10.1038/nn.2312

💥 3.
Central Sensitization in Chronic Pain
In conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, the nervous system is sensitized and overreacts to pressure. Deep pressure may worsen symptoms, while gentle, non-threatening input can help regulate and calm the system.

Reference:
Yunus, M. B. (2007). Central sensitivity syndromes: a new paradigm and group nosology for fibromyalgia and overlapping conditions. Current Rheumatology Reviews, 3(3), 121–134.
DOI: 10.2174/157339707781386194

🧘 4.
Touch and the Parasympathetic Nervous System
Gentle touch has been shown to stimulate the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) system, which helps the body calm down, reduce pain, and enter healing states.

Reference:
Field, T. (2010). Touch for socioemotional and physical well-being: A review. Developmental Review, 30(4), 367–383.
DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2011.01.001

🧩 Summary
Gentle touch communicates safety and comfort to the nervous system.
It’s more suitable for pain-sensitive or trauma-affected bodies.
It’s backed by both neuroscience and clinical research.

05/18/2025

Embrace the calming effects of reflexology on mental health. This holistic therapy not only promotes relaxation but also enhances emotional balance and mental clarity, helping you to manage stress and feelings of anxiousness. 🌟👣

05/16/2025

The Vagus Nerve: What It Is and How to Stimulate It Naturally

The vagus nerve, also known as cranial nerve X, is one of the most important nerves in the body. It is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and is responsible for many vital automatic functions.

Main Functions:
• Regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing.
• Transmits signals between the brain and organs like the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, kidneys, and intestines.
• Also plays a role in swallowing, speaking, and the gag reflex.

Stimulating the vagus nerve helps calm the nervous system and reduce stress. Here are some simple and natural ways to activate it:

⸻

Natural Ways to Stimulate the Vagus Nerve:
1. Deep, slow breathing:
Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, exhale through your mouth for 6–8 seconds.
This activates the parasympathetic system.
2. Singing, humming, or low chanting:
Vibrations in the throat stimulate the vagus nerve.
3. Cold exposure:
Splashing cold water on your face or placing a cold towel on your neck can activate the vagal reflex.
4. Meditation and mindfulness:
Focusing on the present reduces sympathetic (fight-or-flight) activity and enhances parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) responses.
5. Gentle massage on the neck or behind the ears:
This area contains branches of the vagus nerve.
6. Moderate exercise:
Light walks or yoga help regulate vagal tone over time.
7. Safe social connection:
Talking with someone who makes you feel calm also activates the vagus nerve.

⸻

Daily Routine to Stimulate the Vagus Nerve:

1. Diaphragmatic Breathing (3 minutes)
• Sit comfortably with a straight back.
• Inhale deeply through your nose for 4 seconds, feeling your belly rise.
• Exhale slowly through your mouth for 6–8 seconds.
• Repeat for 3 minutes.

2. Humming or Soft Singing (1–2 minutes)
• Hum a melody you enjoy or simply say “mmmm” like you’re savoring something delicious.
• Close your eyes and feel the vibrations in your throat.

3. Massage (1 minute)
• Using your fingertips, gently massage behind your ears and along your neck (along the sides of your windpipe).
• Do it lovingly, as if you were petting a small animal.

4. Cold Water (Optional, 30 seconds)
• Splash cold water on your face or place a cold towel on your neck.
• Breathe normally while feeling the cool sensation.

5. Conscious Gratitude (1 minute)
• Think of one thing you’re grateful for today, no matter how small.
• Close your eyes and feel it in your chest, as if you’re hugging that moment.

05/06/2025

Sometimes the most powerful shifts happen quietly, beneath the surface! 💖✨

Reflexology works subtly but deeply - calming your nervous system, softening tension you didn't even know you were holding, and gently nudging your body back into balance. You may notice a lightness in your step, clearer thinking, or simply a sense of finally being about to exhale!


https://dawnreflex.ca/