Heeling Sole Reflexology

07/25/2025

07/22/2025

Well, things are certainly off to a busy start this summer! 🌞

Are you all getting some down time or are you feeling the abrupt catapult from school season to busy summer season, like I am?! 😂

My schedule has become very BUSY! Pre booking is wise - I am booking mid August right now. Summer schedule always has alot of movement so the waitlist moves a little quicker than during the other more routine/scheduled months.

Please don't let that stop you from reaching out if you're interested for reflexology treatment. I will always do my best. I am accepting new clients. I just wanted to give a little heads up. It seemed to fill up fairly quickly this last little while.

I have some beautiful reflexology colleagues locally that I am happy to refer aswell if you're needing some contacts. Don't be shy! 👣

Enjoy the sunshine and Okanagan abundance that is all around us! 🥰

07/17/2025

Happy summer everyone! 🌞

I know it's summer schedule (and now mercury retrograde as of today🫠) but just a quick and friendly reminder that I ask for 24 hours notice to reschedule appts or the full treatment fee is due. Scheduling can be tricky and in the summer even moreso. We pay for childcare and in the best interest of the wellbeing of my business, this is my policy.

Thank you for understanding! ❤️

06/19/2025

I am humbled and grateful, as always, to be a part of the health and wellness community in our area.👣

Thank you! ☺️

06/04/2025

🧠 “While You Were Sleeping: The Magical World of the Glymphatic System”

— How Your Brain Detoxes Itself and Why Rest May Be the Greatest Healer of All

We often hear about liver detox, gut detox, juice cleanses, and lymphatic drainage…
But what about the brain’s detox system?

Meet the glymphatic system — your brain’s personal housekeeping crew that comes alive while you sleep, washing away the waste of thought, stress, and survival.

“It’s like a nightly rinse cycle for your brain,” says neuroscientist Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, who co-discovered the glymphatic system in 2012.

And yes — it’s as breathtaking as it sounds.

🌙 What Is the Glymphatic System?

The glymphatic system is a recently discovered waste-clearing pathway in the brain and central nervous system.
It’s called “glymphatic” because it’s similar to the lymphatic system, but instead of using lymph vessels, it uses glial cells (hence the “g” in glymphatic).

Its mission?
🧽 Clean out cellular waste
🧪 Remove toxic proteins like beta-amyloid and tau (linked to Alzheimer’s)
💧 Circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to keep the brain nourished and balanced

But here’s the catch:
It only turns on when you’re in deep, restorative sleep 🛏️

💡 How It Works (Simply Put)
• During the day: Your brain cells are busy thinking, reacting, and firing signals
• At night: Your brain cells actually shrink by up to 60% to allow CSF to flow more freely between them
• This CSF flushes out waste products and carries them along tiny channels to be eliminated — like a gentle waterfall through your brain tissue

📖 Iliff et al., Science Translational Medicine, 2012: “The glymphatic pathway clears interstitial solutes from the brain in a process that depends on aquaporin-4 water channels in astrocytes.”

🧠 Why It Matters

When the glymphatic system works well, you wake up clear-headed, calm, and refreshed.

But when it’s blocked or sluggish, waste accumulates — leading to:
• Brain fog
• Memory problems
• Mood shifts
• Headaches
• Neuroinflammation
• Long-term risks for dementia and cognitive decline

💡 Xie et al., Science, 2013 showed that sleep deprivation reduces glymphatic clearance by up to 60%. That means: one bad night of sleep = toxic waste build-up in the brain.

🧬 What Blocks Glymphatic Flow?
• Poor or disrupted sleep (especially lack of deep sleep)
• Chronic inflammation
• Dehydration
• High cortisol (from stress, trauma, overwork)
• Traumatic brain injury
• Poor neck alignment or stagnant lymph flow

🌿 How to Support Your Glymphatic System Naturally

💤 1. Prioritize Deep Sleep
• Aim for 7–9 hours of uninterrupted sleep
• Avoid screens at night & sleep in complete darkness
• Magnesium glycinate, chamomile, and glycine can help promote deep rest

💧 2. Stay Hydrated
• Cerebrospinal fluid is 99% water!
• Add electrolytes (like Celtic salt + lemon) to your water to increase absorption

🧘‍♀️ 3. Lower Inflammation
• Anti-inflammatory diet (omega-3s, turmeric, antioxidants)
• Gentle detox (castor oil packs, lymphatic drainage, low-tox lifestyle)

🔄 4. Support Neck & Cranial Flow
• The glymphatic “exit ramp” is located at the base of the skull, so:
• Avoid forward head posture
• Do light neck stretches, craniosacral therapy, or use a cervical pillow
• Dry brushing the neck and chest can help open lymphatic exits

🌬️ 5. Practice Diaphragmatic Breathing
• Breath = pump for CSF and lymph
• Try box breathing (inhale 4s, hold 4s, exhale 4s, hold 4s)

💫 Final Thought

The glymphatic system is proof that the body is always working for you, not against you — even while you sleep.

So the next time you’re tempted to skip rest, push through burnout, or override your body’s request for stillness… remember: your brain is begging for a rinse cycle.

Let it flow. Let it heal.
Let it sleep.

📚 Cited Research:
• Nedergaard M., Iliff J. “A Paravascular Pathway Facilitates CSF Flow through the Brain.” Science Translational Medicine, 2012.
• Xie L. et al. “Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain.” Science, 2013.
• Louveau A. et al. “Structural and Functional Features of Central Nervous System Lymphatic Vessels.” Nature, 2015.

🛑 Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making health changes.

©️

06/02/2025

If you are looking for Massage or Spa Services this week~ i have some availability & I'm welcoming New clients

Book a time

~ Shawnda
250-490-6523

05/28/2025

So cool!

This is interesting..🤔🧐

From birth, your tongue is actually connected to your toes through an intricate network of connective tissue known as fascia.

If your tongue is not resting correctly in your mouth due to mouth breathing, things can get out of alignment in your mouth and the rest of your body.
Tongue posture can lead to a foot imbalance and vice versa because the tongue guides all myofascial continuity structures that run from the inner arch of the foot up through the middle of the body to the tongue and jaw muscles.

When the tongue sits on top of the palate, it seals the oral cavity and holds the throat open like a tent. These muscles support the neck, keep your posture straight, help you breathe, and maintain your posture upright.
Your tongue also acts as a rudder and support system through a fascial line, and when the tongue is down, we breathe through our mouth, and the head falls forward due to lack of support, which leads to poor posture and increased energy expenditure.

05/28/2025

The link between breath and emotion has been understood for thousands of years. Now we have an idea how it works. When stress hormones are high, we breathe higher in the chest and less in the belly. This further increases stress hormone levels. But we have CONSCIOUS control of our breathing as well. By controlling our breath, stress hormones drop.

05/27/2025

In Memorandum

Martha Wuschke, a long time reflexologist, passed early May, 2025, at 105 years of age.

At 99 years of age, Martha along with her daughter, joined RABC Members for lunch at the RABC’s 50th Anniversary conference in Harrison (2019). Martha was awarded Honorary membership to the RABC Association.

One of our Members stated that Martha gave so freely to the Association and members at RABC meetings. She was a Director on the Board too. She was kind, generous and friendly to all those she interacted with.

Martha was a long-time member with RABC, and loved reflexology. She became a Reflexologist in her late 50’s until she was 89 years of age.

05/15/2025

The Healing Touch Beneath Your Feet:

Reflexology Lymph Drainage and the Legacy of Sally Kay👣💚

When we think of the lymphatic system, we often picture gentle hands moving across the body in rhythmic motion—stimulating detox, relieving swelling, and supporting immunity. But what if some of the most powerful lymphatic stimulation could begin… at your feet?

That’s the beauty and brilliance of Reflexology Lymph Drainage (RLD)—a specialised reflexology technique developed by British therapist Sally Kay, whose work has changed the landscape of lymphatic care. 🌍✨

Who is Sally Kay? 🧠🌱

Sally Kay, a reflexologist based in Wales, developed RLD while working with cancer patients suffering from secondary lymphoedema (especially post-mastectomy). Her goal was simple yet revolutionary: to support lymph drainage using reflexology, a modality that stimulates points on the feet corresponding to organs and systems in the body.

What she discovered was extraordinary:
Not only did RLD reduce swelling, but it also improved pain, movement, and wellbeing—without needing to physically touch the affected limb. 🙌

Her work has since gained recognition across clinical, complementary, and international health sectors.

What is Reflexology Lymph Drainage (RLD)? 💆‍♀️💧

RLD is a gentle, structured sequence of movements performed on the feet (or sometimes hands) that directly target the reflex points of the lymphatic system. These movements are inspired by manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) but translated through reflexology zones.

The technique follows the lymphatic map of the body, focusing on:
• Thoracic duct
• Lymph node clusters (cervical, axillary, inguinal)
• Spleen & liver
• Diaphragmatic flow

All without needing to physically touch these organs. 🌿

Clinical Benefits of RLD: 🩺🌸

Research and clinical case studies have demonstrated RLD’s effectiveness in:
• Reducing lymphoedema volume, especially post-surgical or post-cancer
• Improving limb mobility and range of motion
• Decreasing pain, tension, and heaviness
• Supporting detoxification and immune response
• Promoting deep relaxation and emotional release

Because it’s non-invasive and deeply calming, RLD is especially helpful for clients:
• Who have undergone surgery 🏥
• With fragile tissues or nerve damage 🧬
• With emotional trauma stored in the body 💔
• Who are unable to receive full-body MLD

How It Works: A Gentle Path to Flow 🌊✨

The feet house a microscopic map of the body, and when reflex points are stimulated, they trigger a neurological and energetic response in the corresponding organ or system. In RLD, practitioners use specific, repeatable techniques to mimic the pumping and sweeping of lymphatic fluid.

What makes RLD unique is its ability to:
• Influence lymph flow without direct limb manipulation
• Activate parasympathetic nervous system (rest and repair mode)
• Address both physical and emotional stagnation in the system

RLD and Emotional Healing 🕊️🫶

The lymphatic system is often called the “emotional river” of the body—carrying not just toxins, but also the residue of trauma, grief, and stress. RLD, like MLD, offers clients a safe space for emotional release as well as physical detox.

Many clients report:
• Feeling lighter (emotionally and physically)
• Reduced anxiety 🧘‍♀️
• Clearer thinking
• Improved sleep 😴
• Restored connection with their bodies 🩷

Why Choose Reflexology Lymph Drainage? 🌿💫
• Gentle yet effective
• Ideal for those who are sensitive, post-operative, or recovering from illness
• Can be offered alongside MLD, oncology care, or holistic protocols
• Backed by ongoing research and clinical support 📚

And most of all—it’s a treatment that honours the whole person, not just the symptoms. 🌈

The Legacy of Care: Sally Kay’s Ongoing Impact 👏📖

Sally Kay’s vision has led to thousands of practitioners worldwide being trained in RLD. Her work bridges the gap between clinical precision and compassionate touch, reminding us that even the smallest contact can spark big healing.

Reflexology Lymph Drainage is not just a therapy. It’s a quiet revolution in the way we support the lymphatic system—with presence, precision, and peace. 💗

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or certified therapist before starting any treatment protocol.

©️