Anne McGennis Reflexology

20/11/2025

18/11/2025

It’s not unusual to feel sleepy, heavy, or even emotionally drained after a reflexology session, and it’s actually a good sign that your body is responding.

Reflexology activates the parasympathetic nervous system - the “rest and digest” branch responsible for slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and triggering recovery processes. When the body shifts out of a chronic stress state (sympathetic dominance), it finally has permission to relax, repair, and rebalance.

That deep relaxation can sometimes feel like fatigue, especially if your system has been running on adrenaline or stress hormones for a long time. The tiredness isn’t a side effect. It’s a signal that your body is resetting its internal balance.

📚 Research supports this response:

Studies, including McVicar et al. (Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2007), show measurable reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety levels following reflexology - clear indicators of parasympathetic activation.

A 2011 pilot study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that reflexology sessions produced significant decreases in salivary cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone), reinforcing the link between reflexology and stress reduction.

Improvements in sleep quality and relaxation have been documented across multiple clinical settings, from cancer care to maternity wards, all pointing to the same physiological mechanism of rest and regulation.

💧 How to support your body afterward:

Drink water to help the body process metabolic by-products released during deep relaxation.

Avoid caffeine or alcohol immediately after your session to prolong the calm.

Rest if you can, even a short nap or quiet time helps integrate the benefits.

Feeling tired after reflexology is simply your body exhaling and catching up on the rest it’s been asking for. 😴

23/10/2025

Spent last weekend studying this wonderful therapy. Reflexology lymphatic drainage

23/10/2025

World Menopause Day • 18 Oct
This year’s theme is Lifestyle Medicine - small daily habits that support health through midlife and beyond. In Ireland, the average age of menopause is 51, and symptoms can include hot flushes, night sweats, sleep changes, mood shifts and brain fog.

How Reflexology May Help:
✔️ Reduced physical and emotional symptoms
✔️ Improved sleep, mood, and energy levels
✔️ Lasting benefits even two months after the sessions ended
✔️ All achieved without medication or side effects

Lifestyle pillars to try this month:

* Move most days (brisk walking counts)
* Prioritise sleep routines
* Protein & fibre at each meal, limit alcohol
* Stress management you enjoy (breathwork, yoga, reflexology)
* Connect with others / ask for support

If you’re curious about reflexology, book a session with an IRI member to explore how it could support your self-care plan alongside advice from your GP or menopause specialist. (If you use HRT, that’s okay - reflexology can be complementary.)

Health

23/10/2025

23/10/2025

New Moon.
Fresh Start.

🗓️ 21 October

The New Moon marks a time of quiet beginnings. A blank page, ready to be written on. This lunar phase is perfect for planting seeds for the month ahead, setting intentions, and reconnecting with your inner self.

Why the New Moon matters:
When the moon disappears from view, its energy is said to support reflection, clarity, and the creation of new intentions. It’s a natural moment to pause, exhale, and ask yourself where you want to focus your energy next.

🌿 Holistic Rituals to Align with the New Moon

* Slow Down & Reflect
Create a calm space. Soft lighting, a cosy blanket, warm herbal tea. Give yourself permission to do nothing but be present.

* Journal Your Intentions
Use this time to get clear on the goals, dreams, or habits you want to cultivate this lunar cycle. Journal prompt: “What new beginnings am I ready to welcome?”

* Set the Mood
Light a cleansing candle or diffuse essential oils like rosemary + lemon to refresh your environment and symbolically clear away the old.

* Mind–Body Connection
A gentle reflexology session can help ground your intentions. Focus on calming reflex points, especially the solar plexus (to centre), adrenal glands (to ease stress), and diaphragm line (to deepen the breath). This helps your body shift into a more open, receptive state.

* Create a Personal Ritual
Pull an affirmation card or build a mini vision board. Choose something that reflects the energy you want to bring into the coming weeks.

The energy of the New Moon is soft but powerful and a reminder that even in darkness, growth begins below the surface. This is your invitation to breathe, reset, and plant the seeds for what’s to come. 🌚

21/10/2025

🦴 WORLD OSTEOPOROSIS DAY – 20th OCTOBER

Osteoporosis affects millions worldwide, often silently. While medical treatments, nutrition, and exercise are the cornerstones of bone health, complementary therapies like reflexology can offer gentle support along the way.

✨ What is reflexology?
Reflexology involves applying pressure to specific zones on the feet, hands, face or ears, believed to correspond to different parts of the body. This can help relax the nervous system, encourage circulation, and support overall wellbeing.

Why it may help people with osteoporosis:
• Boosts blood and lymph flow to support nutrient delivery to bones
• Promotes deep relaxation and reduces stress hormones
• May help manage pain, stiffness, or discomfort
• Encourages better sleep and overall wellbeing

⚠️ Important: Reflexology does not rebuild bone density or replace medical treatment. Always speak to your healthcare team before starting any new therapy, especially if you have fractures or recent surgeries.

Find a reflexologist near you at www.reflexology.ie

16/10/2025

As the weather shifts and the air gets cooler, our immune system works harder to protect us from seasonal colds, flus, and fatigue. One gentle way to support the body during this transition is through targeted reflexology.

For immune support during autumn, key reflex areas often focused on by reflexologists include:

💨 Lungs & Bronchial Reflexes – supporting respiratory health as seasonal viruses increase.

🧠 Solar Plexus & Diaphragm Reflexes – calming the nervous system, which plays a crucial role in immune regulation.

💧 Lymphatic System Reflexes – encouraging lymph flow to help clear waste and support immune response.

🦠 Spleen & Thymus Reflexes – both of which are integral to immune cell production and defense.

🧂 Adrenal Reflexes – supporting the stress response. Lower stress can mean stronger immunity.

✨ Why this matters:

Chronic stress can suppress immune function. Reflexology has been shown in some studies to reduce perceived stress and promote relaxation.

Gentle stimulation of reflex points may support circulation and lymphatic drainage, which are essential for immune system function.

Reflexology sessions are often experienced as deeply calming, and rest is one of the best immune boosters we have.

🦶 Practical tip: Even a short, self-applied routine focusing on the solar plexus point (found in the center of the foot beneath the ball) can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and create a moment of calm in your day.

Want to strengthen your seasonal wellness routine? A reflexology session can support your body’s natural defenses and help you feel more balanced this autumn. 🍂✨

07/10/2025

Stress, tension, and emotions don’t just live in our thoughts. They show up in our bodies too. Likewise, when our bodies feel balanced and cared for, our minds find greater calm and clarity.

Reflexology works holistically, encouraging relaxation, balance, and connection between body and mind - reminding us that true wellbeing is always a whole-self experience.

Have you noticed how stress in your mind can affect your body? Or how physical balance helps your mood?

07/10/2025

October, we’re falling for you! 🍁

After a busy September, it’s time to kick off our shoes, cosy up and enjoy all the reflexology and self-care this season brings.

05/10/2025

A wonderful weekend

✨Thank You for an Unforgettable Weekend✨

Our annual Members’ Event was more than a gathering. It was a celebration of learning, sharing, and connection. Across the weekend we witnessed inspiring talks, lively discussions, new skills learned, and countless moments of support between colleagues and friends. There was also fun, laughter, dancing and the joy of new friendships forming.

A heartfelt thank you to every attendee, speaker, volunteer and organiser who helped make it such a success. Your presence, energy and generosity created the warm, uplifting atmosphere we all felt.

Here’s to taking the insights, connections and renewed enthusiasm from this weekend back into our practices and communities, and to building an even stronger IRI family together.

💜 The IRI Team