Damn Corona !!!

Really and truly, what on earth is going on ?

A year ago I spoke to a good friend of mine, Jean, about my concerns over chemtrails, 5g, climate change and lots of other things that affect the environment and the health of the animals and people.  She said to me at the time, don’t worry Catherine, the earth will look after itself.  I think that time has come and I think the world we live in is resetting and changing.

First of all we had the bush fires in Australia which caused people to lose their homes, their lives and the lives of many,many animals.

Now we have the Corona Virus, or Covid-19 as they call it, which apparently originated from people eating bats in China.  Now China are over the hump of this terrible virus and will be supplying Ireland with ventilators, hospital gowns etc.  Their economy is now going to boom again.

Through the fear of contracting this virus or the fear of my parents and other elderly people in our society getting it, I decided to focus on the positive things which are coming out of this pandemic.

We are no longer operating as a “Me” anymore.  We are operating as a “We”.  We have come together as a family and as a community to help each other through this crisis.  We’re ensuring that our elderly neighbours have shopping in, that they can go shopping at a quieter time when there is a less chance of contracting the virus.  Our friends in social welfare have been working around the clock to ensure that those who lost their jobs, would get a payment.  Thousands of people have volunteered themselves to help out in the hospitals.  You also have random volunteers offering to mind children whose parents have to work through the crisis.

Because of the “Lockdown”, we have less planes in the sky and less cars on the road improving the quality of the air we are breathing.  And did you see in Venice, you can now see the fish in the water because there are no boats polluting the water.

I believe the world is changing for the better.  The way we work, the way we school and the way we do things will all change.  Employers will see that it is now possible and cost effective for staff to work from home.  This in turn will reduce gridlock which will also reduce our air pollution.

Maybe schools will see that there may be other ways to educate our children.  It also gets us parents to be more involved in our children’s schooling.

And one more thing, being in “lockdown” is forcing us to slow down and relax a bit more.  It’s giving us time to do the things we like to do like reading a book, being creative, gardening.

And for me, I have more time to do my meditation which keeps me grounded and in the “Now”.  It sets my mind straight and keeps me calm especially when the boys are driving me mad 🤣🤣.

So, that’s the end of my positive diatribe on the Corona Virus.  We must take our responsibility to ourselves, our families, our neighbours and the public very seriously.  We have a duty to be mindful of everything we do right now.

• Keeping our hands washed following the recommendations to wash for 20 seconds
• Sneezing and coughing in to our elbows or tissues instead of in to the air
• Using plastic gloves in public whilst shopping and getting petrol
• Ensuring that we keep our distance (2 metres) from others and that our children keep their distance from others too
• Don’t share bottles or cups.
• Keep surfaces clean and disinfected

So, watch this space, the world itsa changing !

Be safe everyone  

 “Gratitude is a way for people to appreciate what they have instead of always reaching for something new in the hopes it will make them happier, or thinking they can’t feel satisfied until every physical and material need is met. Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack”   

www.health.harvard.edu

And really that is what it’s all about !!

I love thinking of all the things I am grateful for, first thing in the morning because it really starts the day off in positivity to make it a GREAT day.  Initially when I started, I had my little notebook and wrote everything down, and this may well become my New Years Resolution again but mostly, I will now do it in bed, in my head, before I get up.  Having said that, during the day I might come across something that makes me envious (like someone in Dublin winning the lotto !) and I have to stop myself and say “you know Catherine, you have a lovely warm house to live in, a loving family, you have it all !!”

Hopping out of bed in the morning in the hopes of sitting down to do your Gratitude Diary sometimes doesn’t work as you very swiftly find yourself pulled in every direction, things to do, people to see, dogs and children needing to be fed, lunches to be made.  And it goes on and on !

Night time is a great time to sit and contemplate all the great things that happened during the day and to give thanks.  You may find that you have time to get the diary out and write everything down at this point.  Start each line with “Today I am grateful for……..”

My Gratitude Routine

Firstly I will take about 10 very deep breaths to put me in the zone.

Then I use my 10 fingers to count 10 things I am grateful for, and I give thanks for each and every one of them.  I also like to look inside and include some of the great personal qualities I have.

Benefits of Practising Gratitude

• Protection from stress and depression
• We sleep better and so have less fatigue
• Encourages us to develop patience, humility and wisdom
• It strengthens our relationships
• Increases job satisfaction

And one other thing, if you feel the practice of gratitude isn’t the right thing for you at this moment of time, it may work for you at a future date !

So, you have never had a Reflexology treatment before and you would love to know what happens ??  This post will give you a brief idea of what happens…….

Reflexology Consultation Form

Prior to or on the day of your treatment, you will be required to complete a Reflexology Consultation Form so that I will have an understanding of your medical history and can tailor the treatment to you.  At the beginning of every treatment, we will also have a discussion on what’s going on and what you would like to achieve from your session. Some medical conditions may need a further Consent Form to be completed by your GP to say that it is OK for you to have a Reflexology Treatment.

All therapists will give a brief description of how Reflexology works. Reflexology will not cure a specific illness, but what it will do is reduce stress and balance the body systems so that the body can nurture and repair itself and reduce any pain that the client may have.

As a therapist, I can perform Reflexology on the feet, hands and on the face. Sometimes I may perform a treatment on two areas in one session, for instance, I might do a mini treatment on the Face and then move to the client’s Feet. They are all wonderfully relaxing treatments and most clients will fall asleep.  During a treatment,  because you are so relaxed, it is not unusual for your stomach to start rumbling.  This is known as the therapists applause !!

Is Reflexology tickly ?

A lot of people will not get Reflexology on the feet because they think it might be tickly. Well, it’s not !! A therapist uses their fingers, thumbs and hands to gently walk and massage every part of the foot and lower leg looking for imbalances (like small crystals under the skin). They will bring balance to this area which corresponds to a different part of the body. I have had clients who feel tingling sensations in their body corresponding to the part of the foot I am working on.

On rare occasions, some clients may even feel a bit of pain, when certain parts of the foot are touched. Generally, the client  feels relaxed or will have a sense of “lightness”.

Feedback during the session is encouraged, and you can request that the session stop at any time.

But I don’t like anyone seeing my feet

The amount of people I have come across who don’t like their feet and don’t like anyone else looking at them either.  Well, I am here to tell you that Reflexologists are so comfortable working with feet that they don’t mind what your feet look like.  Feet tell a story.

However, if you still don’t feel comfortable getting Reflexology on your feet, why not try Reflexology of the face.   Not only are you balancing the body through reflexes on the face, but you are also getting a lovely anti aging facial massage.

Focus of your Treatment

No matter what your presenting condition is (it could be stress, migraine, constipation, nausea, sciatica), the therapist will gently work the whole body first but will pay particular attention to the corresponding area on the foot relating to the presenting condition.

Every internal organ, gland, muscle group, bones, lymphatic system and nerve network are worked during a session.

REFLEXOLOGISTS CAN NOT AND DO NOT DIAGNOSE

What happens at the end of the treatment ?

I like to close the session with holding the Solar Plexus points and getting the client to take 3 big breaths. This process gently brings the client back in to the room.  You can take your time and you will be offered a drink of water and advised to drink plenty of water for the rest of the day.

After your Treatment
Most people get no reaction at all after a treatment however, others may have a healing response which is actually good. The response may include, nausea, frequent urination or bowel movements, mucous discharge, tiredness and enhanced sleep, extra energy, pain relief, emotional release.  Reactions may last 24-48 hours.

Frequency of Treatments

To keep the body in balance, it is advisable to have a treatment every 4 – 6 weeks.  For Fertility Reflexology, the frequency of treatments could be weekly whilst the therapist brings balance to the endocrine system to prepare the body for pregnancy.  Some conditions may also require more frequent treatments but you can discuss this with your therapist.

Can I claim back my Reflexology Treatment Costs ?

Yes, because I am a member of the National Register of Reflexologists in Ireland, this entitles you to claim back part of your treatment costs from your private health insurer.  However, do look at their website or give them a call to see what you are entitled to !

As a Reflexology Therapist, I am very drawn to feet.  Even though many people are squeamish about showing off their feet, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest, because every pair of feet I have the pleasure of meeting, tell me a story.  It could be findings I have come across as I perform reflexology, it could the where the calluses are placed on the feet, it could be the colour of nail varnish you wear on your toes.

Although you might think that you are picking a certain colour of nail varnish to maybe go with an outfit, it could also be that your subconscious is drawing you to a certain colour depending on what is going on in your life at that time and how you are feeling.  So here is a little run down of what the different colours mean;

Red – Energy

A lighter red indicates that you are an ambitious person whilst a darker red indicates that you wish you had more energy in your life to fulfil your ambitions.

Orange – Joy

Wearing the wonderful bright colour of joyful orange means you want to attract more fun in to your life.

Yellow – Detachment

A very bright person wears yellow.  You are full of curiosity and wish to attract more happiness in to your life.

Green – Harmony

If you wear green nail varnish, you tend to look for the best in everyone.  You strive for peace and calm in your life.

Blue – Relaxation

Wearing blue indicates that you wish to attract patience, perseverance and peacefulness into your life.  You also want to attract truthfulness and honesty.

Indigo – Perception

Do you want to be more perceptive and intuitive ?  When you want to achieve something difficult, you will wear this colour.

Violet – Dignity

You will wear violet if you want to be respected for who you are.

Magenta – Compassion

Wearing this colour indicates that you would like to be more organised and feel better about yourself.  Magenta is the colour used to help us let go of the past and  to change any habits which no longer serves us.  It is the colour of compassion and nurturing.

White – Completeness

Wearing white nail varnish indicates that you want to attract more peace and overcome problems in your life.  It tends to be worn by people who are feeling stressed out.

Black – Control

Black is worn by people who want to ward off negativity or want to stand on their own to feet and face their fears.

Brown – Comfort

Do you want to attract more comfort and security in to your life ?  People who wear this colour also want to feel safe and grounded.

Pink – Love

Wearing pink indicates that you want to attract more love and affection in to your life.

Gold – Maturity

You wear gold when you need to meet new challenges and sparkle.

Silver – Reflective

Silver is the colour to wear when you are going through a phase of reflection and want to resolve emotional disputes and stay calm.

Turquoise – Independence

Wearing turquoise indicates that you want to attract more freedom and independence in to your life.

I have taken the above information from a wonderful book I am reading called The Foot Reading Coach by Jane Sheehan.

What is it about this time of the year when everyone has an issue with their sinuses ??

Sinus infections can be caused in a number of ways.  For me it is a combination of consuming dairy products and having the heating on in the house which causes inflammation and  congestion.  Exposure to other airborne allergens such as cigarette smoke, dry air, dental infections, having a cold, can also trigger the condition.

Having a sinus infection can make your whole face and teeth ache and can make life very uncomfortable in general.  A few things you can do to relieve symptoms are:

• Drink plenty of water
• Use a nasal rinse to wash out the sinuses
• Run a diffuser in your house with organic essential oils to clean the air
• Make a lemon, ginger and honey drink to have during the day
• Make a Master Tonic.  Recipe can be found here (https://www.happy-mothering.com/04/health-2/natural-remedies-master-tonic-recipe/)
• Reflexology

As you can see from my diagram above, the Sinus reflexes are in the pads of your toes (not including the big toe).  What you need to do is gently massage the pads of every toe, maybe 30 seconds to a minute on each.  What you may find is that one of your toes feels like it has a little bit of grit in it.  Spend a little extra time releasing this blockage.  

Also use your fingers to walk around the base of your big toe a few times, this is your neck area.  After that you can massage the front of your big toe from the bottom of your toe up to your nail.  This will provide some relief to the mouth, jaw and teeth.

For a headache, massage the top of every toe, front and back for a few minutes.

The same principals can be used on the hand.  Massage the pads of each finger a few times to release and blockages.

It is very important to drink plenty of water after receiving reflexology or performing reflexology on yourself.  This will help to flush toxins out of your system.

You may find later on that your nose will start running and clearing out.  Generally if I have a reflexology session myself, my nose starts running, usually when I go to bed.

I hope this information can provide some relief to those of you who are suffering !

The good thing about January is, you get to start everything afresh again.  After indulging in all the Christmas delights, I welcome the opportunity to make decisions on how I want to detox my life… body, mind and even my house.  I’ve already cut out my beloved Brennans batch bread because it induces terrible brain fog when I eat too much and I have introduced probiotics in the form of ferments like Milk Kefir, Sauerkraut, ginger bug, Master Tonic and Kombucha.  Of course, we can also detox our bodies by being mindful of the creams and cosmetics we put on our skin.  Everything we put on our skin gets absorbed in to our blood stream.  For this I use products from Neals Yard Remedies which are natural and organic, https://ie.nyrorganic.com/shop/catherinerutherford.  Exercise is another way of improving our health and also helps to detox the impurities from our bodies.  An app like Headspace is a great way to learn mindfulness which will organise your mind.  It only takes a few minutes every day to meditate but if you’re like me, it is hard to find those few minutes, so note to self, first thing in the morning is good !!

Reflexology………

BUT, how would you like to get rid of all those nasty toxins by lying on a bed and letting someone else massage your feet ?  Yes it is that easy !  Reflexology naturally encourages the body to flush out toxins by boosting blood circulation and lymphatic movement.  Every organ and function in the body has a reflex point on the foot which a Reflexologist applies pressure to and massages, stimulating every organ to release stored toxins.  It also has the added benefit of relaxing the mind and inducing a state of calm bringing the body back to homeostasis, thus maximising its ability to heal – physically, emotionally and mentally.  Having a reflexology session every 4 to 5 weeks will help keep the body in balance.

It is important that plenty of water or herbal teas are drunk to aid in the detoxification after a reflexology session.

Contact me on catherine@soultherapies.ie to make an appointment.