You’ve heard the word, you know it’s something good but why do you need it and what is it?

Reflexology massage is nothing new. It was developed 4,000 years ago in China, spreading as far as Native American tribes, and Ancient Egypt. Dr William Fitzgerald brought the concept to the west in the early 19th century, then in the 1930’s, it evolved into the type of massage you can get today.

Walking over 150,000 miles in our lifetime (according to the College of podiatry), means our feet literally carry us through everything – so it’s no surprise that this massage service could reveal a little bit about what’s going on in our bodies.

So how does it work? Simple. The feet provide a map for the body’s organs – the head is the big toe, the outside of each ball is a shoulder, the stomach, liver and kidneys are concentrated across the instep, the digestive system is between the instep and the heel, and along the side of the feet, from the heel to big toe is the vertebrae (even if you haven’t been seeing Jackie Stallone’s plastic surgeon).

What is the masseuse looking for? Crunchiness, soreness or ‘hollowness’ in an area indicates a problem in the related body part – then the masseuse makes a diagnosis and applies pressure to trigger the body’s healing processes. “The main aim is to help the body restore its natural balance,” explains London-based at-home masseuse Jarek.

“Reflexology doesn’t just help relieve symptoms for people with serious health issues like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s,” explains Jarek, “It can also aid and prevent minor issues like headaches and digestive issues.” Get involved.

Ticklish? Not a problem. If you’re sensitive to people touching your feet, the masseuse will apply firmer pressure until you get used to it or stop squirming (only kidding).