Teenagers can benefit from reflexology for mood and hormone balancing, general wellness, recovery from a sports injury or simply as a stress coping tool.

Adolescents Benefit from Sessions With Their Reflexologist

Parents are likely to bring their teenaged son or daughter to a reflexologist with a specific wellness goal in mind – be it stress or pain management, mood balancing, or help with focus for school.

Reflexology is thought to be a wonderful modality for young people to get started in natural medicine therapies. The entire body is mirrored on reflex maps found on the hands, feet and ears making this form of therapy ideal for whole-body health and wellness.

Using Reflexology for the Athletic Teen

Sports are increasingly demanding on the teenaged body – often resulting in soft tissue injuries. Reflexology can be a helpful tool in speeding the healing and recovery process after a rough game.

Students that are trying to juggle a full class load as well as extra curricular activities such as dance, basketball, soccer, wrestling and the like may find their calendar overwhelming. Self-help reflexology tips from the practitioner can help the adolescent cope with these feelings and manage stress in tense moments.

Balancing Hormones with Reflexology

Nobody ever said it would be easy going through puberty and today’s teens are bombarded with hormone disrupters since conception. Advanced reflexology techniques from a qualified reflexologist can be used on the endocrine system reflexes to restore a level of balance to the body’s hormone levels.

Preteens facing their first menstrual cycle and with classic signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can find comfort in a nurturing reflexology session. Techniques can emphasize reproductive system reflexes and pelvic area reflexes to ease cramping and discomfort.

Reflexology as a Coping Tool for Teen Stress

Pressures from school, friends and the community can be a daily source of stress for teens. Changes in family relationships can be difficult to cope with as well. While mom can enjoy a relaxing bath and dad can knock down a couple of beers after a hectic day, how do teenagers relax?

Families can set wellness goals and health plans to incorporate regular coping tools to combat the day to day stressors of life. These might include regular exercise, healthy meal plans, and family time together – like game night or pizza dinner.

Reflexology can fit nicely into a wellness plan for the teen. Frequency will be based on factors such as stress levels and health goals. The reflexologist may suggest initial appointments be kept weekly or every other week with the goal of tapering off to monthly or seasonally.

Self-Help Reflexology for Family Bonding

Many mothers report great satisfaction in their relationship with their preteen or teen when reflexology is taken home. Exchanging foot rubs can be a nightly or weekly event between a parent and the preteen or teen child. Don’t mistake this for a girls’ only activity though – many boys enjoy giving and receiving therapeutic touch at home too.

Ask the reflexologist for suggestions on techniques or specific reflex points that would be beneficial to work between appointments. Or consider enrolling in an introductory workshop on reflexology to learn the basics from a reflexologist. Adding reflexology into a wellness plan for the whole family can be a great way to encourage communication and gird up relationships.

Leaving Reflexology up to the Teen

It is not recommended to force the teenager to attend a reflexology session. The first appointment may elicit feelings of awkwardness or embarrassment – as with most new ideas from parents. Leaving the frequency up to the teen will give him a sense of control over his wellness so he can request a session without having to explain the need for one.

If the teen is particularly reluctant to trying something new, the reflexologist may offer an introductory meeting to answer any questions and explain what to expect from a reflexology session. Most adolescents find reflexology thoroughly enjoyable – it is relaxing, safe, and can be controlled by requesting changes in pressure techniques.

Contributor: Bianca J. Ward 

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