the BiG TOE

It can’t just be our monthly cycle that keeps us balanced. Surely lifestyle factors including exercise, stress, diet and genetics all play a huge part in our health and happiness. An interesting read…

The end of menopause: would women be healthier and happier if they menstruated for ever? The ovaries affect everything from metabolism to mood – so some scientists are on a quest to slow their ageing process

New study shows reflexology helps pain and anxiety in children with thalassemia vs a foot massage placebo.

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes less haemoglobin. Severe cases need regular blood transfusions and this can be stressful and painful for the children who need them.

Just a moment...

https://thebigtoe.co.uk/big-toe-blog-and-press/f/can-reflexology-help-new-mums
Becoming a new parent is wonderful, rewarding and empowering but it can also come as a bit of a shock to the system.
That's why the BiG TOE is here to offer some much-needed relaxation in the comfort of your own home.

Introducing in-home reflexology for new mums! ✨

Reflexology is a gentle pressure therapy applied to your feet that can help:

Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve sleep quality
Increase energy levels

Why choose in-home reflexology?

No need to find childcare or worry about leaving the house! Just relax and unwind
Flexibility to fit around your busy new life
A chance to focus on yourself and your well-being
I'll bring everything you need, you just lie back, rest and recharge



P.S. Pls share this post with a new mum who deserves some time out

Can reflexology help new mums? Nurturing yourself to nurture your little one

Happy World Sleep Day… I’ve written something for My Tunbridge Wells about making sleep your super power. I hope it doesn’t send you to sleep, or maybe it should! 💤💤

World Sleep Day: Sleep Your Superpower - BiG TOE reflexology Calling all insomniacs, night owls, and sleep-deprived souls! Today (15th March) marks World Sleep Day, the annual awareness day

Fire and ice unite! ❄️ From the searing heat of the sauna to the invigorating shock of the cold plunge, I've embraced the ultimate hot-cold therapy duo. Who's ready to take the plunge?

5 reasons why a sauna & cold plunge is great for your wellbeing Waking every nerve in your body, leaving you fizzing with life, the ice bath is stealthily taking over the place of hot tubs in gardens across the country. But what happens if you marry this cold, wet freezing plunge wit...

I used to see my relationship with alcohol as a binary switch: on or off. Booze fuelled weekends or totally teetotal. Research and my hangovers tell me time again that although alcohol might be the life and soul of the party, it’s no angel by my side.

Click below to see how my relationship with alcohol has changed and I’ve started to rethink my own rules

Wine Not? My Attempt To Drink Less Alcohol A year ago reducing my drinking seemed unimaginable. For almost 30 years, my social tapestry has been woven with vibrant threads of drink fuelled social gatherings, dance floors laden with intoxication and crazy escapade...

Happy New Year! 2024 could be your year for MORE reflexology! It can help melt away stress, improve circulation, and potentially relieve pain and discomfort. Making you feel MORE energised, giving you MORE sleep and helping release MORE tension. It can be a powerful tool for MORE relaxation, promoting overall health and wellbeing. Let a reflexology session in 2024 give you MORE!

5 ways reflexology can help your health and wellbeing in 2024 As we step into 2024, many of us are looking for ways to improve our health and wellbeing. Reflexology, the practice of applying pressure to specific points on the feet might just be the key you've been searching for. He...

If you live in or around Tunbridge Wells, Georgie May Therapist has launched this year to help children and teenagers (and their parents) manage their emotions and behaviour. She covers phobias, low self-esteem, stress, anger, challenging behaviour etc... She works from a lovely room in the centre of Tunbridge Wells or offers Walk & Talk sessions if this is more appealing. Highly recommend!

Sleep! We all need it and can struggle if we don't get enough. This time of the year is always busy so here are a few tips to help you rest and recharge so you're ready for your next Christmas Celebration...

Can reflexology help sleep Sleep is essential for our overall well-being, just like eating and breathing. It allows our bodies and minds to rest, recharge, and repair themselves. It allows our minds to rest and rejuvenate, enabling us to function ...

Fab article highlighting how awesome reflexology is. Plus some handy reflexology points to help keep you well this winter 🙌

AoR - Promoting Reflexology and YOU our members.

We are excited to share that Dr. Zoe William is the featured writer in this month’s edition of the Weekend Pages, which reaches over 850,000 subscribers.

The AoR’s article beautifully highlights the benefits of reflexology and the high standards of the Association of Reflexologists. As an AoR member yourself, this is a wonderful opportunity to increase awareness and credibility for your reflexology practice. Readers of this widely-read publication will learn about how qualified reflexologists like you help clients through holistic, therapeutic treatments. This article will surely spark interest in reflexology and bring new clients to AoR members such as yourself.

We hope this month’s edition will help grow your wonderful business and spread information about the positive impacts of reflexology to a wider audience.

🎄the BiG TOE gift vouchers are available ⭐️

Reflexology the perfect gift for everyone Discover the World of Reflexology with the Association of Reflexologists (AoR) 👣Looking for a highly qualified reflexologist? Your search ends here! Visit o...

Ever wondered why you might be feeling out of sorts but not sure why. Maybe it's down to an imbalanced chakra. Click on the link to find out more...

Exploring Chakras with Reflexology Have you ever wondered why you experience butterflies in your stomach, a racing heart or a lump in your throat? It’s our bodies way of expressing a physical feeling for an emotional issue. Butterfl…

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook the simple things that can help us live healthier and happier lives. But what if the key to well-being is right under our noses?

Many traditional ideas about health and well-being have been around for centuries and are still relevant today. Here's a little something I wrote about it recently: https://thebigtoeuk.wordpress.com/2023/11/07/finding-the-natural-way-to-staying-well/

On Halloween night, I got a scare
When the reflexologist said, “You must prepare!”
For a spooky session of relaxation and rest
To ease all your tension and let go of your stress.

She started with my toes, so little but tense
She pressed quite hard but I really could sense
All my tension starting to float away
I relaxed, closed my eyes while she lead the way.

Next came my arches, where feelings can hide.
With a firmness, her thumbs started to glide.
I took a deep breath and let the feelings go
My stress started melting and I felt myself glow.

If you’re feeling scared this spooky season
Don’t be afraid to try a reflexology session
It’s relaxing and will be worth it in the end
To banish your fears and help your spirits transcend

My friend was driving down the road when she suddenly had a brain freeze. She couldn't remember how to drive! She was bunny hopping down her (luckily empty road), trying to use both feet on the pedals of her automatic car. It was a disaster.

We all laughed with her at the time she was telling this story. She then started talking about her new job, her overwhelm, stress and her driving story quickly lost its sparkle. Our laughter changed to promises we'd all do more to help her.

When you're stressed, your brain doesn't work as well and you can't remember simple things. That's why it's so important to take care of yourself. If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't be afraid to ask for help. Take some time for yourself to relax and de-stress. My friends story also reminded me I'd written this a while ago which I'd thought I'd share again...

Is your self care a priority? If you’re feeling happy, well and balanced nothing can easily faze you. If you’re feeling off, overwhelmed or stressed being asked to do that one little thing extra at work could throw you over the…

Continuing my fascination with Wim Hoff, last night I tried out his breathing method using the free app. Very simply, it’s made up of 35 inhales and exhales, holding your breath and starting again. The first round, I held my breath for 30 seconds. Second time I held my breath for 1.05 seconds and the third round I held my breath for 2 minutes! Benefits of doing this everyday include: stress relief, reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, improves sleep, increases energy, improves focus… very similar benefits to reflexology! I’m hooked!

More info on our wonderful menopause retreat day on 14th May below. It’s terrifying how menopausal women were treated in the Victorian era. Many were locked up in mental asylums for being hysterical and perceived as insane. Thankfully we have wonderful days like these to help empower women to make well informed choices about their own health and wellbeing 🌻

Very excited to be joining forces with and to support women of all ages through their perimenopause and menopause journeys. You may not be there yet, you may be in it or you could be over it… the day will be filled with a wonderful blend of yoga, herbs, reflexology, self-care, reiki, massage and sharing to help you through this next chapter 👣

Foot reading is just as fascinating as Reflexology. If you have a very BiG TOE it could mean you're fantastic at brainstorming and coming up with new ideas. If you're looking for a problem solver, find someone with a BiG TOE! Alternatively, if you have small BiG TOE, it can mean you're great at multi-tasking, juggling lots of balls at once and never loosing your way. If you have a lot to do with not much time, your small BiG TOE will help you achieve the almost impossible!

What are your feet trying to tell you? From your emotional state to what you got up to at the weekend, they can reveal a lot - or so foot readers claim. Lucy Holden dips her toe in weird waters…

With working from home becoming the new norm. here are some great tips to help combat any aches and pains you could be experiencing from not going to the office:
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/physiotherapist-tips-working-from-home_uk_60801848e4b03fc5b216f8a6

6 Things Physios Want You To Know After A Year Of WFH Memo: your desk setup probably isn't the cause of your back and neck pain.

Our bodies needs sleep, just as we need air and food to function at our best. During sleep, your body heals itself and restores its chemical balance. Your brain forges new thought connections and helps memory retention.

Without enough sleep, your brain and body systems won’t function normally. It can also have a dramatic affect on your overall health & wellbeing.

Night time is also a common time to experience anxiety. If we're feeling stressed or overwhelmed - getting into bed can often heighten these thoughts and lessen the chances of sleeping.

Here are some tips to help you through a restless night:

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/nighttime-anxiety-how-to-manage-it_uk_60780aede4b08e452a17fb7d

9 Therapist-Approved Tips To Tackle Nighttime Anxiety From ‘polyvagal’ exercises to tricking your brain into tiredness – try these practical tips.

Self care really is paramount to your health and wellbeing. It's not selfish or indulgent. It's a must. Reflexology is a great way to spend an hour looking after yourself physically and emotionally. Whatever it is that helps you feel like you, please make time for it. You will never regret it...

Beyond Blue With the conversation around mental health more transparent than ever, the term ‘self-care’ has become increasingly common. Instagram feeds are full of advice, imploring people to do what it takes to be in a good place mentally. While it sounds straightforward, self-care is a process that requir...

"Professor Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology says research suggests a connection between the bacteria in your gut and the functioning of your immune system." With so many coughs and colds out there at the moment, here's how to give your immune system a powerful boost through eating good foods:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/diet_and_immunity?xtor=CS8-1000-%5BIn_Article_Promo_Box%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article_BBCGeneric%5D-%5BPS_FOOD~N~~Diet_and_immune_system%5D

How important is diet for a healthy immune system? BBC Food looks at how food can affect immunity and how to get all the nutrients you need for a normal functioning immune system.

“Oh, yes. I’m missing my massages to the point where I would sell my arm for one. I’m a big massage person, and I’m a big, big, big reflexology person. Reflexology is more beneficial than a full-body massage for me."
https://www.newbeauty.com/catherine-zeta-jones-interview/?fbclid=IwAR08G9ieXU4t-6YwzK519c2VOuc0mo_PFdxQ4_sq-CzB8GzieEfjc0oFRws

Catherine the Great - NewBeauty What comes next for one of the biggest A-listers in Hollywood? A multifaceted lifestyle brand, a beauty line and a new TV show—and that’s just scratching the surface.

"If our periods have gone haywire over the past year, this is probably a response to prevailing stress; a signal from the body to think about what tools and habits might nurture our emotional wellbeing. Once life returns to something resembling normal, routines are easier to maintain and we are able to calm down, it is likely that erratic menstrual cycles will calm down, too."
Quite a bit of research has gone into how reflexology can help too so please get in touch if you've been experiencing your periods falling out of cycle this past year.

Pandemic periods: why women's menstrual cycles have gone haywire A majority of menstruating women have experienced changes to their cycle over the last year, surveys suggest. One of the main culprits? Persistent stress

Here are some energy boosting tips to get you through what has been termed "pandemic fatigue." Although our release from lock down is coming closer many of us still feel low, tired and exhausted from the effects of the last year. Plus with the schools back suddenly we all have coughs and colds that have wiggled their way through our corona virus barriers. Read on to find the energy boost we all deserve

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/how-to-boost-your-energy-when-exhausted_uk_602a7168c5b6d667582e6249

How To Boost Your Energy When You're Just So Effing Tired Here are some ways to get through each day if you're constantly exhausted.

Now this really does seem achievable: "Rickettz advises carving out five to 10 minutes a day to work on your mobility – it’s a great thing to do first thing to help you wake up and feel more free in your body. “It all adds up and makes it much less daunting (and much more rewarding!) if you carve out a little time every day,” she says"

This 10-Minute Routine Is The Perfect Morning Pick-Me-Up Take a few minutes out to have a go at this flow – it'll start your day off right.

Are your employers making your wellbeing a top priority in the changing workplace?

"The pandemic has put a lot of topics in new light and stark relief—and wellness is among these. The bad news is that wellbeing has declined for many, making it an especially current and critical issue. The good news, however, is companies are redefining, reinventing and expanding their approaches to wellness, happiness and fulfillment. And this is very positive for employees, and for business."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/03/21/6-ways-to-reinvent-your-wellness-strategy-according-to-experts/?sh=43b9952ac2c5

6 Ways To Reinvent Your Wellness Strategy—According To Experts Experts from leading companies share how they are rethinking, reinventing and reimagining wellbeing for the future of work.