A Positive Touch

02/10/2026

LET’S TALK ABOUT ENERGY… ⚡️

Because when I say I work with energy through Reiki, I don’t mean some vague, woo-woo concept that has nothing to do with the human body.

Energy is everywhere.

Your heart has its own electrical system.
The sinoatrial (SA) node generates the electrical impulses that help your heart beat.

Your cells contain mitochondria … tiny powerhouses producing ATP, the chemical energy your cells use to do their work.

Your nervous system communicates through electrical and chemical signals.

At fertilisation, the egg produces a fascinating zinc spark - a measurable burst of light released shortly after s***m entry.

And then there are the things we’ve learned to harness.

⌚️ Your quartz watch uses the properties of a quartz crystal to create incredibly precise vibrations that help keep time.

❤️ An ECG detects the electrical activity of your heart.

🧠 An EEG detects electrical activity associated with your brain.

👶 Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of what’s happening inside the body.

🧲 MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of your body.

We already use different forms of energy to understand, measure and interact with the human body every single day.

And then there’s everything else…

Lightning.
Wind.
Thunder.
A flower opening.
A seed becoming a plant.
A baby growing inside a womb.

Energy being stored, transferred, transformed and used.

So energy itself isn’t particularly controversial.

The interesting bit is what happens when we move beyond the energy we can readily measure.

In Reiki, we talk about working with the body’s subtle energy and the energy field around us, sometimes described as the aura.

Science can measure many forms of energy extremely well.

It doesn’t currently have equally good ways of measuring or explaining everything people report experiencing during practices such as Reiki.

And that’s where I think curiosity is much more useful than either extreme.

You don’t have to believe everything.

You don’t have to dismiss everything you can’t currently explain.

You can simply notice.

What happens in your body when you stop?

What do you feel?

Does your breathing change?

Do your shoulders drop?

Does your mind become quieter?

Do you feel warmth, tingling, heaviness, lightness or absolutely nothing obvious at all?

For me, Reiki begins with that curiosity.

Not “How can I make you believe this?”

But…

“What happens when you become quiet enough to notice?”

Because energy is all there really is ✨

01/10/2026

Pregnancy is a time of enormous change.

Physically.
Hormally.
Emotionally.
And sometimes… completely unexpectedly!

You’re not only growing a new life inside you you’re forever changing your own life too.

There can be so much going on in your head at this time.

Is everything okay?
Is this normal?
What happens next?
Will I cope?
When will I finally get a minute to myself?

Sometimes you just need to stop.

Stop the worry.
Stop the nerves.
Stop the constant thinking and planning.

Just for an hour.

A space to breathe, switch off from the outside world and simply be in the moment.

And that hour doesn’t have to be a one-off.

Regular pregnancy reflexology gives you a little pocket of time that is just yours, throughout your pregnancy.

A familiar space to check in with yourself, support your changing body, work through those pregnancy niggles and simply pause for an hour.

Because what you need at 14 weeks might be very different from what you need at 28 or 36 weeks.

Reflexology can support some of the common niggles that can come with pregnancy, such as:

• Tired, heavy or aching feet and legs
• General aches and tension
• Back and hip discomfort
• Feelings of stress and overwhelm
• Difficulty relaxing
• Poor sleep
• Swelling and that general feeling of “my body is working incredibly hard!”

Your treatment is adapted to you and the stage of pregnancy you’re at, with your comfort and safety always coming first.

And then there’s preparation for birth.

Reflexology can be incorporated into your preparation for labour towards the end of pregnancy, alongside your usual maternity care.

It isn’t about promising a particular birth or making labour happen.

It’s about giving you some time to prepare, relax and connect with your body as you approach another huge transition.

And once your baby arrives, the support doesn’t have to stop.

Postnatal reflexology can provide some precious time for you … whether your baby comes along or you get a rare hour to yourself.

Because amongst all the excitement of becoming a parent, there’s still a person underneath it all who needs looking after too. ❤️

29/09/2026

And then there’s fertility reflexology… 🌿

Fertility reflexology is probably the area of reproductive reflexology that most people have heard of.

For me, it’s about supporting someone through their fertility journey and looking at the wider picture of reproductive health.

That might be when you’re thinking about trying to conceive, preparing for fertility treatment, going through IVF, or simply wanting to understand and support your body before taking the next step.

My approach looks beyond fertility in isolation.

We consider the menstrual cycle, reproductive health, stress, sleep, lifestyle, nutrition and the nervous system, alongside any medical investigations or treatment already taking place.

And fertility isn’t just a woman’s issue.

S***m health, male reproductive health and lifestyle factors can all form part of the picture too.

Reproductive reflexology can sit alongside natural conception, fertility investigations and assisted reproductive treatment such as IVF.

It isn’t a replacement for fertility investigations or medical treatment, and just like IVF, there are no guarantees.

What I can offer is a dedicated space to pause, be listened to and reconnect with your body during what can be a physically and emotionally demanding time.

Your fertility journey is yours.

My role is to support you through it, not to promise an outcome, but to support you and your body along the way.

And if something wonderful happens during that time… then you and I have done a good job. ❤️

28/09/2026

When people hear the words “reproductive reflexology” they often think it’s about trying to conceive.

But reproductive health spans much more than fertility alone.

Reproductive reflexology can be used as a supportive therapy alongside medical care for people experiencing a range of reproductive and hormonal health concerns, including:

• PCOS
• Endometriosis
• Adenomyosis
• Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)
• Painful or difficult periods
• Cycle irregularities
• Perimenopause and the transition towards menopause
• Fertility challenges and assisted conception
• Pregnancy and preparation for birth

And it’s not only about the reproductive organs.

I look at the person as a whole … including the hormonal, nervous, digestive and stress systems, alongside lifestyle, sleep, nutrition and the individual symptoms you’re experiencing.

Because reproductive health doesn’t exist in a neat little box all on its own.

Your hormones influence so much of how you feel and function throughout your life, and there is a connection between all of the body systems.

For some, the body has been giving us signals for years before we finally stop and listen.

Reproductive reflexology is about creating space to listen, support and reconnect with your body wherever you are on your journey.

It doesn’t replace medical diagnosis or treatment. It works alongside it.

From your first period to perimenopause and beyond, your reproductive health is part of your whole health.

25/09/2026

A whole world of reflexology beyond the feet.

When you hear the word reflexology, you probably think of feet.

And yes … foot reflexology is at the heart of what I do.

But there’s a whole world of reflexology beyond the feet.

👣 Feet
The form most people know, with a fascinating map of reflex areas corresponding to different parts and systems of the body.

🤲 Hands
Perfect when working on the feet isn’t appropriate, or simply if you prefer having your hands worked on. There’s something wonderfully grounding about it too.

👂 Ears
Tiny but fascinating. The ear contains an intricate network of reflex points, making ear reflexology a very different but effective experience

😊 Face
Gentle, nurturing and deeply relaxing, facial reflexology works with reflex points across the face while also giving you that lovely sensory experience of having your face and head gently worked.

Each has its own techniques, traditions and physiological effects.

And for me, that’s part of the magic.

Reflexology isn’t just about the feet.

It’s about exploring the connections between the body, mind and spirit … through different parts of the body and different ways of working.

There’s a whole world of reflexology out there.

Come and explore it with me 🌿✨

24/09/2026

Reflexology isn’t just about the feet. 👣

It’s about the whole person … body, mind and spirit.

When you settle onto the couch and your feet are being worked, something can begin to change.

Your breathing may slow.

Your muscles can start to soften.

Your jaw unclenches.

Your shoulders drop.

You might notice your face soften as you let go of tension you didn’t even realise you were holding.

Your nervous system can begin to move away from that constant “go, go, go” state and towards rest and recovery.

The stress response can quieten, while the body’s relaxation and connection responses become more prominent.

This is where hormones and neurotransmitters such as cortisol, adrenaline and oxytocin come into the picture … part of the complex chemistry involved in stress, relaxation, connection and recovery.

And perhaps that’s another one of the things I love most about reflexology.

For a little while, you don’t have to do anything.

You can simply lie there, breathe and receive.

Your body gets a chance to remember what it feels like when it isn’t constantly having to cope.

For a little while, your body feels as though it can simply be. ❤️

Just book the appointment ❤️

22/09/2026

Getting to know you, through your feet. 👣

One of the things I love about reflexology is that, over time, I get to know your feet, and, through them, get to know you.

Depending on what’s going on in your world, they can feel different from one treatment to the next. Sometimes the changes are subtle; other times, they’re more noticeable.

I get to know the little things, like the colour and temperature, texture and overall feel, how your feet respond to touch and how the reflexes feel beneath my hands.

I’m not simply following a routine. I’m listening with my hands and noticing what shifts from one treatment to the next.

And there’s another layer to this work that I love.

Your feet carry more than your physical body. They can also reflect the emotions and energy you’re carrying …. the parts of you that don’t always have words.

Sometimes, when you return, I can feel a physical difference. I may also sense a change in the quality and energy of your feet … perhaps softer, more open, more settled, or simply different.

Your feet can tell me so much.

And that’s one of the reasons I love working with someone over time.

Reflexology isn’t just about one treatment. It’s about building a relationship … getting to know your feet, and getting to know you through them. ❤️

21/09/2026

As women there are some things, that some of us don’t tend to talk about.

Not because they aren’t important.

Because we’ve been taught they’re embarrassing, or simply shouldn’t be spoken about

Like …

Periods.
Poo.
P*e.
S*x.
Pain.
Discharge.
Bloating.
Bleeding.
Hormones.
Mood.
Sleep.

But if it’s happening in YOUR body, IT’s WORTH TALKING ABOUT

And honestly, after years as a nurse, I’ve heard it all.
Seen most of it too 😉

So you really don’t need to worry about shocking me.

No judgement.
No awkwardness.
No “oh, that’s just what happens as you get older.”

Just a conversation.

Because sometimes the thing you almost didn’t mention is the thing that matters most.

No conversation is off the table.

20/09/2026

AMAZON SYNDROME

We’ve become obsessed with immediacy.

Click it.
Order it.
Track it.
Delivered tomorrow.

And somewhere along the way, we’ve started expecting our health to work the same way.

We want the supplement that makes us feel better after the first dose.

The pill that fixes the problem.

The treatment that sorts everything after one session.

And if it doesn’t?

We move on to the next thing.

I call it “Amazon Syndrome”

We’re used to everything being quick, convenient, available now!

And we’ve started expecting our bodies to work the same way.

But …

Your body isn’t Amazon.

Most health problems didn’t appear overnight.

They’ve often taken years to develop … through stress, poor nutrition, poor sleep, hormonal changes, lack of movement, environmental exposures and simply putting ourselves last.

Our bodies adapt.
They compensate.
They keep us going.

Until eventually, they say enough.

And then we want the answer.

Immediately.

But one pill, one supplement or one treatment isn’t going to undo years of contributing factors.

Perhaps this is the bit we’ve forgotten…

Health isn’t a quick fix.

It’s about looking at the bigger picture.

What are you eating?
How are you sleeping?
How are you moving?
How are you managing stress?
What’s happening hormonally?
What does your environment look like?
And perhaps most importantly … what has your body been trying to tell you?

Not because there is one magic answer hiding in that list.

But because the WHOLE picture matters.

There is NO quick fix.

We need to slow down enough to listen.

To become curious.

To make small, consistent changes.

Giving our bodies the time and support they need to respond.

Because health isn’t something we order.

It’s something we build.

And that takes time!

18/09/2026

Fabulous hairdresser!!!

I have been doing my job now for 20+ years and I still love every minute of it. I recently decided to work for myself by renting a chair within Derek Smith Hairdressing, I am available on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9-6, however I am available to accommodate clients with later or early appointments. Any questions please do not hesitate to ask.