Hand Reflexology
Having spent the Fall of 2025 back at school getting certified to work on hands, I have had to give dozens of practice sessions on clients and friends.
At one session, it was brought up that there wasn’t anything on this website talking about hands ……. I hadn’t thought of that. With my training and the title of Reflexologist it seemed to me that everyone else would see it the way I do. Hands and Feet are just different doorways to the same nervous system in YOUR body.
When someone asks me Why Hands? My standard answer would probably be Why Not?
Our Hands work hard every day, in much more visible ways than our feet do, & a lot of those tasks are repetitive. Our hands are also more vulnerable to injury than our feet are due to their exposure .
We should treat them well, protect them, & pamper them when possible. They are perfect candidates for reflexology for many reasons.
Hands are portable. You can reach out and work on a pair of hands anywhere, anytime, and it can be very discreet, sitting beside a loved one and working on their hand while enjoying a conversation. It doesn’t need a studio space, a portable chair, or a basket of supplies.
They are convenient and easy to access for self-help reflexology, as well as reflexology given to another.
How can reflexology specifically help your hands?
Increase flexibility and manual dexterity. Reduce symptoms of carpal tunnel or other overuse issues in people using electronic devices.
Anyone who uses their hands a lot can benefit. Massage therapists/ reflexologists. Dental/Medical personnel. Hairdressers/Barbers. Fine Arts/Musical Instruments. Automotive or other trades with a lot of fine detail of tools and small technical parts to repair. Use of vibrating or heavy equipment that creates stress not only on your hands, but in your arms and shoulders. People with Injuries or Disabilities.
Hands are closer to your shoulders, neck, and head. They would be the first choice of location for a reflexologist to work on any issues in those areas. The proximity of the hands to the neck and head allows for a faster response time of messages being transmitted via the neural pathways in the hands.
Reduces swelling and pain from Arthritis. Reduces scar tissue and adhesions that cause decreased finger and wrist mobility & improves the hand’s range of motion. Reduces the effects of trigger finger.
Improves circulation in your hands and fingers, especially after surgery, bringing more nutrients to the site and aiding recovery. Provides stimulation of your hands, especially for conditions such as Raynauds.
Our hands need deeper and more prolonged stimulation than the feet do, to reach the internal reflex points, simply because our hands are much tougher due to their constant use and exposure to heat, cold, & texture. Our feet are softer and more protected, and therefore relay messages throughout our bodies faster when our reflexes are stimulated. But our Hands are closer to our heart and our head.
The hand reflexology sessions I have given so far seem to be more heart-centered. Clients look and also report feeling happier after a session. The mental and emotional benefits of a hand reflexology session seem to lead the way for the physical benefits to follow. If I sit and think about it - I might say “perhaps with feet it is the opposite”, Clients often leave a foot session feeling physically better first, with the mental and emotional benefits not showing up until later.
I believe both doorways to your nervous system have value, and both have effects.
The preference may just come down to the client. How comfortable are you with having your hands or feet touched? Which area causes you the most pain, or is the most overworked? Are you looking to address a physical issue or an energetic or emotional concern.
It may change from session to session.
I now offer individual feet or hand sessions, as well as longer combo sessions where both are worked on.
https://www.take5reflexology.com/services
I look forward to seeing you, your feet, and/or your hands, soon.