holistic

Reflexology & Essential Oils: A Gentle Partnership for Holistic Healing

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

Reflexology & Essential Oils: A Gentle Partnership for Holistic Healing

There’s a quiet wisdom in our hands and feet—tiny pressure points that mirror every part of our body. Reflexology, the practice of applying gentle pressure to these zones, offers a pathway to balance, relaxation, and natural healing. When paired with the aromatic support of essential oils, the experience becomes a rich, sensory ritual that soothes both body and mind.

What Is Reflexology?

Reflexology is based on the idea that each area of your foot (or hand) corresponds to an organ, gland, or system in the body. By using specific thumb, finger, or massage tool techniques, a reflexologist can:

  • Promote Circulation: Encouraging blood flow to tired muscles and organs.
  • Balance Energy: Helping clear blockages in what traditional Chinese medicine calls “qi” or life force.
  • Support Relaxation: Activating the nervous system’s parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) response.
  • Encourage Detoxification: Stimulating lymphatic drainage and kidney function.

Many people report feeling deeply relaxed after a reflexology session, often remarking that it feels like a full-body release even though the technique is focused on the feet (or hands).

Why Add Essential Oils?

Essential oils amplify the benefits of reflexology in a few beautiful ways:

  1. Enhanced Relaxation: Oils like lavender or Roman chamomile help quiet the mind and deepen the sense of calm that reflexology invites.
  2. Targeted Support: Specific oils can be chosen to support certain areas—peppermint for headache relief, ginger for digestion, or eucalyptus for respiratory comfort.
  3. Nervous System Balance: Oils such as frankincense or vetiver ground and stabilize, helping the nervous system transition more fully into rest and repair.
  4. Ritual & Intention: Aroma activates our limbic system (the part of the brain tied to emotion), making every touch point feel intentional and sacred.

By combining touch with scent, you’re engaging multiple pathways of healing: physical, energetic, and emotional.

How to Practice Reflexology at Home with Essential Oils

You don’t need fancy tools or a professional massage table to enjoy a simple reflexology session. Here’s a gentle at-home ritual:

  1. Set the Space
    • Find a quiet corner, dim the lights, and play soft music or nature sounds.
    • Diffuse an essential oil blend that promotes relaxation—try lavender + bergamot or a premade “Calm” blend.
  2. Prepare Your Feet
    • Soak your feet in warm (not hot) water for 5–10 minutes. Add a few drops of lavender or chamomile oil to the water.
    • Pat dry with a soft towel and sit comfortably in a supportive chair.
  3. Choose Your Oils
    • For general relaxation: Lavender (nerve-soothing) + Roman Chamomile (calming inflammation).
    • For digestive support: Peppermint (stimulates digestion) + Ginger (warming, anti-nausea).
    • For stress relief: Frankincense (grounding) + Ylang Ylang (balances mood).
    Mix 2–3 drops of your chosen oil(s) with a tablespoon of carrier oil (like fractionated coconut or sweet almond).
  4. Start with Gentle Strokes
    • Warm the blend in your hands. Begin by gently stroking the entire top and bottom of each foot—this invites circulation and a moment to notice any areas of tension.
  5. Work the Reflex Points
    • Use your thumb to apply gentle pressure in small circles to these key zones on the sole of the foot:
      • Ball of the Foot (Chest/Heart Zone): Beneath the toes, along the pad.
      • Arch (Digestive/Abdominal Zone): The middle curve of the sole.
      • Heel (Pelvis/Lower Back Zone): The fleshy part under the heel.
      • Inner Edge (Spine Zone): Run your thumb along the inner arch.
    Spend about 30 seconds to 1 minute on each point, adjusting pressure to what feels supportive (never painful).
  6. Soften and Soothe
    • Finish with soft, sweeping strokes across the entire foot. Take a few moments to simply rest and breathe, allowing the oils and touch to integrate.

The Holistic Benefits You’ll Feel

  • Deep Relaxation: The combination of intentional touch and calming scent helps your nervous system shift into rest mode.
  • Mind-Body Connection: By focusing on your feet, you naturally turn inward, nurturing presence and awareness.
  • Improved Circulation: Stimulating reflex points encourages blood flow, which can ease muscle tension throughout the body.
  • Emotional Release: Essential oils can gently unlock stored emotions—pair that with reflexology’s balancing touch, and you may find a surprising sense of calm.

Even if you only practice once a week, you’ll likely notice incremental shifts: calmer evenings, a lighter mood, and more ease in your body.

A Gentle Invitation

If you’ve never tried reflexology before, start small. Spend just five minutes on each foot, using a favorite essential oil blend. Notice how your mind and body respond. Over time, this ritual can become an anchor—an act of self-care that grounds you back into your own body, your own breath, your own peace.

Have you tried combining reflexology and essential oils before? I’d love to hear what oils you reach for and how your body responds. Share your thoughts below or tag me in your reflexology moments!

Until next time, may you walk softly, breathe deeply, and find calm in every step.

If you would love to be part of my essential oil community and are ready to start using pure essential oils, shop here or email me for a free 1:1 consultation.

If you love my content and want more tools for mindfulness & movement, check out my digital products on Buy Me a Coffee! Your support helps me continue creating. 

Looking for the tools and products I swear by? Visit my Amazon storefront for a handpicked collection of my favorite finds—from kitchen gadgets to wellness essentials. Click here to explore and shop my must-haves.

Living with Chronic Pain

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

Living with chronic pain can feel overwhelming but when you put a few tools into your toolbox you can start to feel empowered versus defeated. I have found combining traditional treatment with some holistic approaches is the perfect balance for living with chronic pain.

When I was first referred to a pain management specialist I was in my mid-thirties and had no real idea what it all meant. I knew that I was there to address chronic and ongoing back pain but was a little clueless about empowering myself with a few tools to help manage the pain. Over time I have gathered quite a bit of knowledge and found what works for me.

Tools for Living with Chronic Pain

A holistic approach to living with chronic pain means you bring together a variety of tools to help support you. Being open to trying things is key when looking for the right tool for you. Here are my top four tools in my toolbox.

Gratitude

Please don’t skip past this part because you think that there is no way gratitude can help your physical pain. Hear me out. Gratitude CAN in fact reroute your thinking from dwelling on pain to a better place. Get yourself a small notebook, a free app, or a document section on your computer and start with 3-5 things each day you are thankful for, and why. Listing off your family, friends, house and dog is fine and dandy, but discovering the feeling that is evoked in your is where the magic really is. Next, do a quick google search on the benefits of gratitude and you might just be convinced to give it a try. It is my #1 tool I reach for time and time again to help me live my best life while also living with chronic pain.

Self-Care

Find something, anything, that gives you comfort and joy. Allow this self-care practice to evolve and change over time and circumstances, but no matter what, you MUST care for yourself. This can be something like a bubble bath, a special cup of tea, a massage, learning a new skill, reading a book, buying yourself a special lotion, or anything else that comforts you. This is a daily requirement.

Movement

Nearly two decades ago, my rheumatologist told me that if I don’t move it, I will lose it. While there are some days living with chronic pain it seems inconceivable that moving would make me feel better, but it truly does. I have a little rule I follow–if I sit for 30 minutes, I must move for 15 minutes. A lap around the block usually does it. This constant motion keeps my joints lubricated and my muscles supple. I also incorporate water exercises, yoga, and mild strength training into the mix. Motion is lotion and I am firm believer in that. Those individuals who succumb to the aches and pains and opt to binge on Netflix day after day are probably in more pain than they would be had they chosen to move a little more. Try it and you might be surprised.

Reframing Your Thoughts

It is a slippery slope to think about, talk about and identify with a diagnosis. Learning to be mindful in the thoughts and words we chose as it relates to our pain is a powerful tool. I have found that catching my self saying things that “feed” the pain and diagnosis is something that I needed to nip right away. Rather than saying, “my pain is killing me”, I opt to think or say “my pain is present and I need to do something about it”. Or I simply feel it and then move on. Becoming consumed with the details of the diagnosis can overwhelm you and you can quickly sink into identifying as the diagnosis and lose yourself.

Listen to this podcast for more details about the power YOU have to build your holistic toolbox because you are so worth it.

Categories of Essential Oils

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

Discovering the Families of Essential Oils: Florals, Trees, Herbs, and Citrus

Essential oils offer us the essence of plants in their purest form, and each oil carries its own unique energy and purpose. By grouping them into families—florals, trees, herbs, and citrus—we can begin to understand their qualities on a deeper level. Whether you’re seeking grounding, uplifting, clarity, or emotional balance, exploring these categories helps you choose the perfect oil for your needs.

Each family has a distinct personality and connection to body, mind, and spirit:

Florals: The Heart’s Whisper
Floral essential oils, like lavender, rose, and jasmine, carry soft yet powerful aromas that soothe the heart and uplift the spirit. These oils are often used for calming emotions, opening the heart chakra, and inviting feelings of love, compassion, and peace. Their delicate scents remind us to slow down and savor the beauty around us.

Trees: Grounded Strength
Tree essential oils, such as cedarwood, sandalwood, and fir, offer a deep, earthy aroma that connects us to the wisdom of nature. These oils are perfect for grounding practices, meditation, and emotional stability. Just as trees root deeply into the earth, these oils help us feel steady, supported, and anchored in our daily lives.

Herbs: Nature’s Healers
Herbal essential oils, like basil, rosemary, and peppermint, are vibrant and invigorating. They bring clarity to the mind, awaken the senses, and support physical and energetic cleansing. These oils are ideal for moments when you need focus, vitality, and a fresh perspective.

Citrus: Sunshine in a Bottle
Citrus essential oils, such as orange, lemon, and grapefruit, are bright, cheerful, and full of life. Their uplifting aromas spark joy, energize the body, and clear away stagnant energy. Perfect for mornings or whenever you need a boost of positivity and lightness.

Check out this handy guide to learn more about the basics of essential oil use.

57456921_298032457776258_8299476098484273152_n.jpg

If you love my content and want more tools for mindfulness & movement, check out my digital products on Buy Me a Coffee! Your support helps me continue creating. 

Looking for the tools and products I swear by? Visit my Amazon storefront for a handpicked collection of my favorite finds—from kitchen gadgets to wellness essentials. Click here to explore and shop my must-haves.

If you would love to be part of my essential oil community and are ready to start using pure essential oils, shop here or email me for a free 1:1 consultation.

 

Essential Oil Chakra Blends 

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

Balancing Your Energy: Essential Oil Blends for the Chakras

Our bodies are deeply connected to energy centers known as chakras, and when these energy points are balanced, we often feel more grounded, inspired, and at ease in our daily lives. One beautiful way to support these energy centers is through the use of essential oils. With their natural aromas and therapeutic properties, essential oils can help open, align, and nurture each chakra—bringing harmony to body, mind, and spirit.

In this post, we’ll explore simple, intentional essential oil blends you can use to support each chakra. Whether you’re new to energy work or looking to deepen your practice, these blends invite you to pause, breathe, and connect to your inner wisdom.

Keeping our chakras open and balanced is critical for the overall health of our mind, body and spirit.  Using gemstone and plant vibrations that resonate with our energy centers, along with affirmations,  is a beautiful way to begin to find harmony.

The blends: 

  • Root: black tourmaline; cypress, sandalwood, balance, vetiver and cedarwood. I AM.
  • Sacral: carnelian; clary sage, patchouli, bergamot,  ylang ylang and wild orange I FEEL.
  • Solar plexus: citrine; cinnamon, coriander, ginger, clove, and peppermint. I DO.  
  • Heart: rose quartz; lavender, cypress, lemon, orange, whisper and sandalwood I LOVE.
  • Throat: sodalite; bergamot, peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus and lavender. I SPEAK.
  • 3rd eye: amethyst; cedarwood, lemongrass, frankincense, marjoram, sandalwood. I SEE. 
  •  Crown: quartz crystal; frankincense, myrrh, Roman chamomile, lavender and rosemary. I UNDERSTAND. 

*Also each blend has a clear quartz crystal inside to amplify the crystals chosen in each blend. 

You can purchase these here.

If you love my content and want more tools for mindfulness & movement, check out my digital products on Buy Me a Coffee! Your support helps me continue creating. 

Looking for the tools and products I swear by? Visit my Amazon storefront for a handpicked collection of my favorite finds—from kitchen gadgets to wellness essentials. Click here to explore and shop my must-haves.

If you would love to be part of my essential oil community and are ready to start using pure essential oils, shop here or email me for a free 1:1 consultation.