Wednesday 29 June 2011

Traditional Reflexology for Foot Spas


These days we find many foot spas coming up in every nook and cranny of Mumbai. It is evident that foot massage is becoming very popular among the masses in urban India. However the question that arises is; is there any foot spa that is completely unique?

Unfortunately, all foot spas are cashing in on the same theme, a mix of Thai foot massage with head, shoulder, hand massage and a bit of reflexology, generally done with a tool. If a prospective client enquires and asks whether Reflexology treatment is available, they are told it is. But what they actually get is quite different from traditional reflexology.

Traditional Reflexology belongs more in the alternative medicine rather than in the massage/ spa category. This is because:

·       In traditional reflexology, oil or cream is not used as it makes the thumb or fingers slip, preventing the therapist from stimulating each point properly. Instead, a bit of talc powder is used.
·       It is not recommended to use any instruments in reflexology unlike what is done in most of the current spas. Fingers and Thumbs are the best tools for reflexology as they help the therapist to feel any possible knots or tenderness in the feet.
·       A few massage techniques are used during reflexology for warming up the feet and relaxing the client. However, these techniques are used only as a starter, a bit in the middle and as dessert during treatment. The actual treatment mainly involves thumb/ finger walking, pivoting and finger rotary pressure.

It is sad that a traditional reflexology spa/ clinic is still difficult to find in a city like Mumbai where almost every single person requires a healing treatment for their stress, tension and the resultant diseases.

Most spa owners believe that there will be more ROI if they offer the ‘popular’ treatments, but the market soon gets saturated with the same kind of services. What we need to realize is that popularity can be created by using the right kind of marketing techniques. And the best bet for survival of any spa is to offer something unique and niche. 

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