It’s a body part that most people don’t notice until it hurts: the feet.
With all its intricate bones, small tendons and other muscles, the feet are often overlooked, but can enjoy healing benefits once paid attention to properly claims reflexologist Mishara Junkin.
Junkin, owner of Sole Journey Reflexology in Bremerton, has been involved with reflexology since 2006.
“This is like acupuncture without the needles,” she said of reflexology.
At Junkin’s location, the process takes place in a dimly lit room where clients are treated to a milk bath before reclining in a lounge chair. That’s when Junkin starts her 45-minutes of reflexology work.
Those she does see on a regular basis, she describes as “diehards” who can’t get enough of someone massaging and kneading their feet.
By definition, reflexology is “a system of massage used to relieve tension and treat illness, based on the theory that there are reflex points on the feet, hands, and head linked to every part of the body.”
On the wall, Junkin has a chart showing what pressure points on the feet correspond to various parts of the body. She uses those points to learn what may be bothersome in a client’s health.
While some folks may be squeamish about others touching their feet, it is never a ticklish feeling, Junkin noted.
Some are sports fanatics who want to “keep their feet healthy” and others are diabetics just looking to relieve some pain, Junkin said.
Others are cancer patients looking for comfort through a different type of massage and relaxation technique.
Lynda Friedel first met Junkin at Harrison Medical Center during a training meeting for those who take part in the center’s therapies program.
Friedel, a harpist, wanted to know more about the reflexology therapy Junkin was providing to patients. The pair both worked to soothe patients with unique therapies. In 2009, Friedel was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided to reach out as a client to Junkin.
“I knew enough that I needed to take care of myself for relaxation and healing purposes,” she said. “I was so hooked. It was just amazing.”
For Friedel, lounging in a chair for the treatment made her “feel so peaceful” that she often didn’t feel like doing anything else for the day once she was done.
Not only was the experience relaxing for Friedel, it often times became emotional for her, she said. As someone dealing with a serious health issue, Friedel also looked to Junkin as a “trusted caregiver” who she could share feelings with as well.
“It wasn’t totally quiet,” she said of her treatment. “We had good conversations. It helped emotionally. There were some tears on my part.”
Today, Friedel is cancer free.
To keep current on reflexology, Junkin must take continuing education every two years. It’s something the business owner doesn’t mind because she feels that reflexology is “just amazingly effective” when it comes to treating a variety of ailments.
Sometimes her clients notice right away that their headache is gone. Other times it takes several sessions for more severe issues like plantar fasciitis.
One client of hers’ couldn’t move across a room easily due to her plantar fasciitis, which is heel pain. After half a dozen sessions, the client was able to walk normally.
“Things like that are really rewarding,” Junkin said. “It’s pretty profound.”
Client and massage therapist Monika Geiger often comes in to visit Junkin as well because she agrees that the benefits are huge when it comes to reflexology.
As someone who is on her feet all day taking care of others, Geiger said she enjoys coming to Sole Journey Reflexology to get her muscles taken care of through reflexology.
“I’m on my feet all day. When I come regularly, I feel better all over,” she said. “It’s really been (an improvement) throughout my whole body system.”
Sometimes Geiger will just listen to what Junkin believes the feet are telling her in terms of other body issues. No surprise to Geiger, Junkin is often spot on.
“I really feel like she listens to my health concerns,” said Geiger. “It almost always rings true with what’s going on in my body.”
