In my long time career as a licensed manicurist, I can’t tell you how many times a guest of  mine would come in to receive a pedicure and apologize to me for not shaving their legs.

As a heart-based practitioner, and a professional, it is not what I EVER think about as I give a pedicure, just as a Massage Therapist is not looking/judging your body, and a Gynecologist is not …well you get the picture.

In fact, I would put the guest at ease by informing them that their not having freshly-shaven-legs is a Wise decision for a couple of reasons:

1.  If you are going to get a pedicure and you are questionable about the sanitation practices of the Salon or Technician, especially if they are using a whirlpool soaking unit that can harbor and circulate bacteria, then it is wise not to shave 24 hrs prior to your service as your skin would be extra-exfoliated and more open to any germs or bacteria than may be present.

2.  If your service is to include a foot and leg scrub, chances are the scrub contains salt in it, and you’re going to feel the burn, especially if you have sensitive skin as I do and have learned this first hand.

So go ahead and go stubbly to your next Pedicure, play it Safe and Enjoy the Scrub!

If you haven’t yet, stop by my FACEBOOK page and say “Hello!”

Solefully,

Danielle ~ Hand ‘n’ Sole Goddess

Have you Heard of Reflexology and wondered exactly what it is?

Reflexology is the Art and Science of using a specific touch technique on Reflex pressure maps that are believed to exist on the Hands, Feet, and Outer Ears.

Some say Reflexology came from the Ancient Egyptians, others say Ancient Chinese, and then my favorite answer that I once heard in reply to “who were the first reflexologists?” was “Babies.” How often do you see Babies sucking their fingers, or pulling at their toes? Both are brain reflexes. Or have you ever noticed while painful teething is in process, Babies often tug at their Ear lobes? Yes, dental reflexes are on the ear lobes.

No matter who you believe were the first Reflexologists, William H. Fitzgerald, an ear, nose, and throat specialist, is credited for bringing awareness of Reflexology to the United States in his book “Zone Therapy,” published in 1917. And later, in the 1930’s and 40’s, Eunice D. Ingham, a nurse and physiotherapist, claiming that the Feet and Hands were especially sensitive, she mapped out the body’s corresponding Reflexes, thus changing “Zone Therapy” to Reflexology.

My personal journey into Reflexology began when I received my Manicuring license in 1990. Part of the manicuring process is to massage the hands and feet, and this became one of my favorite parts of the service. To offer Relaxation to my guests by holding, nurturing, and massaging their precious Hands and Soles. And yes, I say precious because where would one be without them?

Then I began to become aware of the subtle textures of certain parts of the Hands and Feet, and how specific areas felt sore to some guests, while other areas were especially pleasing to be massaged. So I bought a Reflexology chart at a local Beauty Convention, then took a class at a Massage school, and then in 2005, I studied at the American Academy of Reflexology, and I have been integrating Reflexology into my Hands-on work and Life ever since!

So how does this work and what are the benefits?

The idea of applying pressure, or reflexing over specific areas that correspond to the body system by way of Reflex maps is similar to Acupressure, or Acupuncture where needles or pressure are applied on Meridian maps. Now just like reflexology zones and reflexes, meridians are not seen by naked eye, we cannot open up the body and find them, they are believed to exist. Reflexology like Acupuncture and Acupressure work on the premise that the body can be restored to a more Relaxed, and thus Healthy state by unblocking Chi, or Life force energy.

I personally feel that all dis-ease is caused by Stress and Tension in the body, and through Reflexology, I have been able to bring my guests to a very deep relaxed state in which their body can facilitate its own Self-healing. I never use it to diagnose, to prognosticate, or as substitute for tradition Western Medicine.

Some Benefits Reported are:

Overall stress reduction

Improved Immune System

Improved Circulation

Emotional Release

Can assist with conditions such as:

Headaches

Sleep Disorders

Digestive issues

Neck and Jaw Tension

Menstrual Cramps

Hormonal Imbalances

Just to name a few.

Caution must be used for pregnant moms, the very young or elderly, and those with recent fractures, severe eczema, or other skin diseases, and those on heavy medications.

If you are interested in trying out some Reflexology, my advice is to find not only a trained Reflexologist, also one who is Caring and Nurturing, as with all Energy/Body work, Intention and Healing go Hand in Hand!

And why not try some Reflexology Love on yourself?!

Try Walking barefoot over some sand or small pebbles, or gently roll your soles over a tennis ball.

Massage the webs between your fingers to relieve Neck and Shoulder tension, or the palms of your hands to aid digestion.

Rub your Ear Lobes next time you feel Anxious or Nervous as the Brain Reflexes are there, and who couldn’t use a lil Brain Soothing right?!

And why not Wear Shoes That Love YOU by reflexing your soles and look cute while doing it!

And please, pop on over to see how I have incorporated Creativity and Other Healing Modalities in my Blissful Reflexology Sessions.

Solefully,

Danielle Gomez Quintanar~Hand ‘n’ Sole Goddess

It’s that Time of Year again! The stores are stocked with Pink & Red hearts, cards, candies, gift ideas, all promoting the celebration of the Love in your Life.

This display is often geared to celebrating A Love Relationship with someone outside of yourself, and yet what if you are not in a relationship? This all makes me ponder, “What if the Love in our life was focused inward?” An honoring, a celebration, gifts, attention, LOVE, all showered and bestowed upon Ourselves, and all year-long?

Just imagine yourself so Full of Self-LOVE that the overflow would be like a flowing river, spreading and connecting the essence of Love, Nourishment for Life, promoting Growth, Cleansing, and Washing away of hurtful debris. Now close your eyes for a moment and sit with that feeling…

It is through Self-LOVE that we can truly, Understand Love, Offer Love, and Receive Love, and since “The Love that you with hold, often becomes the pain that you carry,” I’d say that it is TIME to get your Self-Love on!

And Self-Love is always at Hand!     

A few ACTS of Self-LOVE:

FORGIVENESS- forgiving others and yourself, releases anger and resentment that we carry and allows for more ease and flow into our lives.

TRUST- when you have trust and faith in yourself, others will too.

GRATITUDE- the act of being grateful is a magnet for more abundance and things to be grateful for.

Creative ACTS of Self-Love:

Make yourself a Love Card, and mail it.

Buy yourself a dozen, or two of Roses and then Bathe with the petals.

Write yourself a Love song, and sing it in the Mirror.

CREATE time in your day to have fun.

CREATE space in your home to Relax.

Engage in a Creative Meditation.

Or Create your Own ACT of Self-LOVE and I would Love to hear about it!

 And I would LOVE to support you with your Acts of Self-Love with this

Soleful Offer!

If you haven’t yet, Stop by my Facebook page, Hand ‘n’ Sole Goddess, and say “HI!”

The honest truth is that I never liked pictures. For a long time it was hard to look at myself. I had so many insecurities and pictures only pointed them out to me. You see, I have spent so much time being overly critical of myself, over concerned of how others would see me,  that I hid. I hid my laughter behind my hands, I hid my Woman-ness by slouching. I hid longings and desires under a blanket of Responsibilities.

Then something began to shift in me. Was it my growing older, wiser? Or was I just tired of hiding?

Having raised my kids, and surviving some of life’s lessons and losses, I wanted to seek out who I was, and I wanted to SHINE, like crystals, made by Life, polished by Environment. 

I was ready to bask in my many facets.

I decided that I would re-launch me and my website with some “real” photos. So I began checking out other websites and contacting photographers. I knew that I did not want the typical boring “headshot”  and wanted to show the world Me, with more weight, and yes, some wrinkles.

I chose Shannon Leith because I could feel her compassion and beliefs just  jump off her website, and I was not wrong. She completely understood my Fear of being seen and the desire I had to release it. She was a great Coach at peeling away the layers of my insecurities,  holding space for NATURAL BEAUTY. She captured what I felt inside, no poses, just genuinely me, BEING me.

AND, once the photos were ready, she held a Reflection session that allowed me to go over my photos with her, and discuss my feelings around them. I saw some that showed wrinkles in my hands, and surprisingly, I loved them. I was able to share with her how I once was a hand model and how my hands have aged and no longer do modeling, yet I was so proud of the Wisdom and Experience they showed. Talking that out was Priceless!

I am so thankful for Shannon Leith, her Heart, her Art, and her Seeing.

And I am so thankful for my Courage to be Seen!

Now I wonder “why did I waste so much time hiding?” So Silly…

And I remember the Child-hood game of Hide n’ Seek. At which you did your best to hide, then felt the nervous anxiety of being found, and yet if the game went on too long, it was boring. And then you secretely wanted to be found. To Be Seen. To be an active part of the Play.

There is Freedom in Being Found.

 Do you ever feel like you are Hiding?

Tag, your It!

What a Concept, right?! In a world where we are often conditioned, to put our best foot forward, wait till its done, worry/market ourselves based on what others will think, we forget the Value in being Human, Vulnerable, and Authentic. 

After months of Procrastinating, and hiding behind a “Coming Soon” page because of thoughts like ”It’s Not done Yet,” “Not all of my Offerings are defined yet,” “It’s/I’m Not Ready Yet,” yet, yet, yet, I decided to quiet the voice of my inner perfectionist, and invite my Guests, Friends, and any of You who have stumbled along, to be part of it’s/my Creative Growth Journey!

I invite you to take a click around. It’s currently a combination of What I have been doing, What I am doing, and What I will be Doing, all merging, and unfolding Live.

Here is my DISCLAIMER: (I had to bribe my inner perfectionsit to stay quiet by adding this)  This site/offerings will be Changing, Growing, and will sometimes be a lil’ Funky as I play with plug-ins, and accidentally mess it up, but Hey…isn’t LIFE, and aren’t WE often Changing, Growing, and Yes, sometimes a lil Funky and Messy?!

Is there something that You have been wanting to offer, share, or try, and Perfectionism, and it’s close friend, Procrastination, or Fear of what others will think, has been holding you back? 

I say try giving those voices a time-out and call in your inner Courage and be Audacious.

 Go LIVE!