Self-Care Tip: Reflexing the neck and Cervical spine to relieve discomforts and pains

Waking up with pain or tension in areas like the eyes, nose, sinuses, teeth, head, brain, neck, jaw, arms, or wrists can disrupt your day—and even your week. These discomforts influence your mood and overall energy, making it challenging to stay aligned and focused. But before you leap out of bed, take a moment to work on the spinal and cervical reflex areas on your foot. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. Locate the reflex zone for the neck and spine on your foot (you can reference a foot reflexology map or the photo to find the exact spot). Its pretty much on the inside (medial) of your big toe where the toe attaches to the rest of the foot.

2. Use your thumb to gently press into the reflex. If this technique feels difficult, a massage stick can work just as well. And if you’re looking for a professional tool, the multireflex tool n°424 is a great asset to working your own feet.

3. Like working out a muscle knot or foam rolling, lean into the sensation. You’re not looking for pain, but sensation is essential to connect with your cellular memory and find the point of resistance. Resistance = sensation of discomfort—and moving into that sensation is how you release it.

4. Once you feel the sensation, hold it for 15 seconds while practicing focused breathing: DO NOT MISS THIS STEP DUE TO EGO!!

• Inhale deeply through your nose.

• Exhale through your mouth, as if you’re blowing out birthday candles.

5. Continue working this reflex area for 2-3 minutes or until you notice the discomfort easing.

This self-care routine can make a big difference in how you feel, helping to reset your necks alignment and support a smoother start to your day. There have been many reports of natural neck adjustments and cracking from things moving back into place, so this is normal! It can loosen everything up for it to takes its proper positioning.

Pro Tip: Working the Spine and Cervical Reflex for Practitioners ✨

When clients experience discomfort in the neck, head, or upper body, this reflex zone is invaluable. Yet, in my experience reviewing student documentation, this reflex is often overlooked, with no sensation recored. Let’s change that.

Here’s how to maximize the effectiveness of this reflex in your practice:

1. Stop, focus, and set your intention. This reflex deserves your full attention.

2. While performing thumb or finger walking, avoid only using the pad of your thumb in this area. The pad doesn’t provide the depth needed to access the sensation that initiates change. Instead, find boney contacts between thumb and toe!

3. Aim for a sensation level of 4-6 out of 10. This should feel noticeable but comfortable—not tipping into intolerable.

4. Once you locate the sensation, hold the reflex and breathe together with your client:

• Encourage your client to inhale through their nose and exhale through their mouth.

• As they exhale, remind them to release tension and expand their awareness, allowing space for light and healing to enter. 

Breath work is a key part of this technique:

• It prevents negative energy transfer between you and your client.

• It shifts the frequency of the cells, helping the body release pain and stress patterns and initiate change. Einstein said “if you can change the energy, you can change the mass”. Therefore the breath brings in new flow and allows the heart mind to rewrite the DNA programming. 

Encourage your clients to resist the natural reaction to tense up or withdraw from the sensation. Instead, guide them to relax, release the story tied to the restriction, and allow transformation.

I often spend 5-7 minutes working a single zone until the sensation diminishes while applying consistent pressure. This thorough approach ensures deep cellular shifts that result in meaningful relief for the client.

By applying these tips in your self-care routine or practice, you’ll create powerful opportunities for transformation—helping yourself or your clients move through discomfort and into alignment.

Ready to try this out? Share your thoughts or experiences below!