I’m obsessed with detective fiction

People who know me well will tell you that I’m a little bit obsessed with detection.  From avidly watching my favourite Scandi Noirs on television to poring over a Val McDermid in every spare minute I have, I can’t get enough of the whodunnit!  I’ve often wondered if I’m in the wrong job but just recently I’ve realised that being a reflexologist is a little bit like being Carol Jordan or Kate Brannigan (my two favourite McDermid characters) but without the murders!  If this has left you wondering what on earth I’m on about, please bear with me and I’ll explain.

The reflexology detection process

When a client comes to see me for the first time we start off with a consultation; where I essentially try to find out what brings them to my door.  After we’ve discussed their current concerns, medical history and lifestyle I start interrogating their feet to see what they can tell me.  After a while my fingers start to collect data and I start to ask questions (if their eyes are closed and they’re clearly in another zone, naturally I save the questions until the end).

“Is your digestive system a bit sluggish?” I ask.

“No.” comes the reply.

“So you have a bowel movement every day?”

“No, probably every 2 or 3 days, but it’s always been like that.”

“Aha!” I say.

A few minutes later…

“Do you have any issues with your right shoulder?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Do you carry anything heavy over that shoulder at all?”

“Well I travel a lot with work and my laptop case is quite heavy, so yes I suppose I do.”

As a reflexologist it’s my job to read reflexes and determine where the body might be out of balance and then attempt to restore homeostasis.  It’s not my place to diagnose (see my earlier blog post regarding this issue) but it is up to me to detect; and to know what questions to ask to get to the bottom of mysteries.

Just call me Sherlock…   

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