Less Stress in Life by Deb Timmerman

08/22/2026

Thrilled to be collaborating with Lindsay Vertalka, Physical Therapist and Resilient Pathways Coaching for this workshop!

Living with chronic pain — or loving someone who does — asks a lot of a person. And if you've ever sat through advice that stops at "have you tried stretching more?", you know how thin that can feel.

On Tuesday, October 7, I'm joining Less Stress in Life by Deb Timmerman and Lindsay Vertalka, Physical Therapist for an informational session on navigating chronic pain from a whole-person perspective. We'll get into the parts that usually get skipped — the mental load, the emotional weight, the way it reshapes ordinary days — and practical, grounded ways to build resilience around all of it.

📍 Flex Fab Conference Center, Hastings
🗓️ Tuesday, October 7, 2026 · 6:00pm

Here's the honest version: you'll walk away with something useful that day, whether or not you do anything else. And for those who want to keep going, we'll introduce our full multi-week workshop — the deeper, guided version of this work. No hard sell, just a clear look so you can decide what's right for you.

Spots are limited, so if it's calling to you, grab yours.

Register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1017363497777442

And if someone came to mind while you were reading this — send it their way.

08/20/2026

Sometimes doing something differently is what makes it possible.

That applies to reflexology, too.

Foot reflexology may be the “clinical workhorse” in my practice, but it isn't the only way to work with the body. There are reflex areas on the hands, face, and ears as well.

If an injury, mobility change, sensitivity, or simply how you're feeling that day makes one approach less comfortable, we can often change how or where we work.

You don't always have to stop doing something that supports your well-being.

Sometimes you just need a different way to do it.

08/19/2026

A small group and such a great evening!

Thank you to those who joined Nicole Hutton Shannon and me last night for Self Reflexology for Sinuses & Halotherapy at HSB Crossbuck LLC.

We learned hand self-reflexology techniques for sinus support, practiced a simple routine everyone can use at home, and then experienced halotherapy while practicing the techniques we learned.

One of my favorite parts of teaching small groups is the conversation, questions, and opportunity to really practice together and we had plenty of all three!

Thank you, Nicole, for opening your space and sharing your knowledge of halotherapy, and thank you to everyone who came ready to learn and try something new.

If you joined us, I'd love to hear what you thought or what part of the evening you enjoyed most!

08/18/2026

What happens when life changes in an instant?

After a serious automobile accident, Jessica Crosby found herself facing significant injuries, ongoing pain, and a life that suddenly looked very different.

In this week's Less Stress in Life podcast, Jessica joins Lindsay Vertalka and me for an open conversation about grief, accepting help, continuing to do the things she loves, and finding hope when you don't know exactly what the road ahead will look like.

Her words have stayed with me: "The vision is bigger than the setback."

🎧 Finding Hope When Life Changes in an Instant can be found here
https://lessstressinlife.com/2014/ or on your favorite podcast station.

08/18/2026

Interesting research shared by National Register of Reflexologists (Ireland).

🔬 NEW REFLEXOLOGY RESEARCH | 2026

New research published in Pain Management Nursing has explored the effect of foot reflexology on neuropathic pain in women with Type 2 diabetes.

The randomized controlled trial included 65 women with Type 2 diabetes and neuropathic pain. The intervention group received routine treatment alongside foot reflexology, while the control group received routine treatment alone.

Participants receiving reflexology completed 12 sessions over six weeks.

What did the researchers find?

After the six-week treatment period, the women who received reflexology reported significantly less nerve pain than those receiving routine care alone. The researchers measured pain in three different recognised ways, and all three showed improvement.

The researchers also reported reductions in neuropathic symptoms including burning, tingling, numbness and itching. No intervention-related adverse events were reported.

The authors concluded that foot reflexology may be a valuable complementary addition to routine care for neuropathic pain in people with diabetes.

Research such as this is an important contribution to the growing evidence base for reflexology profession.

📚 Research:
The Effect of Foot Reflexology Massage on Neuropathic Pain in Women With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Neşe A, Akarsu E, Küçükkaya MS.
Pain Management Nursing, 2026; 27(3):322–330.

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08/18/2026

How often do we tell ourselves:

When I feel better, I’ll…
When I have more energy, I’ll…
When I can do it the way I used to, I’ll…

Maybe today the question is simply: Is there a different way I could do this now?

Sometimes doing something differently is what makes it possible.

08/16/2026

Life doesn’t always go the way we planned.

When pain, illness, injury, or another unexpected change happens, it’s easy to start thinking, *“When I feel better, I’ll…”*

A recent conversation with Jessica Crosby from Delight Remodel & Design got me thinking about what it means to keep participating in life even when we don't know exactly what the road ahead will look like.

Sometimes, doing something differently may be what makes it possible.

This week’s blog shares a sneak peek our podcast guests' incredible journey.

Read it here: https://lessstressinlife.com/2009/

And stay tuned! There’s more of Jessica’s inspirational story coming Tuesday. ❤️

08/15/2026

Today is National Relaxation Day. We did our normal Saturday errands, treated ourselves to pedi's and had lunch at The Derby Tavern. Now were home taking a breather and about to enjoy an afternoon nap.

Our Saturday routine got me thinking about the difference between relaxation, rest and recovery. Sharing my thoughts in a special National Relaxation Day blog.

Are You Really Recovering? Why Relaxation Matters LINK HERE: https://lessstressinlife.com/2006/

08/13/2026

Some people hesitate to tell their healthcare provider about the complementary therapies they use. But reflexology is part of your health story, too.

Better conversations start with sharing the whole story.