Imagine sinking into a big comfy chair, putting your feet up and your head back. A warm buckwheat pillow is placed around your neck. Your eyes are gently cloaked with a lavender-smelling eye-pillow and soft sounds of ocean waves play in the background. And then someone goes to work on your feet—squeezing and stroking and kneading. Stress melts away.

Reflexologist Sabrina Cox.

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Meet Sabrina Cox, a reflexologist and natural nails technician who has taken the ubiquitous manicure and pedicure treatment and raised it to a high art. Working at an Art Moderne building on Normal Street in Hillcrest—an understated, second-story space with nothing to distract from pure escape and indulgence—Cox blends the pampering of massage and the health benefits of reflexology with the art of creating beautiful hands and feet.

“It was my mom who told me to add the nails to the treatment,” says Cox. “The real reason women get their nails done is so they can have their feet and hands rubbed.”

Reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears, and they have referral areas, or zones, which correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body. Through application of pressure on reflex points—the feet being the primary area—reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and helps promote natural functions of the body.

Cox’s salon only uses natural nail products. No funky toxic smells here. She uses a nail line called No Miss—no petroleum based solvents or Formaldehyde. Neither does Cox trade in gel or acrylic nails.

“My services are limited,” she says proudly. “Pedicures and manicures with reflexology treatment or just reflexology alone. That’s it.”

Theart of reflexology.

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For her pedicure with reflexology treatment, Cox has clients sit in a zero-gravity chair. The chair tilts back, relieving pressure on the lower back, and also giving Cox full access to a client’s feet. After a nice hot foot bath, salt scrub, and cuticle clean-up, it’s time for Cox to knead away the stress.

“It’s a hurt so good kinda’ thing,” notes Cox.

After the 30-minute reflexology treatment, Cox adds an oil or lotion, followed by and another 10-15 minutes of massage. Last comes the polish.

“I want people to walk out feeling and looking differently than when they came it,” says Cox says. Customers spend $45 for a pedicure with reflexology; and $75 for a reflexology-only extended session.

A visit to Cox is more than just the little pity-pat play massage with a mani/pedi at the local nail shop. Considering the health benefits, how beautiful your little piggy’s will look when you leave—and the near-ecstasy of having someone knead your feet into submission—it seems worth the time and cost.

“Toes can feel abandoned,” Cox says. “We should take care of them.”