What you might not know is that when pressure is applied to specific points on your feet, it can stimulate relief in parts of your body and promote your overall well-being.

Reflexology, the ancient practice of applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, or ears to promote overall well-being, often encounters skepticism. It’s understandable – on the surface, the idea of influencing internal organs or alleviating pain through foot pressure may seem far-fetched.

And though you might be skeptical, a decades long study by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) confirms that foot reflexology “will be introduced” to “provide physical and psychological relief to patients with serious clinical conditions.”

“These healthcare methods can become a part of people’s lives and give them a more solid, comprehensive, and healthy sustainable life value,” NLM writes of the ancient therapeutic practice that was first documented as far back as 2330.

How it works

Reflexology operates on the principle that specific areas on the feet, hands, or ears are connected to other body parts. For example, a point on the sole of the foot might correspond to the heart or lungs, or the tip of your toe is believed to be a path to your sinuses.

By applying targeted pressure to these zones, practitioners stimulate nerve endings, improving blood circulation and energy flow.

The practice combines knowledge of anatomy and physiology with holistic wellness techniques, and many individuals report feeling deeply relaxed and rejuvenated after a session.

The Benefits of Reflexology

Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Reflexology helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces stress hormones and induces a state of deep relaxation. Regular sessions may alleviate symptoms of anxiety and promote better sleep.

Improved Circulation: By stimulating pressure points, reflexology enhances blood flow to targeted areas, which may help in delivering oxygen and nutrients more efficiently throughout the body.

Pain Management: Reflexology has been linked to relief from chronic pain conditions, such as migraines, back pain, and arthritis. It can serve as a complementary approach to traditional pain management methods.

Enhanced Nerve Function: Consistent practice may help improve the responsiveness of nerves and eliminate blockages in the pathways through which energy flows.

Detoxification and Immune Boosting: Reflexology supports the body’s natural detoxification processes by improving lymphatic drainage and enhancing the immune system’s functionality.

Reflexology is also believed to increase energy, eliminate toxins, treat sleep disorders and reduce depression.

DIY reflexology

If you want to try it out at home, here are some tips to guide your massage.

1. Make sure you’re seated in a comfortable chair where you can sit up straight without slouching. Cross one leg and rest that foot near the knee of your opposite leg. Put your foot in a position where you can easily massage it.
2. Next, review the acupressure foot chart and figure out the body part you are wanting to treat. For example, if your shoulder is hurting, find the corresponding spot on the chart for the foot you are working on.
3. Once you identify the spot on your heal, use  tip of your thumb to press and deeply knead that area for at least two minutes. Then, do the same on your other foot with the opposite thumb.
4. Repeat this process for any other area on your body that you want to treat.

You can do this every day but as these pressure points will adapt to the stimulation, it’s recommended you work them on a rotation of 10 days with a four-day break.

Or you can always visit a reflexologist and leave your feet in the care of a professional!

Let us know if you tried it out and how you feel!

But for those with a keen eye, there’s another detail that stands out…

Black-and-white portrait

As First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump has brought her own unique style and elegance to the White House.

Known for her elegance and eye for detail, Melania Trump’s official portraits have always been more than just photos. They’ve sparked plenty of conversations and debates, inviting people to take a closer look at her style, her personality, and her place in American history.

The latest photo released by the White House is no exception, embodying both grace and strength while leaving viewers intrigued by some subtle details.

This black-and-white portrait, taken by renowned photographer Régine Mahaux, was shot on January 21, 2025, in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House, as confirmed by the first lady’s office. Mahaux is a Belgian photographer who has spent over two decades capturing images of the Trump family.

”I was really honoured to be chosen to shoot this official portrait for the second time,” Ms Mahaux told BBC.

”As an artist to work with such an inspiring woman is a great privilege. She is a perfectionist and is really involved in the creative process.”

In the official photo, the first lady is pictured in a commanding power pose, leaning forward slightly with her hands placed firmly on a table. The towering Washington Monument looms in the background, dominating the skyline of the nation’s capital.

Did you notice the change?

Many have pointed out that Melania Trump, a former fashion model, presents a vastly different image in her 2025 portrait compared to her official 2017 photo.

Back in 2017, Melania faced significant backlash over one particular detail in her official portrait. She prominently displayed her 25-carat diamond ring, a gift from President Donald Trump in 2014. Critics argued that wearing the extravagant sparkler, valued at an estimated $3 million, came across as tone-deaf and insensitive.

In her latest black-and-white shot, shot one day after her husband was sworn in as president, she’s dressed in a sharp, dark suit with a crisp white shirt, her hair styled in loose waves, and her nails perfectly manicured.

Contrast that with her 2017 portrait, which had a softer, more approachable vibe. That photo was in color, with a soft-focus effect, showing Melania in a black blazer, arms crossed, and offering a gentle smile. The shift between the two portraits couldn’t be more striking — 2025 radiates power and authority, while 2017 leaned into elegance and warmth.

“This time, Melania is out for revenge,” noted one user on X, according to Fox News.

Another chimed in, saying, “Her revenge tour is going to be awesome!”

Another observant Facebook user pointed out something else: “Hillary Clinton wore a pant suit. There was a lot of criticism. I remember. I think we’ve come a long way since then. She looks beautiful and I love the black & white photo, even though, I admit, it’s a little different of a First Lady photo. We are in new times!”

”At least she is wearing clothes…”

As is often the case with political figures, opinions were sharply divided. When the photo was shared on ABC’s Facebook page, the comments section quickly filled with mixed reactions. Many critics felt that Melania’s expression came across as cold and unapproachable, with some complaining that she couldn’t even manage a smile for the occasion. The striking tone of the photo seemed to spark as much controversy as it did admiration.

“It’s as though the photographer told her to look as mean as Donald in his official portrait. What a pair,” one user wrote.

“At least she is wearing clothes, unlike her past pictures!” another noted.

Melania is said to be much more prepared to enter the White House this time, so it makes sense to assume that she will approach things differently.

According to another body language expert, Inbaal Honigman, her behavior was different at this inauguration than in 2017.

“Melania’s body language during the 2025 inauguration is still and neutral,” Inbaal told Covers.com. “She sits still in her model pose, her facial expression neutral, not drawing any attention to herself, letting all attention be on her husband.”

Whether you love it or find it too distant, it’s clear that this photo, like so many moments in her time as First Lady, is bound to leave an impression. What do you think? Does this bold new look represent a shift in how we view the role of the First Lady, or is it just another reflection of the times we’re living in?

Premiering in 1987, it boldly went where no series had gone before, blending the intellect of Shakespearean drama with the wonder of interstellar exploration.

With its finale in 1994 drawing over 30 million viewers, TNG cemented itself as the gold standard for sci-fi storytelling. But beyond its gripping plots and unforgettable characters, the series holds secrets and surprises even die-hard fans might not know.

Became life-long friends

For those unfamiliar, Star Trek: The Next Generation followed the adventures of the starship Enterprise-D as its diverse crew explored uncharted worlds, solved intergalactic mysteries, and tackled moral dilemmas. Set 100 years after the original Star Trek, it introduced new characters, advanced technology, and thought-provoking stories.

But did you know that many of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members became lifelong friends after the series wrapped. Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard) and Jonathan Frakes (Riker) are known for their hilarious camaraderie, often sharing laughs at conventions. They stay in close touch, frequently meet up for dinners, and their incredible chemistry is always evident whenever they’re together.

When LeVar Burton tied the knot in 1992, Brent Spiner stood by his side as best man, while Sir Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, and Michael Dorn took on the roles of ushers.

Martina Sirtis hated Michael Dorn

Among the many friendships that grew from the cast of The Next Generation, one of the most heartwarming is the connection between Michael Dorn, known for his portrayal of the stoic Lt. Worf, and Marina Sirtis, who brought the empathetic Counselor Troi to life.

”I’ve always been attracted to very strong women,” Dorn shared with Buzzfeed.

”I don’t know why. I was just very attracted to our sort of chemistry. We’re just crazy about each other.”

But even though their friendship has endured for over three decades, it didn’t start off smoothly. In fact, as Sirtis openly admits, the two couldn’t stand each other during the show’s first season. Over time, however, their undeniable chemistry brought them closer, sparking rumors that they might secretly be dating.

Despite the speculation, Sirtis and Dorn have always been clear — they weren’t romantically involved then, and they aren’t now.

The Starfleet uniform was very uncomfortable

The Star Trek cast often gets bombarded with questions about their makeup, costumes, and those iconic masks — it’s clearly what fascinates fans the most.

Did you know that the original Starfleet uniform was so uncomfortable that Sir Patrick Stewart’s agent had to step in? He even threatened to sue Paramount if Stewart ended up with muscle or joint damage from wearing the one-piece spandex suit.

That little scare was enough to prompt a wardrobe upgrade, and by season three, the crew traded the stretchy spandex for a much comfier two-piece polyester design.

The unlikely casting of Captain Picard

Believe it or not, Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, wasn’t exactly thrilled about casting Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard. He had his heart set on a younger captain with a full head of hair. But producer Robert H. Justman was so blown away by Stewart’s talent that he campaigned hard to get him the role.

After auditioning plenty of other actors and finding none of them came close, Roddenberry finally gave in.

Here’s where it gets hilarious: for his first meeting with Paramount execs, Stewart wore a hairpiece — on the producers’ suggestion. They were worried the studio might reject him for being bald. The twist? After the meeting, the execs agreed to cast him, but only on one condition: he had to lose the “ridiculous toupee.”

When the cast of the show was first revealed, some media outlets referred to Sir Patrick Stewart as an ”unknown British Shakespearean actor.” To have a little fun with it, Brent Spiner created a poster for Stewart’s dressing room that read, ”Beware: Unknown British Shakespearean actor!”

Worf’s forehead was stolen

Michael Dorn, who brought the fierce Klingon Worf to life, endured a grueling two-hour makeup process each time he suited up for the role. But things weren’t always smooth sailing for Worf’s iconic look. In Season 2, disaster struck when the original prosthetic forehead was stolen!

This unexpected setback left the crew in a panic, racing against the clock to create a replacement. The result? A subtly different forehead piece that gave Dorn’s character a slightly altered appearance.

Wheaton’s priceless response

When the cast decided to push for a salary increase, Wil Wheaton was initially offered a promotion for his character, Wesley Crusher, instead of a pay raise.

The producers suggested that Wesley be made a Lieutenant. Wheaton’s response was priceless: ”So what should I tell my landlord when I can’t pay my rent? ‘Don’t worry, I just made Lieutenant’?”

By the way, Wil Wheaton holds a fun distinction: he is the first Star Trek actor — and the only cast member of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) — to have been born after the franchise had begun.

Painful truth about Geordi’s VISOR

Geordi’s iconic VISOR was actually thrown together on the first day of shooting using a car air filter and a hair band, showcasing some quick improvisation.

While it was key to Geordi’s look, the VISOR wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for actor LeVar Burton. In an interview with the BBC, he revealed that wearing the prop gave him daily headaches and that it had to literally be screwed into the sides of his head. Despite the discomfort, Burton powered through, keeping the iconic device as a core part of Geordi’s identity.

After season two, producers had initially planned to have Geordi undergo an experimental procedure to restore his natural eyesight and eliminate the need for his iconic VISOR eyepiece.

However, realizing how important the VISOR had become as a symbol for the disabled community, they decided to scrap the idea. Geordi La Forge’s VISOR remained an integral part of his character throughout all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

LeVar Burton’s secret snooze

Here’s another great little story about LeVar Burton that I just have to share.

During the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, there were long stretches where he would be sitting on the bridge set, often with little to no lines.

This led to some pretty boring moments, and LeVar would sometimes nod off or even fall asleep completely. The best part? His eyes were hidden behind the VISOR, so no one really noticed!

”They’re lying through their teeth..”

In the ’90s, Marina Sirtis was undeniably one of the most beautiful women to grace the sci-fi world. Famous for her British accent, she actually has Greek roots and speaks the language fluently.

Marina Sirtis, who played Counselor Troi, is often showered with compliments about how well-preserved she looks, even today.

Whenever photos of her pop up on social media, fans can’t help but flood the comments with praise, saying she hasn’t changed a bit since her Star Trek days.

”I have a picture on my wall of all of us. It’s the actual photo that Entertainment Weekly had on their cover, and it’s on the wall in my living room. It reminds me of my best friends. And, you know what? I think we all look exactly the same. All the boys have less hair. Michael Dorn is much thinner now than he ever was before. Patrick (Stewart), I think, looks the same. And people always come up to me and said, “You haven’t changed a bit.” They’re lying through their teeth, of course, because 25 years later, that’s not possible. But I think we all still look pretty good. So it’s not too disheartening to watch myself in the early episodes,” she said.

Initially, it was Denise Crosby who was set to play Counselor Troi, while Sirtis was cast as Lieutenant Macha Hernandez, the security chief. However, just before filming the pilot, the two roles were swapped. And we’re glad for that!

Behind the wig: The hair drama on TNG

If you take a closer look at Star Trek: The Next Generation, you might notice a fun behind-the-scenes detail that many fans missed: Marina Sirtis, who played Counselor Troi, actually wore a wig for most of the series! Her real hair was styled around the wig to give her those signature flowing locks that fans loved.

Meanwhile, Gates McFadden, who portrayed Dr. Beverly Crusher, wore a full wig during the first few seasons too. The wig game was definitely strong in the ’80s and ’90s!

Gates McFadden’s own hair caused quite a bit of trouble in Season 1. Her fine red hair was constantly affected by the studio lights, leading to a lot of time spent washing and resetting it to match continuity. By Season 3, the solution was to use a collection of expensive, real-hair wigs. And while Gates was rocking these luxurious wigs, Marina couldn’t help but feel a bit envious! At conventions, Marina has confessed how she was a little jealous of Gates’ wig collection, since she had to make do with a cheaper, nylon fall. But no worries — by Season 4, Marina finally got her own real-hair fall. Talk about a hair upgrade…

So, next time you’re rewatching, keep an eye out for these iconic hair tricks — it’s a fun little nugget of TNG trivia!

From unknown to icon

Marina Sirtis wasn’t a major star when she was offered a role in Star Trek. She admits that she had never watched the original series. ”I admit, I never saw the show but I knew it was popular,” she once said.

”I had no idea what I was getting into. They said it would be a year’s work, the ten months promised was the longest job I’ve ever had. The next six years were a bonus.”

Sirtis also mentioned how devastated she was when the show came to an end.

How Riker’s iconic beard was born

When Jonathan Frakes arrived for second-season rehearsals, he sported a beard he’d grown during the 1988 writers’ strike, planning to shave it off before filming began. However, the producers were immediately taken by the new look and asked him to keep it. Just like that, Riker’s iconic beard was born, and it became a defining feature for the rest of the series.

The beard became so iconic that when Frakes finally shaved it off for Star Trek: Insurrection in 1998, fans were quick to notice. Even Q couldn’t resist making a playful jab, quipping, “Riker was more fun before the beard!” Classic Q.

Around the same time, there was a meeting with Gene Roddenberry, producer Rick Berman, and another producer, Hurley. Roddenberry, intrigued by Frakes’ new facial hair, remarked that it gave off a “nautical” vibe. This comment sparked an impromptu executive beard trimming contest, proving that even the smallest details could lead to quirky behind-the-scenes moments. The beard, of course, became just as legendary as Riker himself!

Robin Williams almost joined Star Trek

Star Trek: The Next Generation attracted plenty of celebrities and public figures who were huge fans of the original Star Trek series and jumped at the chance to make guest appearances.

One of the standouts was, of course, Whoopi Goldberg, who became a fan favorite with her recurring role as Guinan. Goldberg actually reached out about being on the series even before it premiered. However, it took nearly a year for her to get a response, as the producers initially didn’t take her inquiry seriously.

Unfortunately, not every request could be granted. Robin Williams, for instance, was eager to join the cast, but because he was busy filming Hook (1991), he had to pass on a role in Season 5, Episode 9, “A Matter of Time.” Instead, Matt Frewer stepped in to fill the spot.

Didn’t bother unpacking his suitcases

Sir Patrick Stewart was so sure Star Trek: The Next Generation would be a flop that he didn’t even bother unpacking his suitcases for the first six weeks of shooting. But by the end of the first season, the show proved him wrong in a big way —Paramount was raking in $1 million per episode in advertising revenue.

By 1992, each episode’s budget had skyrocketed to nearly $2 million, with the studio pulling in a staggering $90 million annually from advertising alone. Each 30-second commercial was fetching between $115,000 and $150,000. With 178 episodes spread across seven seasons, from 1987 to 1994, Star Trek: The Next Generation was not just a cultural phenomenon — it was a financial powerhouse, leaving its mark on television history.

Star Trek really was an amazing series, wasn’t it? Do you have any fun memories or hidden facts about the show you’d like to share? Feel free to share, and don’t forget to spread the word by sharing this article!