Whilst most of us forget to take care of them, Socrates knew the importance of feet. We spend about a third of our life sleeping. The rest of the time is at work and play and most of that on our feet (the average person takes 7,000 steps per day), especially if you are in a job that requires a lot of standing or running around.
Yet, when it comes to looking after the different parts of our body, considerably more time, effort and money is spent at the other end of our body, on our face.
Here are a few foot facts:
- The human body has 206 bones. One foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, 19 muscles, and 107 tendons.
- Statistics show that woman have more foot problems than man, mainly because of the time women spend in fashionable high-heeled shoes.
- Your feet increase in size as the day goes on because gravity. If you buy shoes in the morning, you might find that too small for you by the end of your day. The perfect time to buy shoes is in the afternoon.
- The length of your foot is equal to length between your elbow and wrist.
- Unlike the brain where the left side of the brain links to the right side of your body, In reflexology, your left foot relates to organs found in the left side of your body and your right foot to the right side. Therefore, our heart is related to only left foot while shoulders are related to both feet.
What is a Foot Spa?
Whilst treating your feet to a spa is one way of keeping them and the rest of your body healthy, the main benefit is overall relaxation. In the Parker & Morgan workshop participants learned the three steps of a good foot spa: soak, scrub, and massage.
The therapeutic benefits of a foot spa are many. Soaking and massaging your feet energizes you by increasing the circulation of blood around the body. It relaxes and refreshes the muscles and joints in your feet, especially if you wear high-heeled shoes or standing for long periods of time.
Herbs like peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, and lavender are particularly good for your feet. Lavender is good for people who suffer from bad foot odor. Add a little lavender essential oil to your foot spa will help get rid of bacteria that causes smelly feet. Eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree can kill foot germs. Lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemongrass can reduce headache. Pine, peppermint, rosemary, lavender, and ginger can reduce bone-joints aches and pains.
The skin on your feet is seven times thicker than on other parts of your body. Left unattended, feet will build up dead skin, which when it dries can crack and be excruciatingly painful.
There are some health warnings for those giving yourself a home foot spa. Be careful not to place your feet in water that is too hot, Water temperature –especially if suffer from diabetes. Use essential oil sparingly – a few drops in the water are normally enough. Don’t put pure essential oil onto skin.
There are good and bad times for giving yourself a foot spa too. You should avoid having a foot spa after meal, after alcohol, when you have a fever, if you are pregnant and when you are feeling weak. Massaging your feet will increase blood circulation.
The DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) Foot Spa
Step 1: Soak
Put warm water (38c) in a bowl, and mix with either bath salt or bath bomb. You can also float rose petals on the water for decoration, and slices of bergamot, or bergamot essential oil to get rid of odor. Then just pop you feet in and relax. Let your feet soak for 10-15 minutes.
Step 2: Scrub
When the skin of your feet has become soft from the warm, soapy scented water, scrub the dead skin with body scrub to remove calluses. Use a scrubbing brush, loofer, towel or your hand. Take your time and try not to be too rough in rubbing the extra skin away.
Step 3: Massage
There are many techniques for massaging feet. Use a foot cream on hands and rub it gently on your feet. Start with the top of the foot, going from the toes to the ankle, then shift to the bottom of the foot, from the heel, through the sole, and under the toes, rubbing the cream in until the whole foot is softened. Apply more cream if needed to make the hands slide smoothly.
Step 4: Cover-up
When you are done, cover your feet with socks so they can fully absorb the foot cream and stay clean. There is no need to wash your feet.
Having a massage will increase your circulation and move lactic acid around your body. Lactic acid is the cause of muscle pain. Within 30 minutes of having a foot spa you should drink some warm water or herbal tea in order to get rid of lactic acid from body. You should avoid showering, washing hair, or drinking cold water within an hour so that your body does not cool down too quickly.
Other foot spa treatments include herbal wraps and paraffin dips.
Massaging your feet
- Put left foot on your right knee. Grab the foot with both hands so that the thumbs are on top of the foot and the fingers are rubbing the sole. Warm up your feet by using the thumb, make long strokes between the upper tendons of the foot, moving from the ankle to the toes. Apply enough pressure so it’s not ticklish, but don’t rub so hard that the foot is crushed.
- Roll your upper feet 10 times to the right and 10 time back to the left.
- Put some foot cream on hands and rub it gently on your feet. Start with the top of the foot, going from the toes to the ankle, then shift to the bottom of the foot, from the heel, through the sole, and under the toes, rubbing the cream in until the whole foot is softened. Apply more cream if needed to make the hands slide smoothly.
- With the thumb, make circular motions to rub the sole. Start with the toes and move to the heel. Keep the pressure of the circles you make steady and even. Use a bit more firmness on your heels; the skin there is tighter. Repeat as often as you want, giving a few extra strokes to any area where there is pain
- Finish the massage by vigorously rubbing from the top of the foot, moving from the top of the toes to the ankle, then rubbing the sole, moving from the bottom of the toes to the heel. Then, at a more leisurely pace, massage gently the whole foot, holding it with both hands, absorbing any stress and tension, and moving from the ankle and heel to the toes.
- Repeat all the process with the right foot.
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