foot massage - why it is so important

Most of us have had a massage at one time or another, whether from a professional, partner, spouse, friend or self.  There is nothing better than having someone help you work out muscle soreness.  But, outside of how wonderful a massage can feel, there are some true health benefits:

1. – Improves the blood flow
2. – Stimulates the secretion of sweat
3. – Reduces fat
4. – Accelerates the blood flow through the issue
5. – Eliminates those acids that could cause cramps
6. – Affects the relaxation and muscles stretch
7. – Other benefits

How is massaging your feet connected to this?
Applying pressure on specific points of the feet can really help the organs improve and maintain good function.  It’s recommended to massage your feet every night before you go to bed, which should not take more than 15 minutes.

There are a very large number of nerve endings that are concentrated on your feet; they run like a like a spider web all over your body.  Foot massage means healing.

Massaging your feet nightly should not be a chore, but comforting.  If you are looking for a perfect "by the book" method, one has been outlined below.

How to Massage Your Feet

• Start by applying massage lotion to the feet. This is not mandatory but is usually recommended since most feet have some degree of callous which the lotion can help alleviate, as well as reducing the friction between your hands and the patients' feet.
• Warm up the lotion in your hands by rubbing your hands together before applying in a downward motion from the ankles to the toes on the top portion of the foot. Repeat this wiping motion, downward from the ankles to the toes, spreading the lotion and promoting circulation, warming up the feet.
• Next apply lotion to the soles of the feet, one foot at a time, using both hands. Hold the foot in your hands with your thumbs on the sole of the foot and your fingers holding the top of the foot. Rub your thumbs repeatedly from the heel area up through the arch of the foot to the ball of the foot, one thumb and then the other thumb, over and over, spreading the lotion and warming up the sole of the foot. Your pressure should be fairly light to begin with.
• You may also twist the foot with both hands, back and forth, bringing the small toe towards the sole of the foot and then back in the other direction, twisting the small toe towards the top or dorsum of the foot.

• ​Each toe continues up towards the ankle, past the webbing, until about the highest point on the top or dorsum of the foot. All of the spaces between these bones contain very strong and usually sore acupuncture and reflexology points. By folding the toes down and in towards the bottom of the foot, you can loosen and break up many obstructions that persist in these intraosseous spaces. Also press the pads of your index or middle fingers into these spaces and wiggle your wrist a little to give a little vibrating 'One finger Technique'. You will probably elicit some degree of achiness in these points but with proper technique it will be a good hurt that relieves stress and fatigue, rather than just more pain and discomfort.
• Now, starting with the big toe, pinch the toes gently one by one using the radial side of your index finger and the pad of your thumb. Twist the toe left and right, and then pull down, curling the toe down and in towards the sole of the foot. There may be some popping noises as you do this. These noises are just nitrogen gases being released from the joint of the toe. Do this starting with the big toes and then repeating with the next toe, and ending with the little toe.
• Now curl all of the toes and the top of the foot down and in towards the Kidney 1 acupuncture point in the middle of the sole of the foot, using the palm of your dominant hand, while the other hand stabilizes the foot and presses into the Kidney 1 point with your thumb.

Now you can start massaging the actual sole of the foot.

• As you begin massaging the sole of the foot, you must always apply enough pressure to avoid eliciting a tickle response and disturb the relaxing effects of the reflexology foot massage. Massage lotion is essential in providing the most comfort as you perform some of the foot massage techniques to the sole of the foot.
• Now apply pressure with the side of your thumb, starting near the lateral side of the heel, being the side of the small toe. Press with medium pressure to begin with as you glide your thumb towards the small toe, loosening all of the ligaments and muscles surrounding all of the joints of the foot.
• Your wrist should be relaxed yet firm, just like your thumb.  Do not try to just use the strength of your thumb. If your thumb, wrist, hand or arms get sore, achey or weak, then you are using improper technique.

• Like any other type of massage, a good reflexology foot massage should be performed a bit like a dance. Get your whole body into it. Do not be stiff and rigid. Your movements should be fluid and relaxed and your breathing should be deep and full.
• ​Repeat this technique several times, pressing by the lateral side of the heel and gliding towards the toes, increasing your pressure a bit.​