28-Mar-2010

TLC - Tootsie Loving Care

Be Kind to Your Feet

Think of the miles and miles your wonderful feet have taken you all these years, and usually without any complaints. How about being a little kinder to them? It'll be a win/win for you and your whole body.

Three simple acts of kindness to your feet:

1) At the end of the day, sit on the side of the tub and soak or wash your feet in cold water. This has a cooling, relaxing effect. There is a mild inflammation in your feet after being on them for hours, and this has an anti-inflammatory effect. Then massage the top, sides, and sole with almond oil (you can get it at your health food store). While rubbing in the oil, press a little harder on sore spots you find on the sole. These spots correspond to other organs and areas in your body, and the massage is a form of reflexology, stimulating and soothing.

2) For a more intensive version, massage the bottoms of those tired dogs. Using a knuckle and about 25 lbs of pressure, and that almond oil, spend about 3 minutes on each foot, covering the whole bottom, toes included. There are 72,000 nerve endings down there, and every organ and body part gets a bit of therapy using this technique. Win some brownie points offering to trade massages with your partner!

3) Use a pumice stone to keep skin smooth and remove dead skin and reduce calluses. This is especially important on the heels where the skin can crack and even bleed, making walking painful.

Do any of these once and your feet will smile, giving a deep and healing sleep. Make these a part of your routine, along with stretching and proper footwear, and your whole outlook will change. So don’t sit on your heels! Get to it! Show those dogs some affection.

Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa, D.C.
Khalsa Health Care

Recommended: Reflexology: Health at Your Fingertips by Kevin Kunz