How should I massage my tired feet?
When you spend long hours on your feet, a foot massage is a treat because it breaks up uncomfortable deposits of crystallized calcium and lactic acid (a chemical that makes muscles ache) in the foot. Follow these simple, soothing steps to relax and refresh your feet:
- Sit on a chair and bring one foot up so the sole is facing you.
- Put a small amount of massage oil or lotion in the palm of your hand and rub between your hands. Starting with your big toe, apply firm pressure while massaging the bottom side of your big toe with your thumb for a few seconds.
- Next, hold the flesh between your big toe and the next toe with your thumb and forefinger and use a slight twisting motion to massage.
- Then, hold your big toe and pull once with a gentle upward motion, as if trying to pull the toe from the foot.
- Move to the next toe and repeat the steps for each toe.
- Use your thumbs or knuckles to firmly rub in a circular motion from under the big toe across the bottom of the foot to the baby toe and then work your way down to the heel from side to side.
Massage both feet for balance and adjust the pressure as you go. When you’re done, you’ll feel relaxed, your feet will feel softer and your soles will thank you.
Try soothing stretches with desk yoga exercises for your feet or read our guide on how to kick a foot problem.
Alison Finney is a certified hatha and kundalini yoga teacher in Ottawa. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance and the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association and is the founder of PranaShanti, a health and yoga resource. For more information, visit www.pranashanti.com.
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