Foot Massage: How to Massage Your Feet in 4 Easy Steps

May 20, 2020 by Dr. Shweta Netke

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With stark changes in our daily routine, most of us are juggling to strike a balance between work from home and our daily chores. Amidst all this, we are longing to visit the salons and spas to indulge in refreshing spa treatments, especially a relaxing foot massage! But given the current circumstances, we might have to wait a little longer before we can step out and get a foot spa. Ditch the mechanical foot massager and read on to understand how to give yourself a feet massage with ingredients easily available at home.

foot massage

What are the benefits of a foot massage?

Various foot massage techniques help to improve blood circulation and relieve pain. These soothe any swelling around the foot area, improve the mood and promote better sleep patterns by releasing stress. Massaging the feet also makes them healthier by lessening stiffness and improving flexibility.

Keeping the advantages of a foot massage in mind, the Forest Essentials’ Ayurveda Experts have curated an easy at-home foot spa treatment that exfoliates, moisturizes, and soothes your tired feet. This foot treatment also gives you a chance to make your own foot scrub, using fresh ingredients from the comfort of your home!

Foot Massage Ingredients

Here’s what you will need:

A bucket with half-filled warm water to soak your feet in
Freshly cut Lemon and some Salt
A gentle exfoliator (Vetiver roots or a Pumice stone)
A Cotton towel
A Body Massage Oil / Virgin Cold-Pressed Oil / Body Cream to massage

4 Simple Steps for A Foot Massage

Step 1

Pour hot water into a bucket, add a heaped spoonful of Sea Salt, and whatever herbs are available at home – Mint, Curry leaves, Basil or Coriander, and a freshly squeezed Lemon. You can also add two drops of Lavender Essential Oil (or any essential oil you prefer). This will help to stimulate blood flow, ease tension, and uplift your mood, while the hot water helps to relieve inflammation. Wash your feet and soak them in the bucket for 15-20 minutes.

Step 2

Begin exfoliating your feet with a foot scrub, one heel at a time. Wash them with clean water and pat dry with a towel. May we suggest the Forest Essentials Body Polisher Cane Sugar & Tamarind, which works well for the feet as well as it uses raw Cane Sugar to polish the skin and a base of pure cold-pressed oils to improve skin elasticity, leaving it smooth, moisturized, & buffed.

You can also make your own foot scrub at home. here’s a D.I.Y. recipe for you to try:

In a bowl, mix 2 tbsps of Brown Sugar or Ground Coffee along with 1 tbsp of Honey. The foot scrub is ready!

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Step 3

In the Vedas, the feet are referred to as “organs of action” that are used the most and need to be well taken care of. Warm an Ayurvedic Body Massage Oil or use a rich Body or Foot Cream to gently massage your toes, soles, heels and ankles. We recommend using the Forest Essentials Organic Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil to tone, relax and nourish the skin and muscle tissue as well as flush the toxins from the body to give lustre to the skin. Should you prefer using a cream, you may try any of the Forest Essentials Velvet Silk Body Creams with a few drops of any cold-pressed oil, to deeply nourish, repair and stimulate regeneration of the skin cells.

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Step 4

Complete the foot spa by wrapping a hot towel on your feet for 5 minutes. Preferably, reapply the foot cream on your feet regularly, especially on the heels, to keep them moisturized.

How is a foot massage different from Reflexology?

According to Ayurveda, the feet contain reflex points to all the organs and other parts of the body. This concept is known as Reflexology in western medicine, in which pressure is put on particular points of the foot, to release pain in other body parts. Whereas, massaging the feet includes gently yet firmly pressing on the foot’s tissues to relax its muscles, relieve tension, and improve circulation. Practicing foot massages on oneself can improve overall health and well-being.

How often should you get a foot massage?

Ideally, a foot massage is recommended at least once or twice a week to relieve pain and increase flexibility of the feet. Regular massages also make the feet healthy and their skin, nourished.

Why should you massage your feet before bed?

Massaging the feet before going to bed promotes restful sleep and calms the mind. Pressing a few pressure points on the feet helps to send signals to the brain, to soothe the body and allow it to rest. This pressure point is known as Taixi and is placed just above the heel, on the inside of the foot.

Written By:

Forest Essentials Luxurious Ayurveda

India’s leading beauty brand with products offering a sensorial journey with the purest natural ingredients and traditional Ayurvedic formulations, bringing timeless beauty rituals to the forefront of your self-care routine.

Reviewed By:

Arjun Singh Senior Ayurveda Expert

Arjun is a marketing professional turned Ayurveda Expert. After the completion of his post-graduation in 2008, he started his journey in the beauty industry. He has since worked with several global luxury beauty brands including DIOR & Estee Lauder. With now more than 12 years of experience, he is driven by the idea of making Skin Care, ‘simple’ and ‘accessible’ for all and help clients transform their lifestyle and skin with solutions rooted in his extensive understanding of Ayurveda. A Senior Ayurveda Expert at Forest Essentials, he carefully curates Ayurvedic remedies and is continuously working towards bridging the gap between time-honoured skin care solutions and the modern consumer of the fast-paced world.

Disclaimer

The content provided in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.