As a reflexologist I see feet in all shapes and sizes, and believe me, they are all unique. A large portion of people recoil in horror when I tell them what I do, I have come to learn that there is a widespread dislike of feet among the population! Some people even refuse to come and see me for a treatment because they hate (Yes, actually hate) their own feet. Apparently this condition has a name – Podophobia.
Podophobia is an intense fear of feet, coming from the word “Podos” which is the ancient Greek for feet. A person with Podophobia may experience severe anxiety when they see or their own feet or other people’s feet. Thankfully, I do not have Podophobia – it would make for a very interesting Reflexology massage if I did!
As February is the month of St. Valentines, lets show our feet a bit of love with this quick and easy routine. It won’t take long, but the results will leave your feet feeling fabulous.
Fabulous Foot Care routine
Let’s start with 3 simple stretches for your tired feet and ankles (remember to listen to your body, if you experience any pain stop immediately and seek professional advice)
Toe stretch – sit with your feet flat on the floor, lift your toes upward as far as comfortably possible, keeping your heels on the ground. Hold for 15-30 seconds, then release. Although this one should be comfortable, you should still be able to feel the stretch in your toes.
Ankles circles – now lift one foot off the ground and rotate your ankle in a circular motion. Do 10 circles in one direction, then switch to the other direction. Try and make big circles if you can, but only move your ankle, not your entire leg. Switch to the other leg and repeat.
Towel stretch – sit up straight and Extend one leg in front of you, loop a towel around the ball of your foot and gentle pull the towel towards you, feeling the stretch in your calf and the bottom of your foot. Hold for 15 – 30 seconds, then switch feet. This one can be tricky and you may feel a stretch in your hamstring if they are tight.
Now that’s the exercise out of the way, let’s focus on the pampering. Get yourself set up in a comfy chair with a bowl of warm water, some sort of exfoliant, a towel, some nail clippers and some moisturiser.
Pamper Me
Warm soak – Soak your feet in a bowl of warm water (not too hot) for 10-15 mins to soften your skin & relax your muscles. You can add a few drops of essential oils, some foot soak or some bubble bath if you like.
Exfoliate – now your skin is nicely softened, use a foot scrub or pumice to remove any dead skin. I find that most feet get hardened skin around the heels, edge of big toe and the balls of the feet, so focus on those areas. I recommend using Tropic foot pebble. You can get your hands on one of those from my shop here
Hygiene – next dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes to prevent unwanted fungal infections
Nail care – you might not need to do this step every time as our toenails don’t grow as fast as our fingernails. However, when cutting your toenails, trim them straight across to prevent ingrown nails. I find its better to use specific toenail clippers rather than scissors or fingernail clippers. Toe clippers are much more robust. You can even get ones that collect the ‘bits’ as you go.
Moisturise & Massage – Using a moisturiser that is designed specifically for feet is a must because the skin on our feet is different to the rest of our body. Feet need a cream that is richer in consistency to keep skin hydrated. Instead of just slapping it on and rubbing it in, really massage it in using a firm pressure to help improve circulation and relieve any tension that might be left.
And there you have it, a super easy foot care routine to show your feet some love! Maintain this routine regularly for healthy, happy feet.
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