foot massage 101

Give a family member, friend or lover a great gift by giving them a foot massage. A foot massage is a wonderful way to reward and relax feet, which get a regular daily pounding! Here’s how to give a great foot massage.

Materials

• Water reservoir, large enough to accommodate two feet
• Warm water
• Essential oils or bath/epsom salts
• Bath soap
• Towel
• massage oil or cream
• Relaxing background music (optional)
• Aromatherapy kit (optional)

Procedure

1. Ask the person you’re giving the massage to wear more comfortable clothing. Ideally, everything should be geared towards giving a good massage and a comfortable experience.
2. Wash your feet well with regular bath soap and water.
3. Give your feet a deeper clean by using a foot bath. Put 10 cups of warm water in the water container and dissolve ten cups of bath salts or essential oils. Let your feet soak for five to ten minutes. Dry well.
4. Ask the person to lie down.
5. Make sure your hands are clean.
6. Apply foot massage oil to the entire foot, from the toes to the ankles, using firm and smooth movements.
7. Lightly grasp the foot with the balls of your thumbs on top and the rest of your fingers supporting the bottom. Move your hand up in one motion, ending at the ankle.
8. Put your thumbs on the ball of one foot and the rest of your fingers on top. Make small circular motions to the area using your thumbs and moving them across and down the entire bottom of the foot.
9. Grab the top of the foot with one hand and use the other to grab onto the ankle. Turn your foot clockwise near the ball of your foot and then counterclockwise. Do this gently, five times in each direction.
10. Grasp your big toe between your thumb and forefinger and slide your toes up and down, rolling and applying gentle pressure. Give your toe a squeeze before moving on to smaller ones.
11. Take the top of the foot with one hand and make a fist with the other hand. Use your knuckles to knead the bottom of your foot, moving toward the arch. Apply moderate pressure.
12. Repeat step 8.
13. Finish by gently stroking the sole and the instep.
14. Once you have finished massaging both feet, wipe off any excess cream or massage oil with gentle, unhurried motions.
15. Put on clean socks to retain moisture on your feet.