Foot Care For Overall Health

Feet are neglected in Western beauty culture, but are foundational in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.  They deserve the attention that these alternative modalities advocate. Feet have pressure points which are connected to almost every area of your body.  A foot massage affects not only your feet, but your organs also. Foot health also influences the health of your knees, hips, and lower back.  

Here is my healthy foot routine to keep me spry.
1. Practice toe separation.  If you practice yoga, you are use to the practice of spreading your toes. This helps to alleviate compression of the musculature and nerves of the feet making you more stable and grounded.  Without a yoga practice, wear a toe separator for 5-15 minutes each evening. If your toes are too stiff or this causes any discomfort, start gently by weaving a paper towel between your toes.
2. Rub your feet 2-3 times a week with a pumice or exfoliation cream. This will keep your heels and ball of your foot soft avoiding painful calluses which throw off your gait and lead to problems in the knees, hips, and lower back. Do not do this if you have abrasions on your foot.
3. Massage the sole of your foot with a tennis ball daily to address tightness, to relax the foot, and to activate pressure points on the foot.
4. Moisturize your feet twice daily.  I use a moisturizer in the morning with lots of botanical oils and another one with 20% urea at night. It will cure cracked heels and help hydrate the skin.  It also helps with dry hands.

Follow this and you will have fabulously healthy, beautiful feet which will benefit your mobility, agility, and joint health.

love, 
Julia
​xo