Your only tools are your fingers, thumbs, and palms, as well as a bucket of warm water and some cream or oil. The basic methods that you can use are the same if you want to do a DIY foot massage or massage a mate.
Getting Ready For A Foot Massage
In terms of planning, massaging the feet is one of the most straightforward areas of the body. Foot massages are best performed on clean, bare feet, so all you have to do is remove your socks and wash your feet. You can use your favourite moisturising cream for the procedure, but a good rub with oil, talcum powder, or no lubricant feels just as good. Click here for more info about hand massage.
Grab a towel and find a wet, comfortable spot to sit to get started. Remove socks, exposing the legs as much as possible, preferably up to and including the entire calf. Before you begin, soak your feet and ankles in a bucket of warm water for about 5 minutes. The soaking procedure has the added benefit of warming the underlying muscles in the feet as well as softening any hard skin.
You’ll be relieved to learn that foot massage therapy does not necessitate the use of any special equipment. While there are different tools on the market, such as Thai massage sticks, we believe that using only your fingers, thumbs, and palms, combined with a strong dose of genuine empathy, does the best job.
1st phase
Apply light to medium pressure to the different pressure points that run along the sole from the ball of the foot to the heel, using the fleshy sections of the thumbs. Identify any areas that are especially tired, and keep the pressure in the same place for around 10 seconds in these areas.
Never force yourself too hard, just make sure you’re relaxed the whole time. Massage methods can be very painful at times, but they should never cause excessive pain or discomfort. Only properly trained practitioners should perform specialist sports or deep tissue massage therapy.
2nd Step
Using the edges of your hand between the thumb and forefinger, squeeze the heel of your foot as shown in the image above. Increase the squeeze’s intensity as much as it feels secure, then hold for about 10 seconds. Then gradually release the pressure before repeating the action. For a minute, repeat the squeeze, release, squeeze, release sequence. Do not hurry through it; the slower you go, the more calming the therapy will be.
Since the skin and nerves in this region are less sensitive, the heel can normally withstand a stronger massage than other areas of the foot. Some Thai massage methods employ the use of a wooden stick to effectively jab the foot with very extreme pressure to the heel, but we believe your hands will suffice.
3rd phase
To stimulate nerve endings, follow the heel massage with a gentle scratching. Scratch the bottom of your foot with the tips of your fingers and nails, applying light to medium pressure. For more details about spa click here.
It’s best not to go too light on the pressure because it might tickle; a medium pressure is probably best. It might still feel a little ticklish at first, particularly if you have sensitive feet, but stick with it and you’ll get used to it in no time. This procedure is an effective way to awaken and invigorate nerves in the soles of the feet, resulting in improved blood circulation.
4th step
This may appear frightening at first, but when done correctly, it results in a lovely stretchy feeling in a part of the body that is used frequently.
Bend all of the toes on one foot back towards the shin slowly and gently. Bend them only as far as they feel comfortable, and once you reach a point of resistance, hold them there for about 10 seconds. Release slowly, then repeat three times more. Depending on the recipient’s flexibility, you may be able to bend the toes a little further back each time, but if not, simply maintain the same position.
5th step
This is a “aaaahhh” moment in the foot massage that you or your lucky recipient can enjoy. In one hand, grab all of the toes on one foot and slightly bend them back.
While your toes are still bent back, apply pressure to the ball of your foot with the fleshy tips of your thumbs on both hands, as seen in the picture above.
Slowly move your thumbs around the base of the foot, still applying pressure, looking for any tender or tight spots. If you find any such points, use small concentric circular motions to rotate your thumbs around the region, gradually increasing the strength of your massage in those areas. Hold the pressure in the tight spot for 10 seconds before releasing it gradually.
Use our foot reflexology chart to figure out which particular foot pressure points are most important for treating any specific ailments you or a friend are experiencing.