Love Your Feet
The Importance and Joy of Foot Pampering
When I was at yoga yesterday we were prompted to bring focus to something we were thankful for. There were so many ways to go with this, but before I could get too far down that list I looked down at pointed toes and felt drawn in. I focused on gratitude for my feet. They have come so far, my feet and I. My mom and dad made them, they look like his.
I wonder how it must feel when a parent looks at you throughout your life and remembers the day you arrived and how you looked and how you changed throughout the years. What must a woman who felt us growing and developing inside her womb be thinking after giving birth. I can imagine her holding her baby in her arms and examining every inch to see who they are, discovering what was made inside of her.
It is incredible that these tootsies have carried me through this life day after day and that when I was born, they were wee inches long. We’ve worked hard and played hard all this time. Stumbling across shag carpets, tippy toeing in the sand, barefoot in the mud, sweaty in socks for many runs, tightly bound in stilettos and heels, gripping yoga mats and dance floors, and so many more wonderful experiences! I am thankful each day they are mine to love.
I have a photo of me wearing sandals when I was a little kid and my toes are so funny! Round little gumdrops perched on the end of tiny feet. I could never have imagined all of the places they would go. Even now, I have no idea of all of the places they will go. I must admit that I don’t often give them much thought at all, but I should. They have been so good to me.
Feet are a crazy thing. Some people love them, some don’t. They can make one person giddy and another highly uncomfortable. I am in the love camp. Especially well cared for and pampered feet. They connect us to earth and to the entirety of our body. They are sensual, aware, informed, and capable of bringing healing and relief. Our toes are little extensions helping to bring balance and keep us upright and moving forward.
Of all the pampering I enjoy and gift myself, pedicures are at the top of my list. I love the ritual of the appointment. Sometimes I grab a coffee or drink to take with me. The place I like to go has music playing and the bustle of technicians talking and laughing. The chair I sit in is a massage chair that kneads my back from the top of my neck to the bottom of my spine the whole time. Time sort of stands still and I lose myself in day dreams.
When you’re in the chair you feel like a queen and when you walk out of the salon you feel beautiful and fresh. The sensation of renewal, cleanliness, and rejuvenation always feels like a much needed refuge. The time taken for yourself to be still and quiet is a well deserved treat. This appointment is one of my favorite “me time” commitments. I am grateful that I can indulge in this form of self-love and for the technicians who provide this service.
Another method of pampering is foot reflexology, a method of healing from traditional Chinese medicine that utilizes massage and manipulation of pressure points on the bottom of your feet that connect to other places in the body. For instance, the top of your big toes are connected to your brain, the center of your arches to your kidneys, and the center of all your small toes are connected to your sinuses! This is just the tip of the iceberg.
This practice is meant to restore balance and bring relief to organs and body systems. It is revered as a tool to help stimulate energy and blood flow. One of the beliefs by health professionals who support this style of therapy is that stuck energy can be broken up, making way for better communication between organs and system centers.
The human foot has many muscles, tendons, and ligaments that are responsible for our mobility and the ability to stand upright. A little wrong move or tweak can put a real wrench in the program! Feet are so tough and resilient, but like anything still susceptible to weakness, misstep, and folly. They are so reliable that we can feel like they are operating on autopilot, but they should not be taken for granted!
Step lightly with confidence and grace, but don’t be afraid to use your power! Our feet are robust and they are made to go toe to toe (pun intended) with all of life’s challenges, big mountains, long roads and adventurous journeys! Have you hugged your feet today? Or at least given them a good squeeze? Maybe a thumbs up and a great big I love you!
Thank you for listening to my rant about the goodness of feet! I wish your footsies wealth of health and some occasional pampering!
Toodle-oo,
Violet
