Foot Massage
by Wendy AronHow to Give a Foot Massage
Foot massage techniques were first developed in ancient China and Egypt. They were further developed based on a theory called reflexology which stated that applying pressure to different parts of the foot could have a significant impact on the rest of the body. These foot massage techniques were brought to the Western world in the 1920’s by Dr. William Fitzgerald and a man named Eunice Ingram. Fitzgerald and Ingram believed, for instance, that if you placed your feet together you could see all of the areas that controlled different aspects of your body systems. What was on the left side of the body appeared on the left foot and what was on the right side of the body was on the right foot. Therefore, the heart was on the left foot, while the liver and stomach were on the right foot. The big toes controlled the head.
Certain food massage techniques have developed around the theory of reflexology. First, a practitioner should massage the foot by pushing the thumb up and in, like a caterpillar. Massage foot using tiny, tiny movements without much pressure at all. Also, massage the foot by starting on the right foot, then moving to the left foot, then going across, down, and around.
Sometimes, when giving a foot massage, you can feel a small crystal in an area of the foot which means that there is a buildup of toxins in the corresponding place on the body. It is not uncommon to find crystals around the big toes which indicate tension in the head. In this case, massage foot by holding one hand behind the toes. Then, you are pushing on your own hand. By breaking the crystal with a simple massage or circle, or by just carrying on doing the thumb-walking, you can make the body’s natural energy flow freely. Continue to massage foot using the thumb-walking technique. Thumb-walking is one of the foot massage techniques that requires practice. Once you’ve got it though, it’s easy. If you’re not happy using your thumb, massage foot using the forefinger. You know when you are doing the foot/leg massage right when you feel as though you are not working against the foot, but with it.
It is not uncommon for the person you are practicing on to actually feel pain. When giving a foot massage, you are not applying much pressure, but your recipient will still complain of pain in the foot. At this point, it is better to ease off the pressure. Massage foot using circular motions around the area where the pain was felt and then go back to the thumb-walking. Remember, proper foot massage techniques do not call for you to break up every crystal the first time you find it. You would then be releasing all the toxins in the blood stream at the same time. It is better to come back and continue the foot/leg massage later.
Contemporary foot/leg massage practices have also influenced the modern practitioner in terms of how to give a foot massage. First, when giving a foot massage, a contemporary practitioner needs to remember to uncover one foot at a time and to keep the other foot warm. It’s best to use a fair amount of pressure right from the beginning of the foot leg massage even when you are oiling up. This is because some people tend to be a bit ticklish. When giving a foot massage, all of your movements need to be exaggerated and firm.
Begin to massage foot using long, flowing strokes. These are known as effleurage movements. Then spread your thumbs across the foot stretching the skin. Massage the foot by spreading the thumb backwards and forwards across the bottom of the foot. Again, make sure you do use firm pressure on this movement. Manipulate each toe in turn and then trace down each track on the top of the foot feeling for its natural path as you go. Spread the top of the toes again using the thumb and finish with a final effleurage over the foot. Finish the foot/leg massage by gently tracing around the ankle.
There is a lot that these foot massage techniques can do for a recipient’s whole body. When you learn how to give a foot massage you can help a recipient relieve stress, relax and unwind, remove muscular tension, increase circulation and aide in lymphatic drainage. Foot massage is a bit like service on a car; it tunes the body and re-balances the system.
