It's easy to forget the importance of your own feet and the constant pressure they are under, after all, they carry your whole body weight for up to 10,000 steps a day!
Recently at a Fashion Week presentation, a bare-footed Katie Holmes urged fashion editors to take their shoes off, saying that her own feet hurt. The response of the fashion world was one of outrage and disgust but I salute her for giving her feet a well-deserved rest.
I spoke to Carolina Laugh, Holistic Masseuse, for some advice on how to love your feet and keep them happy:
Natural foot care remedies
The state of your feet is known to affect your whole body so it's important to show your feet a bit of love and attention. Pedicures, scrubs and moisturising regularly will ensure your feet get the attention they deserve. You will not only feel relaxed but your feet will look great too!
Tip: To save money make a homemade scrub by mixing sea salt and olive oil and add a few drops of essential oil for an extra touch. Peppermint will cool down hot, aching feet; tea-tree is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and will help to treat any nasty fungal infections, while rosemary oil will help to warm cold feet and aid circulation.
DIY Reflexology
The art of reflexology is to help alleviate various ailments through massaging the feet. Research shows that there is a direct correlation with bad foot care and problems such as back ache and knee problems and found that 80% of women in Britain have suffered from foot problems due to ill-advised footwear. Therefore it is important to take note of changes in your feet as this could indicate problems elsewhere. Here are some great tips on how to look after your feet through reflexology:
•Moisturise plenty- this will help calluses, broken heels and dry skin. Almond oil works really well as well as normal foot cream.
•Massage with your thumbs applying a firm pressure, while using Tiger balm as it warms the bones from the inside and refreshes the feet.
•Rolling your feet over a tennis ball or an unopened can on the floor is an easy and effective way to massage your feet at home.
•Concentrate on your big toe for respite related to you head.
•Did you know that toes are related to sinus? So if you are suffering take time on each toe for sinus relief.
•Many of us suffer with aches and pains in our back so focus on the arch of your foot for soothing this area.
•Your left foot is linked to your liver; right foot to your heart and the ball of your foot is aligned with your lungs, so again focus on the relevant one dependent on your body's needs.
•If you have been having troubles with your digestive system pay most attention to the middle area of your foot as this is associated with digestion.
Embrace Bare feet
The soles of your feet are the most conductive areas on the surface of the human body therefore walking bare foot is the cheapest and easiest ways to help ground yourself. Why not take a walk through the park or on a sandy beach to help connect with the earth. If like most of us this seems like a bit of an odd thing to do in public, try it out in the privacy of your own home or office.
Exercise is good for the mind and feet
Some exercise can be more beneficial if it's done barefoot such as yoga, Pilates and dancing, which can all be done in the comfort of your own home. There are a lot of Pilates and yoga DVDs on the market, depending on your level and what you want to achieve, a DVD workout at home is a great alternative to going to expensive classes. Wood flooring is great for this as it helps to keep you grounded and flat surfaces help you to balance when you're in those tricky positions.