Heal Through Your Feet: 3 Powerful Ways to Improve Your Health by Loving Your Feet
The power of the feet should never be underestimated. My guess is that most of the time, you don’t even think about your feet. Right? You get from point A to point B and somehow arrive at the final destination without any recognition or awareness of your feet. I’m fortunate to live in a place (NYC / Queens) where I don’t need a car. In fact, I’ve never owned a car and I rely solely on my feet. My feet get me to the subway, Uber, or to a plane (pre pandemic). I walk absolutely everywhere. Because I am so dependent on these little (size 6 and sometimes 5.5 depending on the brand) magical God given gifts, I am hypersensitive and super aware of them on a daily basis. So aware in fact that I often look at them and in complete awe say, “thank you for all that you do.”
Think about it, you may stand on your feet all day based on the work that you do, or you may sit at a desk, but you got to the office using your feet. Even if you drive to work, your feet were required - hopefully only one foot!
How about we send some love down to these sensitive instruments that carry us through life?
Three ways to bring awareness and love to your feet while you practice social distancing:
1- Walking Mindfully: In Yoga, in most if not all standing asanas (poses), there is emphasis placed on the feet. Spread the toes out, press into the balls and heals of the feet. Bring awareness to your feet is a commonly used phrase. Similarly, in Tai chi, a simple walking exercise is performed by slow, deliberate shifting of weight from one foot to the other. According to Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine, all of our organs are mapped out at the bottom of the feet. Essentially, when we are walking mindfully and with awareness, we are massaging all of the organs in our body. Next time you are in autopilot and don’t remember how you got to work or to your home, bring some love and attention to your feet.
2- Walking barefoot: Earthing is the process of absorbing the earth’s free flowing electrons through the soles of the bare feet. Walking barefoot transfers the earth’s electrons to the body bringing so many advantages to your health. When we are earthing, we are massaging all of the organs in our body and connecting and grounding to the earth. To name a few benefits of earthing:
a. Decreases inflammation and chronic pain
b. Improves sleep by normalizing biological rhythms including circadian rhythm
c. Lowers stress and increases a sense of calm by reducing stress hormones
Throughout history we have always had direct contact with the earth as part of our daily lives. In our modern world, we spend less and less time outdoors. We have literally created a shield between us and the earth with our rubber/plastic soled shoes. Many of us have absolutely no contact with the earth. The next time you are feeling a little anxious or unsettled, talk a walk in grass barefoot. Allow yourself to connect with mother earth and feel yourself grounded and calm.
3- Gratitude: It may sound silly, but a regular ‘thank you’ to the extremities that carry us through our lives brings positive energy and love to an otherwise unappreciated part of our body. A simple regular ‘thank you’ might be sufficient or you can treat them with a decadent foot massage or reflexology. Reflexology, besides feeling so heavenly, applies pressure on the Marma Points of the foot that map to each organ in the body. Using marma points in reflexology has some great benefits like an increased sense of relaxation, improved circulation and decreased anxiety. If you can’t make it to spa to get a foot massage, you can do one at home using some grounding and calming essential oils like sandalwood, jatamansi, lavender, and frankincense to name a few.
Any type of mindfulness activity helps relieve stress, lowers blood pressure, reduces chronic pain, and improves sleep. Why not take a few moments and focus your love, attention, and awareness to one of the most used often neglected parts of the body?
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