Feet. Hardworking and humble beasts of burden, they are taken for granted routinely and given loads to carry day in, day out. Long-suffering and loathe to complain, it’s too easy to ignore their needs until you push them too far. Then, they’ll let you know about it!
If you’re on your feet all day, you probably have a greater appreciation of how important it is to look after them. Correct shoes with good support, standing on mats made to relieve the pressure, moving around, elevating your feet when you can, standing properly to support your weight the optimal way – all these things are essential.
And it’s well worth a routine check-up with a podiatrist as they can spot irregularities and head off problem areas before they set in as chronic complications.
Using a foot roller that’s covered in knobbly knobs to massage your feet while seated is another way to give them TLC. And there are sandals especially designed to do the same.
The field of reflexology works by applying a pressure with a particular technique to points on the feet and hands with the theory that these points correspond to various other parts of the body. Drawings depicting hand and foot massage date back to 2330BC in the tomb of Ankmahor, so the general concept has been around for a long, long time. Known for being highly relaxing, reflexology is also a lovely way to get a skilled professional to give your feet a workout and enjoy the associated benefits it can bring.
There’s also a beautiful technique developed by Stanley Burroughs called the VitaFlex Technique. It’s similar to reflexology in terms of the philosophy of points on our feet aligning with all the various parts of our body and using those points to help the flow of energy and release blockages. But the technique of doing so is different, with a press – roll kind of motion.
The VitaFlex technique and essential oils are a match made in foot heaven! Lovely oils to incorporate when using the VitaFlex technique are Young Living Valor™ and the oils in the Young Living Raindrop kit.
Essential oils are beautiful generally for helping you to feel relaxed and at ease. They are incorporated throughout the world across a bunch of modalities to help balance your energies, increase their flow from top to toe. Whether massage, reflexology, working with chakras, balancing yin and yang, helping the flow of chi – and we’re only just scratching the surface – essential oils (when used in accordance with standard sensible safe use practices) can amplify the benefits.
Along with these more fundamental structural things, pampering your feet regularly feels so therapeutic, it’s well worth the investment in just a little time and a few divine essential oils to spoil them rotten and help them feel appreciated.
Essential oils are potent, so as always, please follow directions on the bottle and the usual guidelines for safe use of authentic essential oils. Please ensure you are choosing a brand with complete transparency from seed to seal, such as Young Living. You can learn in this short video why we only ever recommend and choose Young Living oils and love them so much!
This will also connect you up with The Good Oil Team for our personal support and coaching. We'd love to help you on your journey to vibrant well-being the natural way!
Any questions? Please get in touch via our Contact page.
These DIY recipes will have your feet soft and relaxed in under 20 minutes.
LAVENDER MILK BATH
- Basin of very warm water
- 1 cup coconut milk or a few heaped dessertspoons of powdered organic milk
- 3-6 drops Young Living Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil (Young Living Joy™ essential oil blend is also divine)
Combine these ingredients and soak your feet in this nurturing footbath Cleopatra would have been happy to indulge in.
ESSENTIAL OIL SALT or SUGAR SCRUB
- 1 cup Epsom salts, Celtic, Himalayan or sea salt OR raw or brown sugar if you prefer a sugar scrub OR why not: mix salt and sugar together
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, sweet almond or jojoba oil
- 3-6 drops of essential oils (oils that are great for tired feet are rosemary, peppermint, melaleuca alternifolia, lemon and Young Living Stress Away™ with its delicious vanilla-lime fragrance)
Combine the above ingredients, starting with half the olive/sweet almond/jojoba oil then adding the rest as you mix until you get a nice grainy/sandy consistency that feels right. Transfer into a sterilised jar. Scrub your feet with this mixture and allow to soak in for 5-10 minutes before dunking them into a lovely footbath of very warm water to rinse them off. Pat dry lightly and apply your favourite moisturiser (Young Living Genesis Hand & Body Lotion is beautiful), tuck your tootsies into soft, thick cotton socks and enjoy. PS: This also makes a thoughtful gift! Use a Mason jar or other decorative jar, add a ribbon and tag and make a batch of them while you’re at it.
SPORTS-RUB FOOT SOAK
- Basin of very warm water
- A hefty glug of Young Living Ortho Ease or Ortho Sport Massage Oil blends
Add the Ortho Ease or Ortho Sport to your basin of warm water and allow the warming and comforting oils in these ready-made massage oil blends to ease the tension out of your feet while all you do is sit, slide your feet in and unwind for 10 minutes or so. Pat your feet lightly dry (don’t wash off the oil: why waste it!) and snuggle them into thick comfie socks and allow the oils to continue to do their work while they are absorbed.
PRE-SLEEP CHAMOMILE-HONEY FOOT SOAK
- Basin of very warm water
- 3 drops Young Living Roman Chamomile essential oil
- 3 drops Young Living Lavender essential oil
- Generous handful of Epsom salts or Celtic, Himalayan or sea salt
- Tablespoon honey
Add the above ingredients into a basin of very warm water and soak your feet for 10-20 minutes. Pat lightly dry, apply your favourite moisturiser and pull on soft, plush socks before heading off to bed to push up peaceful Zzzzzs. Enjoy!
This will also connect you up with The Good Oil Team for our personal support and coaching. We'd love to help you on your journey to vibrant well-being the natural way!
Any questions? Please get in touch via our Contact page.
