How to Give Yourself a Foot Massage

So you have come back home after another tiring day. Seems like you need a good foot massage. Well, if there is no one else to count on, relax, you still have a chance of getting a good one. Follow these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Massage oil or moisturizing cream
• Feet

1. Before beginning the massage, soak your feet in warm water with mild liquid soap for 10 min. Then wipe with towel.
2. Sit on a comfortable chair and put your right foot over your left knee and make it easily accessible to your both hands.
3. Apply massage oil to the foot generously.
4. Hold the foot in your hands with your two thumbs sitting on the upper surface of your foot approximating each other just in front of the ankle. Apply firm pressure with both thumbs and gently slide thumbs in downward and outward direction.
5. Move thumbs back to their starting position but just an inch distal to the previous position and repeat the manoeuvre. You may have to repeat it 3-4 times depending how big your feet are.
6. Next, try to hold your foot in your hands, this time your thumbs over the sole of your foot. Repeat above steps 3-4 times as needed.
7. Hold the heel with your left hand and move your foot at the ankle joint so as to loosen it. Rotate the foot clockwise and anticlockwise 3 or 4 times.
8. Make a fist and knead your sole thoroughly starting from your heel moving towards the toes.
9. Squeeze gently each of your toes between your thumb and index finger.
10. Repeat these steps on other foot.

Tips & Warnings

• Massage oil reduces the friction while you are massaging it gives a soothing effect so use a good quality massage oil.
• Do not perform such techniques if you are suffering from arthritis or other musculoskeletal disease.
• Massage oil will definitely be absorbed through the pores of your skin. Make sure it is medically approved and that you are not allergic to it.