How to Give a Swedish Foot Massage

Feet work more than any other part of your body, holding up your weight for hours on end. It should come as no surprise that your feet are among the most pleasurable parts of your body to massage. There are an infinite number of Swedish massage techniques for massaging the feet, all of them equally good.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Begin your Swedish foot massage with your client face down on your massage table. Lift their foot gently and sit on the end of your table so that the top of the foot can rest gently on your upper thigh.

2. Protect your own body by using your entire torso to work the feet, and not just your arms. Engage the muscles of your abdomen and push through your arms, protecting your low back and preserving your upper body strength.

3. Warm up the feet before working deep by cupping the top of the foot with your non-dominant hand and the sole of the foot with your dominant hand. Use the heel of your dominant hand to rub up and down the sole with gentle yet firm pressure, preparing the muscles to be worked.

4. Work a little deeper into the foot as the muscles begin to warm. Continue cupping the top of the foot, keeping the foot flexed, as this will keep the tendons relaxed and open up the bottom of the feet more. Use your thumbs, knuckles or even elbows to work into the sole of the foot. Work both up and down as well as crosswise.

5. Finish your Swedish foot massage by allowing the foot to rest on your thigh. Cup the heel between your hands and make long sweeping strokes toward the toes. Finish the stroke by gently grasping a toe and pulling very gently. Continue the strokes until you have completed each toe.