Give some thought on the tough role your feet have to play.
It is amazing the burden they have to carry in relation to their structure. So,
occasionally treat them with a nice massage.
Have you ever heard of a tired person saying, “my feet are
killing me”? Many times somebody is saying this to make a point of how tired
they are. But have you ever give a thought for your feet? If feet could talk,
they would probably say, “my owner is killing me.”
The feet are the hardest working entities of a person’s body
and by that, it is meant physical working. How many people are not for the
entire working day on their feet? – think about the police officer patrolling,
a schoolteacher, a prison guard also patrolling, the athlete running the Boston
Marathon, etc. So give a thought to your feet also. You take care of your
heart, stomach, hands, nails, etc. but what do you do for your feet?
Feet are actually fabulous. Think of their size in relation
to the rest of the body and the body’s weight. But luckily, there is something
to spoil you feet with to show your appreciation for all their hard work. The
answer lies in reflexology. Reflexology is the science of massaging the feet.
The feet are divided into zones, which represent the entire
body. Massaging the nerve endings, which are, situated at the bottom of the
feet triggers off a response in the body. Thorough stimulation of all reflex
areas of the feet stress and tension is reduced. Reflexology is nothing new; it
is coming from ancient times when people were still going bare-feet, as shoes
were not yet invented. Walking bare-feet caused the reflex areas of the feet
been massaged by the uneven and rough surfaces people had to walk on.
With the coming of the new ages and the invention of shoes
people realized that they were not that relaxed after a day’s work as
previously the case was and that is where reflexology started. Now feet had to
be massaged manually and it was realized it did work and that is where therapeutic
reflexology came in.
A person skilled in applying reflexology is able to
stimulate an entire foot by using special thumb, finger, and hand techniques.
This specific pressure and the energy generated by the hands create a
physiological response or reflex in the body, which stimulates circulation,
nerve connections, and energy pathways that extend from the feet to the rest of
the body. This process encourages a state of balance. Although, the aim is to
treat tired feet, the entire body is actually treated. Even in their tired
state, they still care for the entire body!
With reflexology, the body parts are reflected in miniature
detail on the feet, with the front of the body on the soles and the back of the
body on the top of the feet. The zones are as follows:
·
The toes reflect the head
·
The balls of the feet reflect the rib cage
·
The fleshy instep of the foot reflects the soft
abdomen
·
The firm heel reflects the pelvic bone
·
The ankle bone reflects the hip bone
·
The bony ridge on the inside of the foot reflects
the spine
A reflexologist is trained to massage these reflexes using
various techniques.
It is actually marvellous to think that the hard working
feet represent a microcosm of the entire body and that it is the gateway of
treating the entire body. It is a good reason to put your best foot first!
Next time, before you accuse your feet of killing you, thank
them for assisting you to keep your body healthy!
