Going Barefoot

The natural way

Have you ever been really tired at the end of a long day and then feeling better when removing your shoes?

Shoes trap energy around the feet and that could be one of the reasons for feeling tired.

So take your shoes off whenever you can and give your feet as much air as possible.

Walking barefoot helps tone the muscles of your feet, keeping them young and strong. An early morning barefoot walk on cool, dewy grass is refreshing and invigorating for the entire system, not just your feet. It is also believed to have a very good effect on improving eyesight.

Do walk barefoot as much as possible.

Taking Care of Dry, Flaking, Cracked Skin

Dry flaking, cracked skin can be painful and irritating, particularly if of the heels of the feet.

During summertime when women wear open shoes, this is particular common. Fortunately, there is an easy, homemade remedy for this:

Every morning and evening after your shower or bath, place 1 drop of Sandalwood into a couple of Rosehip oil or Calendula oil and massage thoroughly. 

This is an excellent remedy for dry skin anywhere on the feet, especially if you play sport or are very active, when skin more readily dries and hardens.

Recipes 101

Danie de Villiers

Tea Leaves for Smelly Shoes

Instead of tossing your used tea leaves away or use it in the compost heap, dry it in the sun and then use it to get rid of those smelly shoes!

Sprinkle the used tea leaves on a baking sheet and place them in the sun to dry. When dried, stuff it in an old sock or make pouches out of cheese cloth, tie up the sock or cheese cloth pouch with a piece of wool and place them in your shoes. Leave it overnight and throw the socks or pouches with the tea leaves away. 

You will find that your shoes are no longer smelling like moldy cheese but rather like fresh herbs.

A Brief Discussion on Reflexology

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!