Treatments for your feet -Step by step guide to doing ayurvedic massage for feet at home

December 20, 2015

A foot massage is perhaps in your mind but you do not want to drill holes in your wallet. Well, you can give your feet the comfort of a foot massage with the help of this step by step guide to ayurvedic foot massage at home.

How does a massage help?

Experts suggest that massaging feet every day increases blood circulation in the feet. It also helps beat tiredness, increases strength and tone the muscles. Because all the acupressure points are present on the sole of the foot, a foot massage will relieve eyestrain and stress as well.

It lets you ground your energies while standing and helps you balance energies in all your seven chakras. Application of oil on your feet on a regular basis is also effective in preventing common skin conditions such as cracked heels and other bacterial and fungal infections.

How to do ayurvedic feet massage at home

Step 1

Get the required things

You will need a small tub of warm water, some ginger and salt, a towel to wipe off your feet and a massage oil of choice (coconut oil, sesame or mustard oil). But, it’s recommended to avoid mustard oil in summers as it can generate heat in the body.

Step 2

Create a foot soak and relax

Add some crushed ginger and a teaspoonful of sea salt to a tub of warm water. Now soak your feet in the tub and relax for 20 to 30 minutes. You can rest your back on a chair and use a pillow to support your head. You may add a few rose petals to the mixture on days you feel super tired. The aroma will help you relax and unwind quickly.

Step 3

Wipe your feet and apply the oil

Take your feet out and gently pat them dry. Now apply some oil on your feet making sure there is very little friction between your hands and feet while massaging.

Step 4

Massage your feet

Massage for each foot should last about 15 to 20 minutes. Here’s how to do it.

Begin by running your fingertips in circular motion around the ankles. Now with the help of your fingers and thumb, gently press the muscle from the base of your calf to your heel in a downward motion.

Then massage the part just below your ankle and move towards your toes. Massage the area between each toe with your index finger and thumb.

Now you will need to wrap your finger around the base of the big toes and pull it away from the toe in order to gently loosen muscles in that area.

Repeat the same in all five toes. Glide your thumb along the tendons of your toes on the top of your foot. Using the pad of the thumb, start pressing the fingers and press along the depression on the top of the foot to the ankle.

Once you are done massaging the upper part, move to the base of the foot. Bend your leg at the knee and place your foot on the thigh of the other foot such that the bottom of your foot is facing upwards.

Hold the foot with your hands keeping the thumbs on the sole and press just below the ball of your foot. As you apply pressure, move your thumb outwards in the opposite direction.

Bring the thumb to the center of the foot and massage downwards. Repeat this several times and start massaging the heels by using the base of your palm to press down in circular motions on the heel.

Now comes the last part and all you have to do in this step is intertwine fingers with toes by passing them in between each toe. Hold your foot and gently move it in clockwise direction, then following it up anticlockwise, in order to loosen up muscles of the ankles and feet.

Repeat the same with the big toe as well. Finally, use your palm to massage base of the foot, making an eight with your fingertips. Now repeat the entire process on the left foot. Try and get good results.