How to Massage Your Own Feet: 4 Ways
Massage is a great way to relieve tension and improve blood circulation. Reflexology even suggests that we can improve the condition of different parts of our bodies by simply applying pressure to certain points of our feet. And all you need is some lotion and a little bit of time. Today, 5-Minute Crafts suggests you relax, take a seat, and try our massage techniques right away.
- Sit and place your foot on the knee of the opposite leg. Make sure you’re able to grab your foot with both hands. Apply some lotion or massage oil to it.
- Wrap your hands around your foot. Your thumbs should be located at the bottom part of your foot. Press and slowly move them up to your toes. You can do this as a single stroke or by walking your thumbs up. Make sure you’re moving along the imaginary line in the center of your foot.
3. Rub the pad of each toe, and after that, squeeze it for about 30 seconds.
4. Place the base of each toe between your forefinger and thumb and gently pull it up. Finish with pinching the spots that are located between the toes.
5. Massage the ball of the foot with both hands. You can go for long strokes or massage it with your thumbs moving them in small circles. Repeat the process on the arch of the foot and the heels.
6. Gently rub your ankle. To do this, rotate your foot for a bit to loosen it up. Keep your hand flat and use it to rub the area under your ankle back and forth. Then massage the area from the toes to the ankle with long strokes.
7. Finish the massage with gentle and calming strokes, moving from the ankle to the knee.
Special techniques
- Sit and place your foot on the knee of the opposite leg. Apply some lotion or massage oil to it.
- Take your foot in your hand from the outer side and curl your toes. You’ll see a small depression located below the ball of your foot.
- Put your thumb on this spot and massage it, moving in small circles.
- Then simply keep your thumb on the spot and press on it.
- Sit and place your foot on the knee of the opposite leg. Apply a bit of oil or lotion to the arches of your feet.
- Place your thumb at the bottom part of the foot arch and move it up and down, making short strokes. Repeat several times.
Note: You can also try pressing in both of your thumbs and moving them along the arch in such a way that it reminds you of a kneading cat.
- Sit on a chair and place a tennis ball under your foot.
- Find a painful or sensitive spot by rolling the ball with your foot.
- When you find it, press on the ball. You should feel how the point gradually becomes softer.
- Stay in this position for 3-5 minutes.
Note: You can use other types of balls or additional equipment like roller foams or sticks. The pressure distribution will be different, so it’ll help to better massage other foot areas.