Hand and Foot Massaging and Care
Isn’t it wonderful to have a full body massage? I just love to lay there for two hours or more and be treated to such care and healing. Afterwards I feel so relaxed and revitalised. If I could have one every day what a wonderful world it would be. But alas time and monetary constraints do not allow me to indulge in this pleasurable experience more than once a month. Well I don’t know about you but massaging myself is a little difficult.
However massaging certain parts of our body is possible and it can be very effective. One of the easiest parts of our body to massage is our hands and our feet. When I give these areas of my body a little extra care and attention I always feel very pampered. I think because they are often the most neglected part of our body, especially the feet.
I have included here tips for both care of the hand and the feet. Enjoy giving yourself this extra bit of care.
Hand Care
Why Do Hands Age So Fast?
The skin on the backs of your hands has few oil glands so it shrivels and chaps easily upon exposure especially
around the joints. Add to this the overall fragile structure of your hands and you can understand why the skin
on our hands is especially vulnerable to aging. You can however slow the aging process by protecting your
skin with gloves and by using moisturizer and sunscreen all year round.
Tips:
Get accustomed to using rubber gloves whenever you
do housework or a little gardening.
Finger Massage. Using four fingers from the opposite hand,
start at the top of the finger and knead your way down to the tip
of each finger. Feels wonderfully relaxing.
Hand Massage. To stimulate circulation, rub your palm over the
back of the hand and repeat with other hand. This movement is very
similar to washing your hands and not only stimulates circulation,
it also warms the hands.
Keep your hand cream on the counter and get into the habit of
applying the cream several times a day. And remember the nails.
They can benefit too.
Before you go to bed, lavish on your hand cream and then put
on a pair of cotton gloves. Hands will be incredibly soft by morning.
Exfoliate your hands once a week
Foot Care
Your Feet Are:
An amazing framework of bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons
Designed to efficiently bear the weight of your body and enable proper mobility
On average a person can take up to 18 000 steps per day
A 70 yr old person will have walked in their lifetime, an average distance equivalent to walking around the world 3 times!
The Feet Must:
Endure the strains of our daily activities
Put up with hard surfaces, poor exercise, increased work-stress and poorly designed footwear which inevitably = hidden
causes of many foot problems
Understanding Foot Problems
In an ideal natural environment the surface on which we walk conforms to our feet providing support and absorbing
impact shock
Modern surfaces and footwear often provide the opposite – that is little (if any) support and increased shock
The tripod formation of weight bearing points and arches of the foot give us the balance and mobility which we
need
However, if the structure of the foot is disturbed or inhibited, foot and general health problems will often occur
For this reason our feet need to be properly supported, balanced and protected
Foot disorders can affect the body in a variety of ways
If the foot is not functioning correctly the alignment and function of the knees, hips and shoulders can be incorrect,
causing pain and at times loss of mobility
Nervous strain, fatigue, irritability, backaches and headaches can be related to foot problems
Excessive impact and shock to the feet can lead to damage of joints, bones and tendons over time
Proper Care Is Vital
Your feet must last you a lifetime and therefore proper care and treatment is vital
If ailments are neglected your foot condition can easily deteriorate and treatments that are more invasive and expensive may
then be required
It is never too late or too early to pay attention to your feet – prevention is better than cure
Tips for Healthy Feet
Exercise and massage your feet each day
A daily walk is advisable in lace-up footwear which is well balanced and supportive
Cut your toenails correctly – not too short or too rounded
Watch the way the soles and heels of your shoes wear – it could mean a ‘gait’ problem
Examine your feet regularly – watch for
o Corns – a small cone shaped build-up of hard skin
o Calluses – an area of hard, dead skin which sometimes has a burning sensation
o Tinea (athletes foot) – a fungal infection between the toes
o Deviation or swelling in any of the bones or joints
o Abnormalities or wounds in the skin
o Ingrown toe-nails
Pamper your feet with a regular ‘foot spa
Click here for certified organic skin care products www.oneearth.mionegroup.com |
