The heat and oppressive humidity of pitta season are upon us in New England. Summer is the perfect time to begin to massage your feet. At my house, we have a thermometer and hygrometer that gives us the data each day. It also shows a girl in an outfit to indicate the weather. All this week the young lady is in her swimwear and flip flops.
While flip flops are cool, they do not support your feet. If you unlike my temperature model have been running around on concrete, doing errands in flip flops, you may be ready or even overdue for a foot massage. Head to the spa or do a little foot massage for yourself.
I learned about the benefits of foot massage from two of my favorite teachers, yoga teacher Jenny Otto of Body Balance Yoga and my Ayurveda teacher Kathryn Templeton of the Himalayan Institute. Both of the science of Yoga and Ayurveda teach the importance of sturdy, supple feet to support your practice, health, and your life. Foot massage is an essential part of Abyanga self-massage.
My Practice
I roll out my feet and stretch them every day while I sit on the throne in the morning. I keep a plastic roller in easy reach to remind me. This habit stack (assigning this practice with something I do everyday), helps me to be consistent in caring for my feet.
At night I do oil massage. Oil, socks, and towel are next to my bed for a quick foot rub with oil. I put on socks to protect my sheets before I sleep.
A regular foot rub with oil Pada Abhyanga is a treatment that can be widely used and recommended. Twice a week is a manageable frequency to start. Choose a high-quality organic oil recommended for your prakruti or makeup, season you are in or state of imbalance vikruti you are experiencing. Choose sesame for vata, coconut for pitta, or sesame or corn for kapha. It is time to start to massage your feet. A simple foot massage takes under 10 minutes.
Why Massage Your Feet
Stretch and massage your feet because it feels lovely, profoundly grounding, and nourishing. Feet cry out for attention and will reward you for responding. Well exercised cared for feet are strong flexible and highly mobile in ways that shock non-stretchers. Can you pick up your toes one at a time? I know folks who can.
Elements
When your feet are healthy, it supports all our parts working well with each other. Melanie and Robert Sachs teach how elements are represented in the feet in their book Ayurvedic Spa. Earth is in the heel, water in the hollow, fire in the ball of the feet, the air in the plantar side of the toes and ether in the dorsal side of the toes. Feet often reflect a person’s strengths. If specific areas of the foot are impaired, this can indicate elements and qualities out of balance.
Dosha
The dosha respond well to a regular foot massage with oil. The guru heavy quality of oil, in particular, helps ground Vata and reduce dryness. Stretching and massage free stagnation and soften hardness in Kapha. Massage reduces pitta by releasing heat, easing pain and inflammation. Add essential oil to boost the dosha balancing effect.
Senses
Ayurveda illuminates a connection between the elements, senses, and their associated organs of action. Healthy sensing and interpretation contribute to overall health. The eyes are a sense organ. Fire is the element Maha Bhuta of sight. Seeing connects to the corresponding motor organs of feet and legs and Karmendriya action of movement. Our feet carry us to meet and engage with life.
Cultivate Sattva Peace and Ease
Simple consistent self-care done as part of a healthy routine is sattvic and promotes ease and good choices. Foot massage is a quick, straightforward practice to add to your daily routine to feel better and soothe tired feet this summer and beyond.
Ayurselfcare’s purpose is to educate on the benefits of Ayurveda. This article is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment, or advice. All the material here is for learning purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.