Great feet for summer

A tip for smooth soft feet that look great in jandals, sandals and barefeet for summer - use a wet pumice stone to slough off extra skin, or purchase foot creams that contain ground pumice for smooth, soft feet. If you can't find any pumice, try a chemist, beauty therapist, or the Body Shop who have great tools for gently removing dead skin to leave soft heels and soles of feet.

Also, try adding fresh or tinned pineapple juice to your footbath. This tropical fruit contains bromelain, a natural enzyme that will help soften calluses and rough heels.

our feet are the mirrors of our health

Our feet are like mirrors of our health. As a reflexologist after giving a treatment, the feet have told me the story of the client's health. This is invaluable for keeping in good health and in balance so the body can do its job of healing itself. Regular reflexology treatments have shown without exception how the client's health has improved.

Because feet are mirrors of our health, it is important to take time to care for your feet ie. if they hurt, be aware they are telling you something is out of balance in your body.
Possible signs to look for are dry skin, brittle nails, burning and tingling sensations, feelings of cold, numbness, discolouration.

As we get older it is important to see a podiatrist if any of these signs occur. They are qualified practitioners who can use surgery if needed and deal with bunions, ingrown toenails, hammer toes, neuromas, verrucae, corns, injuries, cutting thickened toenails. If you have diabetes or other chronic conditions that affect circulation, you should be seeing a podiatrist once every 3 months to keep in good health. Word of mouth is a good way to find your podiatrist.

Spring time for our feet

With this beautiful spring weather - time to give your feet a treat - get out of shoes, let your feet stretch out and enjoy nature and you will be surprised how much more energised you feel. Look after your feet and they will look after you.

If you are wondering what is good to walk on - think bare feet on nature (natural surfaces like sand, beach, grass, smooth rocks). The most energising time is to walk on dewy grass when you wake up.
Keep the jandals for the asphelt, concrete etc.

Another tip coming tomorrow - do it and your feet will be loving you!!

What is Ayurveda and how can it help me?

Ayurveda is an ancient, powerful, holistic healing science dating back 5000 years,  in which we can take responsibility for our health with self awareness with food, exercise, massage and herbs.

There are five elements in nature - ether, air, fire, water and earth.  The energy from these five elements combines in different ways resulting in  3 basic body types - Kapha or Earth, Pitta or Fire and Vata or Air.

In Ayurveda these 3 basic elements are everywhere in nature - days, seasons, lifespans and people.

By knowing your body type, you gain self awareness into how to keep yourself healthy by staying in balance. For example,  a  person with pitta qualities (fire - hot and sharp and water - clear, smooth and flowing) would not be comfortable in hot weather and prefer winter and autumn because of their coolness. A pitta person would be 'short, sharp and to the point'. Out of balance person with a pitta body type would  suffer conditions like  high blood pressure, stomach acid excess causing ulcers, heart disease, liver diseases, inflammation and fever. To keep in balance are specific lifestyle routines and foods that balance the pitta qualities.

It is about self -awareness.

Yoga

Coming home from work really tired can be an ordeal. All you want is to relax on the couch with a glass of wine or beer.
Just once, try lying on the floor with your feet up the wall for 10 minutes. Feel the small of your back firm on the floor with your legs at 45 degrees to the wall. The other option is to have your buttocks against the wall with your legs vertically.  See which you prefer.
Relaxing like this is heavenly for aching legs, puffy ankles, hot sweaty swollen feet. As well as helping relieve tiredness, lack of energy and sore legs it is great for your whole body. Because it is an inversion, fresh blood, therefore oxygen and nutrients are brought to your brain, bringing energy to your body. If you suffer from varicose veins or haemorrhoids, you may notice an improvement. What have you got to lose - nothing - but you have a lot to gain. A great habit to get into. I remember when I was in a very stressful teaching position and when I look back - putting my feet up the wall - and relaxing when I was on my own - certainly helped the situation, which is why I recommend you try it.

Yoga and Reflexology at the Beach: Welcome...

I was interested to read an article in the NZ Herald on Saturday 13th November in the boating section, written by Mike Rose (who happens to have a bacht at Waihi Beach).
The article is titled ' Mind power can beat sea sickness'
It has been discovered that ' biofeedback training' is more effective than even the powerful anti-nausea drugs given to astronauts.
It outlines all the benefits of the biofeed technique, making it sound very scientific.
'We don't teach relaxation, we teach control. It improves with practice, like any other skill,' says Dr Patricia S.Cowings from Nasa's Ames Research Centre.
Here's the interesting part - If you get nauseated, get your breathing smooth and even, with two seconds of inhalation and two seconds of exhalation. Breathe from low in your abdomen and keep that up for as long as you can... Of course you can always knock yourself out with a pill... if you don't mind drowsiness. However, AFTE has no side effects and once you learn, it lasts forever.'
Hello!!! This is a yogic breath that has been discovered 5000 years ago. When I read the article I wondered if it was for real - and I am still wondering.