arches

Do you hear people talking about their arches and wonder whether you have high or low or normal arches?

If you wet one of your feet and stand firmly on a surface eg. concrete, so you leave a footprint.

Have a look at the footprint and if the arch is clearly visible between your heel and ball of foot - you have flat arches.

If there is hardly any arch in the print and your footprint almost looks like two separate bits you have high arches.

If your footprint is somewhere in the middle with half the arch visible, then you have normal feet.

reflexology for pregnancy

It is great to see young mums getting regular reflexology throughout their pregnancy. As a reflexologist it is a privilege to see their continuing good health and their being able to relax so easily. Combined with pregnancy yoga they are really giving themselves and their baby the best of starts.

Do your own reflexology treatment

If your feet are like mine, they tell you when they need some attention, eg. certain parts of your foot will ache or burn. I am always advising clients that their feet tell a story and we need to listen to their story. Maybe you have a spur under your heel or maybe it is a reflex that is telling you something. If you don't have a reflexologist nearby - what does one do?
Rolling a golf ball under the soles of your feet is a good start. It feels great and is doing you a lot of good as it works on your reflexes. You could also keep your eyes open for a reflexology foot massager - there are some good ones around and these are great for massaging your feet.
Walking on sand is fantastic too.

Seven tips for healthy feet

Our feet are our foundation. I know that when my feet are unhappy, my day is miserable and when my feet are happy I can focus on other things as I should.

1. Walk barefoot over natural surfaces as much as possible - let your feet become sensitive to different textures
2. Learn to pick things up with your toes (they need exercise too!)
3. Bend and stretch your toes in as many different ways as you can.
4. Spread your toes as wide apart as you can with your hands.
5. Roll your foot over a cylinder or roll a golf ball underneath your sole.
6. Squatting and kneeling is great for strengthening and suppling the feet and ankles. (Squatting is also good for preventing hip replacements)
7. When you wear shoes check your toes have plenty of room to spread out.

Gill South : Put the pressure on to ease pain - Life & Style - NZ Herald News

Gill South : Put the pressure on to ease pain - Life & Style - NZ Herald News

This is an interesting article about what Gill experienced at a reflexology session. She went with an open mind and wrote about what happened. See what you think

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!!