Finding Our ‘Footing’
“You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you’re going to have a strong superstructure.” Gordon B. Hinkley
Self-care is often seen as a trendy activity, something that only people who have the time, energy, or those who do not work a 9-5 can do. Playing on April being Foot Health Awareness Month, we need to find our ‘footing.’ Our feet are our body's foundation and looking at how we care for them can impact our overall health. You may notice that you do not feel your best when you do not take care of your feet. Or you may notice that when you have pain in a portion of your feet, you feel pain in your body.
I remember when I was younger learning about the practice of putting an onion slice or vapor rub on the bottom of a baby’s foot inside of a sock when they were sick. While probably not a common practice in America, this is something I notice my family and many others in Black, Indigenous and Caribbean communities, along with other cultures that similarly rely more on holistic or natural healing, continue to practice. At the time, I just knew it was a tradition but did not understand why or how it worked. Honestly, I do not think the people practicing the tradition knew how or why it works either just that it did.
Photo by Jazmin Quaynor on Unsplash
However, this correlates to my statement that ‘pain in a portion of your foot affects your body.’ The feet are porous and all telling. They absorb substances from our environments and show signs of poor health when we are sick or suffering an illness. You may have seen a reflexology foot chart, but I strongly suggest you research it if you have not. The University of Minnesota talks about reflexology under their Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellbeing Spirituality and Health Center. Reflexology shows how each portion of the foot is connected to other parts of your body. For instance, the heel is associated with pelvic pain and the sciatic nerve, and the tip of the toes are associated with the brain and head. By massaging these portions of the feet, you may gain relief from discomfort in those parts of the body.
By practicing foot self-care, we can change the way our foundation affects our bodies. Below are my recommendations for ‘footing’ care best practices.
Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash
Wear Properly Fitting Shoes! Women especially are known to wear shoes that do not fit right. We tend to wear shoes that may be too large or too small for the look or the comfort of the shoe. But, unfortunately, this hurts our overall foundation. Find the proper fit for a shoe, and use an insert of shoes that require them for a better fit.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize! When you get out of the shower or bath, apply a heavier cream lotion to the entirety of your foot. Use socks to help the moisture absorb into your skin while keeping debris from your floor attaching to your foot. Cocoa butter or raw shea butter are great for whole body moisturizing.
Buy Office Shoes. Many of us wear heels, pumps, stilettos to work. While they look great, they are not the best for foot health. While in the office and just around your desk, change into flats, aka ‘office shoes’ to avoid having the painful stylish shoes on for the
Massage and Pedicure! You can go out to get a pedicure or do one at home, but take the time to love your feet. For at-home pedicures and massages here are a few tips:
Create a warm (not hot) water bath for your feet.
Add Epsom salt or oats to the bath. Use what is best for your allergies and sensitivities.
Use essential oil to add moisture and fragrance to your bath. I enjoy tea tree or jojoba oil. If you plan to use peppermint, only add a drop. Peppermint oil contains menthol (a cooling agent) which can cause hyperthermia when used at a high concentration.
Softly exfoliate with a clean footstone.
Clean up your cuticles and add a cuticle oil or olive oil around the area.
Moisturize with your favorite foot cream, massaging into the feet, adding slight pressure to the sole as you go.
If you plan to polish, clean the nail bed with a cotton ball that has been covered in alcohol to rid the bed of oil.
If you are not polishing, cover your feet with socks, for more intense moisture absorption.
P.T. Barnum once said, “the foundation of success in life is good health: that is the substratum fortune; it is also the basis of happiness.” Taking care of our feet, our foundation, will lead to sustaining a journey of good health and happiness.
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