Tending the Feet

Our feet are our connection to the ground. They're on what we stand. They form the foundation of our balance. It is from our feet that we generate most of the power and force we need to act in the world. Almost every athletic motion, such as throwing a ball, pushing and pulling, walking and running, are all built from the force that our feet generate by pushing into the ground. So our feet are vitally important, and yet they are often overlooked and forgotten. When's the last time you massaged your feet, for instance

There are many stretches and exercises that one could do to open the feet and make them stronger, but often what they need most is a massage. I'm not talking about a heavy-handed, tissue-tearing kind of massage, but some gentle work to soothe our over-worked and under-appreciated soles.

One thing a massage does for the feet is it warms them. We don't often think about this, but the feet are the farthest parts of our bodies from our hearts. They can easily become too cold and stiff. A gentle massage helps to warm them.

This month, try spending three minutes per day massaging each foot. Massage the heels, the mid-foot, the balls of the feet, and each toe. Use a little oil to do this and put socks on afterward so that you don't track oil all over your house.

See what happens to your entire body by tending your feet. Ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain, and low back pain can all be significantly related to the feet. Massaging the feet can do a lot for those problems. But even problems from higher up, even neck, shoulder, and forearm problems, can all be rooted in the root of the body: the feet.