The Art of
Foot Massage- Part 1
by Allyson Carey
Feet work more than any other part of your body,
holding up your weight for hours on end. It should come as no surprise that
your feet are among the most pleasurable parts of your body to massage. There
are an infinite number of massage techniques for invigorating the feet,
all of them equally good. The first in this series begins with Swedish massage.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
1
Begin your Swedish foot massage with
your client face down on your massage table. Lift their foot gently and sit on
the end of your table so that the top of the foot can rest gently on your upper
thigh.
2
Protect your own body by using your
entire torso to work the feet, and not just your arms. Engage the muscles of
your abdomen and push through your arms, protecting your low back and
preserving your upper body strength.
3
Warm up the feet before working deep
by cupping the top of the foot with your non-dominant hand and the sole of the
foot with your dominant hand. Use the heel of your dominant hand to rub up and
down the sole with gentle yet firm pressure, preparing the muscles to be
worked.
4
Work a little deeper into the foot as
the muscles begin to warm. Continue cupping the top of the foot, keeping the
foot flexed, as this will keep the tendons relaxed and open up the bottom of
the feet more. Use your thumbs, knuckles or even elbows to work into the sole
of the foot. Work both up and down as well as crosswise.
5
Finish your Swedish foot massage by
allowing the foot to rest on your thigh. Cup the heel between your hands and
make long sweeping strokes toward the toes. Finish the stroke by gently
grasping a toe and pulling very gently. Continue the strokes until you have
completed each toe.
