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In many ways, our feet are marvelous things. For one, did you know that when you walk, your mere toes support half of your body weight? Over the course of an average day of walking, the pressures that your feet attract, accumulate up to hundreds of tons, as much as a fully loaded cement truck.

And yet, for many of us, the feet are hardly a point of concern beyond trimming our toenails.

Enter the area of foot reflexology, which is quickly becoming a much-sought-after spa treatment.

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Some cultures, including the ancient Chinese and Egyptian, have relied on foot reflexology as a facet of their regular health practice for years, due to the health implications and benefits that caring for one’s feet can have on the entire body.

One of the reasons the practice has seen continual growth in popularity in recent years is the increase in specificity of zone and organ mapping:

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Indeed, the feet can affect many parts of the body. Here are a few documented benefits to foot reflexology:

  • Stimulation of the lymphatic system (source)
  • Increased metabolism (source)
  • Relief from headaches (source)
  • Better sleep (source)

However, here’s the thing; spa treatment can be costly. The good news is that you do not need to open up your wallet to reap the benefits of foot reflexology. You can do it at home.

There are many videos out there on foot reflexology. Here’s a good one:

I’ll also walk you through the steps in case you’d like to print them out for reference.

Steps for basic foot massage:

  1. Wash your feet with warm water. This will get them both clean and relaxed.
  2. Add a couple of drops of essential oil like lavender or peppermint to your skin lotion; you’ll use this as a lubricant for the massage.
  3. Beginning with your toes, squeeze and twist each one gently.
  4. Massage your soles by applying intense pressure to each spot for a few seconds. Using the reflexology chart above, focus on the areas of your body that are hurting or aching.
  5. Don’t neglect the reflexology points at the top of your feet!

For an even quicker solution, invest in some stones (or simply walk barefoot outside!). It is critical that you do SOMETHING with your bare feet nightly.

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For optimal health, you’ll want to do this every night. You can even turn it into a fun romantic activity with your partner by massaging each other’s feet!

If you are interested in how caring for your feet can impact your health, check out this video from David about how barefoot walking can work wonders for your body!