Foot reflexology is mainly performed at the bottom of the feet, because there are a lot of visceral reflection areas at the sole. Stronger stimulation must be applied to the sole in order to be effective. However, on other parts of the foot, the stimulation must be gentle to avoid injuring the periosteum. One of the commonly used techniques of foot massage is to stimulate the relevant parts using the joint of a forefinger.
What is foot massage and what are the benefits?
Foot massage is to apply pressure to the surface and the numerous acupoints of the foot to enhance the functions of various organs in the human body.
There is close relationship between our feet and our body’s meridian system. Human anatomy shows that there are more blood vessels, nerves, ligaments and tendons in our feet than in any other parts of our body. They are the meridian connections. We believe the human body works via energy lines or meridians (“Chi” in Chinese). The structure of these meridians can be viewed as an electrical system that connects all the organs, glands, and the tissues, and keeps them working together. Meridian channels the vital life force and energy that nourishes and promotes the body’s natural healing process. For example, acupoints around our toes link directly to the nerves located on our upper spine. These connections also make our body and our mind into one integral whole. Therefore, skillful and experienced massage on the feet alone can sooth sore muscles and help healing soft tissue injuries;. It can also speed up recovery from illness, relieve tension and relax our body, aid us to sleep better, enhance our immune system, thus to strengthen our abilities to cope with all kinds of stresses in our daily life. Foot message improves our overall wellbeing in body and mind.
