Foot massage: basic rules and techniques

Everyone knows about the healing power of massage. This is one of the most ancient techniques for restoring the body and treating many diseases of both body and soul. Legs occupy a special place in the list of massage zones. Every day, a huge load is placed on the feet and lower legs. We are so accustomed to the fact that we can walk and stand for a long time that we simply stopped thinking about what the consequences of excessive straining of the limbs could be without effective and timely recovery. However, if you learn the basics of proper foot massage, you can significantly improve your health, gain a lot of energy and vitality.

Not everyone knows that a huge number of reflex zones are concentrated on the feet, which are associated with almost every organ of our body. Moreover, these receptors are responsible not only for the physical state of organs, but also for the energy component of the body as a whole. The most widespread massage of the soles is in oriental medicine.

This treatment technique is extremely effective for several reasons:

• The body is not harmed by the use of medication. After all, it's not a secret for anyone that pills for the treatment of one ailment inevitably entail certain consequences with respect to other body systems.
• Massage has a systematic approach to treatment. Through certain points in one place on the body, completely different organs can be healed. This is due to the fact that everything in the human body is interconnected. Therefore, internal organs can be effectively regenerated through the skin.

According to experts, there are 36 important points and over 70,000 nerve endings on a person's feet through which specific organs can be influenced. For example, the toes are responsible for everything related to the health of the head. Heels - behind the pelvic area and knees. The upper region of the sole has points associated with the organs of sight and hearing, as well as the brain. The main part of the foot, the widest one, directly affects the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as the liver.

We can safely say that the foot massage procedure is shown to every person, especially if your daily activity involves a lot of stress on your legs: you have to stand or walk a lot. It is important to carry out this procedure regularly, then the benefits will be noticeable. You will simply stop getting sick and achieve great success in life.

Working with active points on the feet, you can achieve the following results:

• relieve psychological stress;
• get rid of physical discomfort;
• say goodbye to many chronic ailments;
• prevent the emergence of new health problems;
• restore harmony of body and soul;
• improve the quality of sleep and rest;
• restore the body after stress or prolonged strenuous work;
• improve the functioning of the immune system;
• to establish the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• restore the balance of hormones.

And this is far from a complete list of those miraculous results that can be achieved through physical interaction on the feet. Massaging the legs provides a rush of blood, which means it improves the quality of the skin, provides them with full breathing and supplies the strength for recovery. Fatigue is removed instantly, even after one session. Regular procedures help to get rid of problems with the bone and lymphatic system, help to prolong life and preserve youth as long as possible.

Real masters of healing foot massage will assure you that there are no absolute contraindications to such a procedure, because with proper handling, you can completely restore the body and cope with any ailment. However, it is important to understand that the qualification of a specialist does not always make it possible to avoid the consequences of improper massage.

Therefore, be careful with stretching your legs if you have:

• progressive oncological diseases;
• hemophilia and abnormalities in the circulatory system;
• open tuberculosis;
• urine and gallstone problems;
• sexually transmitted diseases;
• mental problems in the exacerbation phase;
• vascular thrombosis;
• fever;
• circulatory problems.

It is also important to be careful or it is better to completely refrain from massaging the feet if the person:

• is in a state of alcoholic intoxication;
• suffers from excessive blood pressure;
• prone to the manifestation of acute manifestations of allergies of various kinds;
• experiences nausea, vomiting, and pain in the gastrointestinal tract;
• has purulent infections of the epidermis, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema.

Since foot massage has a rather strong effect on the state of the body as a whole, it is important to closely monitor the condition of the person during the session. If you observe a deterioration in the condition, you should immediately stop any manipulations.

You can do the massage yourself at home. But for this it is necessary to carefully study all the subtleties and features of this procedure. This is the only way manipulations will benefit, not harm the body.If you are not yet sure that you are fluent in the technique of correct healing or relaxing foot massage, then it is better to turn to professionals in a specialized salon.

The procedure involves the impact not only on the soles, but also on the legs, thighs, hip and knee joints. Each type of massage requires specific training and technique.

However, there are universal requirements that you definitely need to know:

• The room in which the session will take place should be comfortable. The optimum air temperature should be at least 22 degrees. The light shouldn't be bright. Extraneous loud sounds must be excluded. Ideally, if it will be a calm quiet room with dim light, which will allow a person to completely relax and escape from everyday worries.
• Before the session, the legs must be checked for compliance with all standard hygiene rules. They must be absolutely clean and dry. If your feet are cold, you must first warm them up with hand movements, intense stroking. You cannot perform complex manipulations on cold feet.

• Professionals work with the patient, provided that he is in a supine position. If you knead your feet yourself, then you can take any most comfortable position that will not interfere with blood flow.
• It is essential to use a special oil or cream for the massage. This will improve sliding and eliminate the appearance of unpleasant and painful sensations from contact and friction of dry skin. It is extremely important that the composition of the products is natural. Therefore, most often natural oils are used for massage: coconut, sesame, etc. During the massage, you rub the product into the skin, it penetrates deep into the cells. Therefore, it is so important that the oils are of high quality and natural.
• It is required to provide the patient with comfort and rest not only before, but also after the procedure. In no case do not lift the person right after the session - give him a little rest.

The features of the massage technique differ depending on the type of procedure. Today there are a huge number of different types of foot procedures. They can be performed both in accordance with ancient traditions and with the use of modern technologies. The choice of a particular option depends on your health condition and the result you want to achieve. Let's list the most common types of foot massage:

This type of massage allows you to achieve a general strengthening effect on the body, speed up the process of tissue repair, increase tone, get rid of excessive puffiness, and strengthen the joints of the legs.

Classic foot massage, like any other, involves the use of the following basic techniques: stroking, rubbing, vibration and kneading. All movements should be carried out in the direction from the periphery to the lymph node. First, you need to massage the feet, then all the major muscles of the legs, as well as the joints. Warm up the skin of the legs to properly prepare it for further intensive manipulations. Then rub the skin over the entire surface of the legs in the direction indicated. Just be careful to avoid excessive pain. Next, start kneading the tissues, and the final stage of the session will be vibration.

All this will help improve blood circulation and affect the overall well-being of a person. To achieve a sustainable result, it is necessary to perform such procedures systematically, about 2 or 3 times a week for a month. Then you can take a short break, follow the reaction of the body and start the procedures again. The optimal duration of one session is about 30-60 minutes.

This type of massage belongs to the category of more serious procedures and has not only a relaxing, but also a rehabilitation effect. With the help of such manipulations, you will help the body recover even after serious illnesses. It is important that only high-class professionals are involved in the treatment procedures. Do not trust your health to inexperienced professionals.

Depending on what kind of ailment the patient is suffering from, certain areas of the foot are selected, which will have the main impact. You can also work on the entire leg at once to maximize the healing effect. With the help of certain manipulations, it will be possible to speed up the process of tissue recovery after injuries, get rid of hematomas, and improve the state of the body after surgery. Many professional athletes regularly use this type of massage.

The peculiarity of the procedure lies in the alternation of exposure to cold and heat. Warming up of tissues is achieved through special wraps with healing mud, paraffin or warming creams. It helps to relieve pain, get rid of spasms, and reduce muscle irritability. Cold stones, ice, or even snow are used as cold treatments. Cold allows you to get rid of edema, has an anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effect.

The intensity of this massage therapy depends on the complexity of the disease. In more severe cases, several sessions are required per day, while for the prevention of diseases or to maintain the achieved result, only a couple of sessions per week are enough.

The massage technique from a hot exotic country has gained widespread acceptance and recognition throughout the world. Thais were convinced that the main component of human health is the harmony of the physical body and spirit. That is why Thai massage involves not just a series of mechanical interactions at certain points, but a whole practice. The main impact is on the energy channels to release energy and allow it to circulate properly throughout the body. Only in this way a person will be in complete harmony with his body and soul. The mind will be calm and the body healthy.

Before proceeding with the main part of Thai massage, it is necessary to relax the person well. The specialist begins with measured, light strokes of the thighs and ankles. Next comes the turn of twisting and stretching the muscles (both superficial and deep). On average, a session of this therapy lasts about an hour, but there is no fixed interval. To achieve a sustainable therapeutic effect, it is recommended to do sessions daily. For preventive purposes, several times every 2 weeks are enough.

If for some reason you cannot contact a specialist or a loved one, then you can master the technique of self-massage. It is equally effective and enjoyable. To achieve the greatest effect from the procedure, experts recommend taking a bath with salt and essential oils before starting self-massage, then rub your feet thoroughly with a soft towel. This will prepare your skin and muscles for further manipulation.

Now prepare any natural oil and warm it up in your hands. Take any comfortable position, provide yourself with peace, get rid of extraneous sounds that could interfere with you.Now stretch your legs consistently from toes to ankles, calves, knees and thighs. Avoid pain. Listen to your feelings and be guided by them. At the end of the procedure, stroke your feet for a couple of minutes. Then do not get up, rest for another 10 minutes.

This type of procedure appeared in Japan and is widely used throughout the world. The essence of the procedure is to consistently press on certain points. Before embarking on a shiatsu massage, you must carefully study the map of nerve endings on the foot, as well as the state of your health. Only then can an individual massage plan be drawn up.

Rather, this is not another type of massage, but a phenomenon from Chinese culture. It consists in treating like with like. It can refer to any type of massage and different areas, be it the feet, shoulders or buttocks.

Cupping or vacuum massage is used not for therapeutic, but for cosmetic purposes. With the help of it, it will turn out to make the skin beautiful, toned and elastic. This is an indispensable complex measure in the process of losing weight. This procedure is performed in many salons of aesthetic medicine, but you can cope with such manipulations at home. This is one of the most effective techniques for fighting cellulite. During the procedure, excess fluid is removed, lymph congestion is eliminated, blood circulation is improved, and accumulations of fatty deposits under the skin are broken down.

Banks for such a procedure can be purchased at any pharmacy. It is best to use cans made of latex or silicone, since they do not absorb funds, do not deform. You only need 1 jar of the correct size. To get started, take a hot bath, wipe your feet with a scrub or a hard washcloth. Next, you need to apply a special massage oil with an anti-cellulite effect to the entire surface of the legs. You can buy it at the store or make your own.

Now it's the turn of the cans. Attach the jar to your skin and rotate it in a circle from bottom to top. Redness and pain are normal, and then they will quickly go away. However, the pain doesn't have to be unbearable. It is necessary to handle the can very carefully so as not to leave bruises on the legs. At the end of the procedure, you do not need to rinse off the oil for maximum effect. Better to wrap your legs in plastic, put on warm clothes and start physical activity.

Any of these types of massage can be done at home. Therefore, we will analyze another example of a procedure that is useful for people suffering from varicose veins. You need to be extremely careful, since such a disease does not allow the implementation of aggressive techniques, for example, vacuum cans massage, honey for weight loss.

But compression or lymphatic drainage massage will be an excellent option for people with varicose veins.

At home, this procedure can be done with your hands using a special cream. Pressing movements are carefully worked out the calf muscles for about 15 minutes. After such manipulations, you need to stand on your toes and rise on them 15-20 times. This will greatly improve the result of the massage.

Important: this procedure can be used only in the early stages of the disease. If in your case varicose veins have acquired a serious development, it is imperative to consult a doctor before proceeding with any independent actions at home.

• At the end of any massage session, it is best to wipe your feet with a soft towel dipped in hot water, then wipe them dry and apply the cream.
• All movements that make up the massage should be smooth, causing relaxation.
• If you go to a session with a specialist, but subconsciously do not trust him, it is better to refuse such an event. After all, foot massage is not only work with the physical body, but also interaction with subtle energies.

Why you should massage your feet - information is contained in the first video.

How to properly massage your feet yourself, you can learn from the video.