Lifestyle Choices

One of the best things you can do for your feet is to walk barefoot. Wearing exercise sandals is the next best thing. When your feet are free of shoes and hose they relax and stretch; exercise sandals are designed to let the feet do this. They follow the natural contour of the foot, imitating and slightly exaggerating the effect of walking barefoot. This is great for toes as they grip and then relax from the gripper bar with every step. But exercise sandals are just that—meant for exercise, not all-day wearing. You can tire yourself and develop bulky muscles in the calves if you wear them too much.

There are several exercises you can do for your feet that will refresh the rest of you too. They help keep feet and legs in top condition by increasing circulation, strengthening muscles, and giving joints a good workout. They are also excellent fatigue-fighters. Do them for ten minutes at the end of each day or just before a bath.

1.Climbing the walls Lie on the floor with legs and feet propped up against a wall. Using the toes to pull each foot up, “walk” up the wall, one foot after the other. When you get as far as you can, come down again and start over. Repeat three or four times. The last time, as you go higher, support your hips with your hands and stay there for two or three minutes with legs and feet raised high above the head.

2.Tip-toers Sitting in a straight chair with good posture, place feet flat on floor about six inches apart. First raise one foot from the heel and then the other, pointing toes, so only the toes remain on the floor, and then lower. Repeat ten times.

3. Perfect pigeons For two minutes daily walk barefoot with toes pointing inward. Try to pick up a marble with the toes and walk on the outside of the feet for another minute. (This is particularly good for slimming ankles.)

4.Ankle twists Sitting cross-legged, rotate the ankles ten times one way and then the other. Change legs and repeat. (Good both for slimming an- Ides and strengthening them for skiing and hiking.)

5.Cantilevers Stand on one foot on a telephone book or stair so that the entire weight is supported by the front of the foot, with arch and heel suspended in the air. Slowly raise the heel as high as possible (hold on to someting so you don’t fall), and then down as far as you can so heel is below ball of the foot. Repeat ten times with each foot. (Another good ankle strengthener.)

6. The shakes Sitting on a chair, take hold of one ankle, shake it hard for thirty seconds, keeping the foot loose, then change and shake the other one. Repeat twice. A tingling feeling of relaxation and well-being spreads all the way up the legs.

Japanese Shiatsu Treatment for Tired Feet

1. Press each toe hard three times with your thumb, working down from tips of toes to foot itself.
2. Now press between the tendons on the top of the foot, grasping the foot in your hand and working up between each tendon toward the ankle.
3. Move to the plantar arch (the sole of the foot), pressing hard with your thumb and on the bottom of the foot, moving up to center.
4. Finally, apply pressure hard around sides of the ankles and on the Achilles tendon.
5. Repeat with the other foot, then put feet up on a cushion so that your legs and feet are above the level of your head and body, and relax with your eyes closed for five minutes.

More about: Feet Need Exercise Too

• Take Care of Your Hand and Foot
• Shoe Tips
• Take a Look at the Shoes You Wear
• Herbs Foot Care
• Caring for Your Hands, Knees, Elbows, and Feet
• At-Home Foot Care
• Making Foot Reflexology Work for You
• Feet and Legs Problems and Solutions Detection
• It is all about Shoes
• Reflexology Feet Treatment

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