How To Massage Feet (Yours Or Somebody Else’s)

If you are like me, you are missing going to a professional massage therapist during the pandemic to receive professional massage work.

And while it is difficult to work on one’s own back without specialized tools, working on your own feet can be easy and very nurturing to the whole body.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the feet are connected to the entire body, and so working on your feet allows you to work on areas of the body you cannot reach on your own when attempting to recreate a professional spa massage.

Here is an easy, step-by-step process that teaches you how to massage your feet, and by working on your feet you will nurture your entire body.

Preparation

1. Select a space with a soft, firm surface for the person receiving the massage to lie down. Their feet should be able to extend comfortably beyond the surface and allow the person giving the massage to sit comfortably, with the feet approximately at the torso of the giver. The end of a bed works well if you do not have a massage table.
2. Select a massage oil or massage cream. Biotone Massage Creme is my personal favorite.
3. To create a nice atmosphere you could also put on some soft music and diffuse some aromatherapy (I like lavender), if that is pleasant to both participants.

TIP: It is best to have a moderate pressure when doing a foot massage. If it is too gentle, it could tickle the person receiving the massage (NOT RELAXING!) and if it is too firm it could hurt, especially if feet are already sore. Check in once in a while during the foot massage to find out if the pressure is too light or too heavy.

Instructions

#1. Place some oil or cream in your hand.

Place a modest amount of massage oil or cream in your hand. Remember that the foot is a relatively small area so you should not need much. Distribute the cream evenly in your hands and warm it up a little.

#2. Use Long Gliding Strokes From Ankle to Toe to Apply Massage Cream

Place your hand on the ankle, and as you move your hand toward your torso, wrap your fingers around the bottom of the foot and your thumbs around the top of the foot.

This first massage stroke serves two purposes… The first is that it distributes the oil evenly on the foot you are working on, and the other purpose is that it will warm up the foot of the person receiving the massage, acclimating him or her to the massage sensation, and it should already provide some relaxation.

#3. Massage Top of Feet Between Bones

Use your thumbs together to gently glide them between the bones of the toes, starting close to the toes and moving toward the ankle.

#4. Massage Each Toe

Using your thumb and index finger, spend some time massaging each toe. If the person you are working on is ticklish, try using a little bit firmer pressure and that may help.

#5. Use Your Knuckles to Massage the Bottom of Feet

Make a soft fist with one of your hands and use the knuckles of that hand to massage the bottom of the foot, moving back-and-forth from the heel area to the toes.

#6. Wringing Massage the Bottom of the Feet with Your Thumbs

Flip your hands so that your thumbs are now touching the bottom of the feet and your other fingers are on the top of the foot. Use a wringing motion to simultaneously move the fingers toward and away from each other on the bottom of the feet. The emphasis should be on the bottom of the foot, but lighter pressure can be used during this time on the top of the foot, too.

#7. Finish the Massage with the Long Gliding Strokes (from earlier)

A great way to finish the massage is to return to the pulling movement (from ankles to feet) with your fingers on the bottom of the feet and your thumbs on the top of the feet.

You can check out the video with the step-by-step instruction below.

Now you know how to massage feet!

I hope you enjoyed and benefitted from this post. If that is the case, please share it with friends and family on social email and they will thank you for it.

(And maybe you’ll get a foot massage, too!)