I can’t stand anyone touching my feet as they are so sensitive, if anyone attempts to touch them they will receive a reactive kick back.
However, I may have to make an exemption as a reflexologist has claimed a two minute foot massage can help you get a good night’s sleep.
Reflexology involves applying pressure to the body using specific techniques, without the use of oils and lotions, aiming to restore the body’s natural balance.
Reflexologist Michele Stevens shared tips on how best to massage your feet to tackle sleep problems with Healthista.
She explained how our feet contain 26 bones and over 7,000 nerve endings, called reflexes, which are linked to every organ in our bodies.
With our feet taking a pounding day to day then, this pressure is felt throughout the body.
Michele shared five techniques you can use on your feet to tackle this. You don’t even need someone else to give you the foot rub, as these are self-massage techniques.
She recommends you first address the pineal gland writing:
Using the finger and thumb, press and hold the top of your big toe for a few seconds. Make small circular moves with your index finger on the tip of the toe.
The pineal gland is a small gland located in the brain that helps to regulate hormones, one of which is called melatonin.
That’s the hormone that helps regulate sleep patterns.
Michele then says to ‘help calm the mind and clear the head’, you should next use your thumb to press down and rub up and down along the whole of your big toe, at least three times.
Next you can increase the oxygen distribution around the body, encouraging deeper breathing, by using the thumb to ‘press upwards from top of foot to toes gently a few times’.
To release tension held within your body, also using your thumb, knead the middle of the foot three times.
Finally, to relax and ‘settle the mind and body’, ‘using the thumb, press and circle in the middle of your foot’ while taking deep breaths.
Here’s a helpful diagram which shows the areas to press:
Next time you are in need of some relaxation and rest, give the foot massage a whirl and hopefully it will send you to sleep.
I will certainly be trying it tonight!
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