After walking at the mall, standing on a train, wearing high heels at work or in school, or playing sports, the relief of having your feet finally rest is something we all look forward to at the end of the day. Likewise, to receive a foot massage before you sleep is quite rewarding since it helps calm your mind and body. Hence, like any other skills, don’t you want to learn how to give a foot massage and learn more about it?
If you do want to gain that knowledge, read on.
What is a Foot Massage: An Overview
For centuries, foot massage is widely practiced in different cultures. It was believed and is still known to help promote overall health wellness since nerve endings in the soles constitute most organs of the body. Nowadays, thousands of people consider massage as an alternative and complementary medicine to reduce anxiety and stress, rehabilitate an injury, relieve pain, and boost overall health.
This practice greatly involves an application of pressure to trigger points on your feet, affecting different body organ ailments. Therefore, doing it on your own or going to a salon spa to have a session with a professional reflexologist will ultimately benefit your body and mind.
How to Give a Foot Massage: The Steps
Not so many ordinary people know how to give a foot massage. Yes, receiving a foot massage is relaxing, but giving a foot massage to someone you love is something to be proud of. In order to help out, below are ways on how to give a good foot massage:
1. Preparation
Look for a surface (sofa or bed will do) that is both firm and soft. Let the person lay there comfortably. If all you have is a table or a bench, put blankets, towels, or any soft material on the head space and the rest of the body to increase comfort. Then, let the person lay flat on his or her back to make the massage relaxing and avoid discomfort. After which, apply massage oil on your palms.
A. The Foot Rub
Stroke the foot in a long and gliding manner. You should think of it as a pulling concept technique. On either side, form your hands into a cup and pull towards you. Position your thumb on top while the rest of the fingers glide at the bottom of the foot. Use your thumbs in applying pressure, starting from the end of the toes to the ankle. Firm pressure may be applied freely even on the bony part with thin muscle tissues.
When applying the gliding and deep technique, your knuckle should be used at the bottom. Stroke the foot up and then down repeatedly as needed.
B. Working on the Toes
Individually work on each toe by pinching the toe on each side. Make sure to apply solid pressure one after the other. Likewise, the firmness and intensity of pressing the bottom, sides, and top should be equal.
C. The Finale
Use both hands in gripping the foot and then glide from one side to the other. The amount of pressure amount should be significant, but you may try to ask the person what he or she prefers.
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How to Achieve Best Results: Some Tips
Knowing the proper way of giving a foot massage will not be enough for the receiver to experience total wellness or relaxation. There are some things that you also have to keep in mind while performing such. They are:
● Mind over Matter
Your focus is essential in giving a foot massage. You must take it seriously as you transfer and bring relaxation and energy to the person. As such, you must set your mind in a positive mood and erase negativity. That is because a positive mind will more likely offer healing touches. Thus, concentrate and relax by clearing your mind of any distractions and also remember to breathe deeply.
● Ask for Feedback
When you are the one doing the massage, it doesn’t mean the person should let you do whatever you like. Pacing and intensity of the massage should be the receiver’s call. As such, you should ask the right questions like “Is it painful or too slow?” “Where do want me to apply pressure?” in a nice and calm manner so that the receiver will give you honest feedback.
● Think of the Receiver’s Welfare
In performing foot massages, you should avoid using your fingers in a light feathery manner so that the receiver won’t get ticklish. You must also avoid pressing bony parts because it is painful and may cause injury. Likewise, be careful not to hit your own bony part to the receivers’ as it is excruciating. In short, be sure to only massage on the muscles for a smooth sailing session, leaving the receiver relaxed.
● Foot Massage is Not for Every Person
Despite its calming effect, not everyone should have a foot massage. If you push through, you might make mistakes and worsen the condition the person has. Examples will be those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, infection, and fever, as well as those who have been involved in a recent injury. With that said, always keep in mind to ask the receiver. If you’re not sure if a foot massage can aggravate the person’s condition, seek doctor’s advice first.
● Preparation will Help You Through
Always wash your hands before doing the massage in order to prevent bacteria from transferring to the person. Meanwhile, the receiver should clean his or her feet. On another note, make sure the pressure is not all centered on the back by rolling up a towel and then placing it on the back of the knees.
● The Right Strategies for the Receiver’s and Your Comfort
You must remember that the thumb-over-thumb technique is used when placing pressure on the feet arches or soles. Also, you should rest the feet on a pillow to make it accessible to you while you ensure your back is straight. Third, your thumbs should be bent to avoid pain when you massage the feet. Lastly, you must avoid strong fragrance oil and choose soothing ones such as grapeseed, olive, or jojoba oil.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the basics of giving a foot massage is a necessary skill. You need not finish a degree, but it is important to at least ease the pain that your loved ones are experiencing. The knowledge you learned in this article will help prevent the development of ailments, specifically on the feet. It is up to you on how to innovate these techniques to meet the preference of the receiver. Anyway, our overall goal is to achieve a healthy body, mind, and spirit.
With stark changes in our daily routine, most of us are juggling to strike a balance between work from home and our daily chores. Amidst all this, we are longing to visit the salons and spas to indulge in refreshing spa treatments, especially a relaxing foot massage! But given the current circumstances, we might have to wait a little longer before we can step out and get a foot spa. Ditch the mechanical foot massager and read on to understand how to give yourself a feet massage with ingredients easily available at home.
What are the benefits of a foot massage?
Various foot massage techniques help to improve blood circulation and relieve pain. These soothe any swelling around the foot area, improve the mood and promote better sleep patterns by releasing stress. Massaging the feet also makes them healthier by lessening stiffness and improving flexibility.
Keeping the advantages of a foot massage in mind, the Forest Essentials’ Ayurveda Experts have curated an easy at-home foot spa treatment that exfoliates, moisturizes, and soothes your tired feet. This foot treatment also gives you a chance to make your own foot scrub, using fresh ingredients from the comfort of your home!
Foot Massage Ingredients
Here’s what you will need:
- A bucket with half-filled warm water to soak your feet in
- Freshly cut Lemon and some Salt
- A gentle exfoliator (Vetiver roots or a Pumice stone)
- A Cotton towel
- A Body Massage Oil / Virgin Cold-Pressed Oil / Body Cream to massage
4 Simple Steps for A Foot Massage
Step 1
Pour hot water into a bucket, add a heaped spoonful of Sea Salt, and whatever herbs are available at home – Mint, Curry leaves, Basil or Coriander, and a freshly squeezed Lemon. You can also add two drops of Lavender Essential Oil (or any essential oil you prefer). This will help to stimulate blood flow, ease tension, and uplift your mood, while the hot water helps to relieve inflammation. Wash your feet and soak them in the bucket for 15-20 minutes.
Step 2
Begin exfoliating your feet with a foot scrub, one heel at a time. Wash them with clean water and pat dry with a towel. May we suggest the Forest Essentials Body Polisher Cane Sugar & Tamarind, which works well for the feet as well as it uses raw Cane Sugar to polish the skin and a base of pure cold-pressed oils to improve skin elasticity, leaving it smooth, moisturized, & buffed.
You can also make your own foot scrub at home. here’s a D.I.Y. recipe for you to try:
In a bowl, mix 2 tbsps of Brown Sugar or Ground Coffee along with 1 tbsp of Honey. The foot scrub is ready!
Step 3
In the Vedas, the feet are referred to as “organs of action” that are used the most and need to be well taken care of. Warm an Ayurvedic Body Massage Oil or use a rich Body or Foot Cream to gently massage your toes, soles, heels and ankles. We recommend using the Forest Essentials Organic Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil to tone, relax and nourish the skin and muscle tissue as well as flush the toxins from the body to give lustre to the skin. Should you prefer using a cream, you may try any of the Forest Essentials Velvet Silk Body Creams with a few drops of any cold-pressed oil, to deeply nourish, repair and stimulate regeneration of the skin cells.
Step 4
Complete the foot spa by wrapping a hot towel on your feet for 5 minutes. Preferably, reapply the foot cream on your feet regularly, especially on the heels, to keep them moisturized.
How is a foot massage different from Reflexology?
According to Ayurveda, the feet contain reflex points to all the organs and other parts of the body. This concept is known as Reflexology in western medicine, in which pressure is put on particular points of the foot, to release pain in other body parts. Whereas, massaging the feet includes gently yet firmly pressing on the foot’s tissues to relax its muscles, relieve tension, and improve circulation. Practicing foot massages on oneself can improve overall health and well-being.
How often should you get a foot massage?
Ideally, a foot massage is recommended at least once or twice a week to relieve pain and increase flexibility of the feet. Regular massages also make the feet healthy and their skin, nourished.
Why should you massage your feet before bed?
Massaging the feet before going to bed promotes restful sleep and calms the mind. Pressing a few pressure points on the feet helps to send signals to the brain, to soothe the body and allow it to rest. This pressure point is known as Taixi and is placed just above the heel, on the inside of the foot.
It began with Chinese medicine
Few things feel better than a massage, and few forms of massage feel as good as a foot massage! Some ancient practices and a growing body of medical research even suggest that massaging specific pressure points on your feet can heal conditions affecting entirely different parts of your body.
The belief that putting pressure on certain areas of your feet can heal ailments elsewhere is called reflexology. It stems from traditional Chinese medicine. “The idea is that energy, called ‘chi,’ flows through the body along particular pathways, or meridians,” says Denis Merkas, an acupuncturist and massage therapist who co-founded Melt: Massage for Couples with his wife, Emma. “When there’s a problem in the body, we’re usually talking about blockages of chi.”
The science behind reflexology remains unclear, but a great deal of research shows that it is effective at soothing and managing pain. In 2014, an audit of British physiotherapists found that reflexology was effective at reducing pain and inducing relaxation in people with chronic pain. Studies also show that foot massage can help reduce pain after breast surgery.
Further studies show that reflexology can reduce anxiety in people about to undergo medical testing or hospitalization.
Here are Merkas’s instructions for a foot massage that can lower anxiety.
- Curl your toes. You should see a small depression just below the ball of your foot.
- Place the pad of your thumb on this depression.
- Hold on to the top of your foot with your other hand.
- Massage the area in small circles.
- Alternate this with holding the area firmly and pressing down.
One study showed that people with low back pain saw better results with reflexology than with massage of the lower back itself.
If you want to treat your back to some reflexology, focus the massage on the arches of your feet and follow these steps:
- Concentrate on the pressure points in your arches. Merkas suggests using a few drops of oil or lotion for lubrication.
- Moving from the heel to the toes, alternate moving your thumbs in a series of short strokes.
“You can also use your thumbs to press in and ‘cat walk’ along the arch, like a cat making its bed,” says Merkas.
Myofascial release therapy targets the thin tissue that covers your muscles, bones, and organs. The pain in these tissues originates at trigger points that are hard to localize, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“Self-treatment is something I encourage all my clients to do,” says Rachel Gottesman, OTR/L, owner of Body Ease Therapy. “I use myofascial release therapy and it works by gentle, sustained pressure on areas of restrictions.” Gottesman suggests thinking of the myofascial tissues as a three-dimensional, interconnected web. Tightness in one place, like your feet, can pull the web out of place in other spots.
To perform myofascial release, follow these steps:
- Sit in a comfortable chair or on a sofa.
- Place a golf or tennis ball on the floor, just under your foot.
- Roll the ball around with your foot until you find a sensitive spot, or pressure point.
- Press down with your foot just enough to feel the point soften.
- Hold for 3 to 5 minutes.
Don’t continue to roll the ball — that doesn’t allow the pressure to go deep enough.
There’s mounting evidence to suggest that massaging your feet’s pressure points could be good for your health. And scientific opinion aside, it certainly feels good! Enjoy exploring your pressure points and learn which angles and how much pressure suit you.
A special note for people with diabetes: Check with a doctor before massaging, since diabetic nerve damage could be affected by pressure.
One thing is certain, our feet do take a beating, and deep massage can make them feel so good that you forget about other aches and pains.
Last medically reviewed on February 14, 2018
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: massages are sexy. I mean, what’s not hot about running your hands all over a woman’s body and making her feel good? Nothing. Everything about it is sexy.
Fun fact: There’s even an entire genre of porn about massages gone wild, which means a sensual massage has a lot of potential to turn real sexy, real fast.
But then again, there are also porn genres about real estate agents getting frisky, and people in creepy animal costumes (i.e. furries), so realistically, it would appear as though anything and everything has the potential to turn into sex.
Anyway, you don’t have to be a professional masseuse to give an amazing massage, because let’s face it, not many of us know a goddamn thing about pressure points and back-rubbing technique. But the beauty of giving a massage is that you can just squeeze and knead random parts of her body, and it’ll feel good anyway!
And when you think about it, it’s not difficult to figure out that running your hands all over your girlfriend’s naked body is probably going to lead to sex, which is why I spoke to tantric massage expert Candice Leigh, who recently taught an entire workshop on erotic massages at New York’s naughty club NSFW, about how to execute the perfect sensual massage that will definitely lead to sex.
I hope you’ll find this as illuminating as I did.
1. Set the mood.
Just as candles and music set the mood during sex and make everything feel 10 times sexier, you can be damn sure that a little mood music and a couple candles are going to take your sexy massage to the next level, too.
Science has shown that vanilla is one of the sexiest scents ever, which means you can never go wrong with a vanilla-scented candle. So, light one of those, put on a playlist of sex-tastic tunes, and get down to business.
Or, if you have an Amazon Echo, you can use its new feature and tell Alexa you’re feeling sexy, or for it to “set the mood,” and it’ll put on a sexy playlist for you. We’re living in the future, folks.
2. Use massage oils.
When it comes to sex stuff, everything is better when its slippery, which is why you shouldn’t forego massage oils. Seriously – when in doubt, lube things up.
But when I say to use oils, I don’t mean to drown her in it like you’re marinating a flank steak. You only need a little bit – just a few drops on your hands to start with, and add more if you want a little more slipperiness.
If you’re going to give her a literal full-body massage, a.k.a. including her lady bits, Candice suggests using coconut oil. You know, because it smells good, it’s natural, and it won’t throw off her pH level down there.
On everything else, try Aura Glow Massage Oil if you’re all about that natural lifestyle, or J’adore Silky Body Oil if you want something that smells really, really good.
3. Treat the massage like foreplay.
Fact: Women love foreplay.
Also fact: Many of us don’t pay enough attention to this very important part of sex, therefore it doesn’t last as long as it should.
And this, my friends, is why a sensual massage is a great precursor to sex. You’re literally feeling her up with oils, you’re getting her relaxed and in a totally zen state of mind, and you just happen to be touching her erogenous zones over and over again, so it’s basically guaranteed to turn naughty pretty swiftly.
“Women’s arousal sometimes takes longer, and sometimes a man may be at his maximum arousal state, but the woman may only be half way there,” Candice says, implying all dudes should take note of this brute truth.
“Erotic and sensual touch can provide so much unintentional foreplay: she is breathing, slowing down her mind, relaxing more into her body by having her whole body touched, and by the time her partner is stimulating her nipples, labia, clitoris — she most likely is at her maximum arousal state. Her experience and desire for sex may be twice as great!”
4. Take your time.
In life, there are certain things you really, really shouldn’t rush. For instance, a blossoming relationship, foreplay, or a delightful chocolate soufflé in the oven. If you push it and try to make it work before it’s ready, it’s going to be complete shit.
And just like those arbitrary examples stated above, you shouldn’t rush a sexy massage, either.
“When giving or receiving an erotic or sensual massage, let there be so much time and spaciousness for not only the entire experience, but with each body part,” Candice advises.
“Each body part, erogenous or not, deserves equal time and attention. Taking the entire body into consideration will promote full body orgasms and profound sensational states.”
5. Don’t try to make her orgasm A.S.A.P.
Sure, I get it, you want to make her orgasm. As good as it feels for her, you feel like your ego is giving you a pat on the back when you manage to get her off.
However, as I said before, do. not. rush. it. Just focus on touching her, see how she’s responding to your touch, and just try to enjoy everything that’s happening.
“Let not the goal be to orgasm, but to enjoy all the moments that lead up to it. the whole experience is orgasmic, not just the actual orgasm.
“Sensual bodywork on its own can be the sexual experience, or the appetizer that leads to sex or other play. Sensual bodywork can be erotic, steamy, playful, silly, but can also illicit a depth of emotion and memory that lives and rests in our genitals if we have the time, sensitivity, and patience to explore it.”
With some parting advice on the importance of touch, the founder and ‘Chief Conspirator’ of NSFW, Daniel Saynt, says: “It’s important for us to practice touch in such a touch free-world. Technology distances us and forces communications that don’t connect us to the healing power of touch.
“The “How to Touch” class (which Candice taught) was designed to combat that behavior and encourage sexual and non-sexual touch between consenting partners.”
And that, my dudes, is why we should all be giving and receiving massages all the damn time. It feels good, it brings us closer to our partner, and it helps us have sex. What’s not to love?
Giving Yourself a Foot Massage?
Considering that sometimes we can be on our feet all day, it comes to no surprise that every now and then we need to give our feet a massage in order to relief the aching. Interestingly enough though, that’s not the only benefit that comes with massaging your foot. Studies have shown that doing so has many different health benefits which we’ll be going over in this article as well as other interesting information, and how to actually massage your feet correctly.
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The Different Techniques
So let’s start off by telling you the different techniques you can use to massage your feet. Yes, there is more to it than just aimlessly rubbing your foot surprisingly. Doing any one of these techniques on your feet in the morning can stimulate energy for the day, and can also relax you on a night helping you sleep better.
Ankle Circling
Firstly, you must remove any jewellery you may have on your hands, your shoes, and your socks. Secondly, wash your hands and feet in warm water and get into a comfortable spot (preferably quiet) Then bring your right foot up to your left thigh (or vice versa for your left foot) then rotate your foot at the ankle using both of your hands.
Thumb Circling
With your hands tightly wrapped around the foot, make sure to knead you thumb in circular motions across the sole.
Toe Stretch
Using one of your hands, gently pull back on your toes. With the other hand, use an open palm to tap your sole. This stimulates blood circulation.
Sole Rub
Place one of your hands on top of your foot whilst your other is on your sole. Now, rub your hands across your entire foot in small/short strokes. There’re two different ways you could go about doing this: brisk strokes to stimulate blood circulation (better for cold feet) of gentle strokes for relaxation.
Massage your feet with long and slow strokes over the entire foot to get the full effect. Practising self-foot massage can relief stress by soothing the nerves in your feet.
How to Go About Massaging Your Own Feet
So now that we’ve gone over the different techniques, let’s go over how you can actually go about massaging your own feet.
Before we get started, there’s some stuff you’re going to need before proceeding, Here’s a list of those items below.
- 2 Washcloths
- 2 Soft Towels (clean)
- A golf ball
- Soap
- Hot water
- Foot lotion
Sometimes when you come home from a long day of work, your feet are aching and you think to yourself ‘I could do with a foot massage right now’ Well it’s unfortunate that either nobody is around to do so or nobody is willing to. No worries, though you can do it yourself!
So first things first, you’ll want to prepare everything before you start. Have all the equipment you’ll be needing onto a nearby table and most importantly, make sure you’re comfortable before starting. You’ll firstly want to go ahead and grab yourself a wet cloth and dab some soap onto it.
You’ll then want to wash your foot with that cloth you’ve just wet. As you do this, enjoy the warmth and also rub your feet as you do this. You are essentially being your own foot heater!
If you were wondering why a golf ball was needed to massage your feet, here’s where it comes into use. Put the golf ball under your foot and roll your foot on top of the ball; rolling it back and forth for a good minute or so. Add some pressure to those points of your foot that are particularly sore or aching.
Next, apply some foot lotion to both of your feet: put some lotion on both of your hands and go ahead and rub them together. Then once you’ve done that, take hold of your foot and massage the lotion into your foot by using your thumbs to dig firmly into the sole. Don’t forget to also rub your foot through your toes as well! Repeat for each foot and each side.
Now that you’ve massaged your feet, use the second towel to wrap your feet in but don’t wipe the lotion off just yet! Allow the lotion to soak into your feet for a few minutes before doing so. The that’s it. If you own a pair of slippers, be sure to put them on! It’s very comfortable.
Benefits of Foot Massage
So now that you know how to massage your feet, let’s talk about the health benefits of doing so. There’s plenty of them. It’s definitely something that will motivate you to massage your feet, right?
Helps You Sleep Better
Pinpointing your pressure points is fairly easy to do. If you press on them before going to bed on a night, this can help relax and unwind.
Another way to do this is to use some sort of lubricant like olive oil and massage the bottom of your foot for 10 minutes before sleeping. Make sure to hit your pressure points whilst doing so to see results!
Improves Blood Circulation
Studies have shown that massaging your feet can improve your blood circulation. Well, I’m here to tell you that it definitely does. Throughout the day, a majority of us don’t use our feet muscles correctly. Also, some of us do not wear the correct footwear (eg. Too tight) which can cause circulation problems. A quick massage a day on your feet can solve this.
Helpful With Depression
Particularly with reflexology, studies have shown that this system of massaging does actually go well beyond just relaxing yourself at night.
The studies had cancer patients go through this massage system, after several weeks, depression rates within these patients started to decline. With that being said, this is definitely one way for anybody suffering from anxiety or depression to effectively deal with them.
And much more…
This video may help also:
Conclusion
So now that you know how much a simple self-massage can benefit you how to actually massage your own feet, what’s stopping you?
The art of reflexology has been around for thousands of years. It’s believed to have originated with the ancient Egyptians as well as the Chinese. Energy is thought to move through the body – as it moves through other living organisms – in channels. These channels are called meridians. Every part of the foot can be separated into zones that reflect a part of the body or meridian.
The concept behind reflexology is that pressure is placed in a certain section of the foot, and in turn, that corresponds with a certain area of the body. For example, a spot on the top of the foot will provide relief from pain in the head and promote restorative sleep.
If the foot receives a complete, thorough massage, it’s as if the entire body received the massage as well (read more about the benefits of full body massages here). It’s surprisingly easy to do foot reflexology at home and your whole body will thank you for it.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information.
Pain Reduction
Practitioners of reflexology believe that pain in the body is actually energy that is being blocked from flowing through the meridians properly. When energy flow is limited, the person’s chi, as it’s called, results in negative energy stagnating in the body. Negative energy is thought to result in pain in the corresponding areas as well as disease and certain health conditions.
With over 7,000 nerve endings in the feet connected to the entire body through the nervous system, it’s not so impossible to understand how a foot massage can be so beneficial to the wellness of the entire body.
When the meridians are clear and unblocked, a person’s positive chi can flow freely, and there’s a harmony that allows the mind and the body to work efficiently. This means that the person’s mind and body are experiencing no pain, anxiety, depression or fatigue. When the balance is disturbed, the body and mind aren’t existing in pain free harmony together.
Pain relief can be achieved by bringing the mind and body back in balance with each other. Tension and stress can be very real blockages to pain relief, so relaxation is one of the keys to pain reduction (1).
Reduced Stress
Stress reduction (2) is what most people associate with a foot massage. While it’s meant to relieve sore feet for the most part, many people ask their significant other for a massage because they’re stressed. After a hard day at work, a foot massage is incredibly therapeutic.
Reflexology isn’t only a massage with fingers, it’s a specific sequence of finger and thumb walking over the zones of the foot. The reflexologist will also use the entire hand to knead the zones of the foot. It should never be painful or uncomfortable except if there are tender parts of the foot.
There’s a certain level of warmth after a foot massage where reflexology was used.
Reflexology’s Impact
Aside from the obvious emotional impact of being less stressed and more relaxed, the massage increases circulation through the entire body. It also can impact the digestive system (3), which also removes toxins from the body. This leaves the person with the need to pee after a session as well as a huge thirst as the waste of toxins is removed from the body.
Technicians experienced in reflexology recommend that before and after a session, you refrain from consuming alcohol.
Important : Those who have diabetes or a pacemaker might need to rethink a reflexology session since it can have an impact on the body’s organs.
The Foot Massage: Reflexology in Action
Finally, this is where you’ll learn how to give yourself a reflexology massage in the comfort of your own home. You’ll need a comfortable chair where you’ll be able to cross one leg over the other to access the bottom of your foot.
If you’re comfortable on the floor, you might want to use a soft towel to rest your foot. It will depend on your flexibility level. Make sure you’re not slouched or feeling any pain during the massage. Also, consider using a foot massage oil.
Once you’ve found an easy position, you can begin. Here’s an acupressure foot chart which you’ll need to locate the pressure points on your foot.
Step 1: With a look at the foot massage reflexology chart, you’ll need to identify what area of the body you’d like to focus your attention. If you have migraines, identify where you’ll need to press to access the zone that corresponds to the head. If you have neck pain, that’s the area you should pinpoint. It’ll show you exactly where to press for the results you want.
Step 2: Press the thumb into the spot you’ve identified. You shouldn’t be digging hard enough for actual pain. Press deeply and knead the area on one foot before switching to the other foot. Take on the next pressure point until you’ve targeted all the points to be treated.
While it’s recommended that you perform this massage each day, there will come a time when the pressure points have become overstimulated. You’ll have to avoid massaging those areas for a few days to give them a break. After a few days, you can focus on the zones again.
This video will help you see the basic techniques available for foot massages using reflexology practices. You might also like to try some reflexology sandals.
Akiba Solomon
Looking for a fresh way to reconnect with your guy? Try a simple but deliciously sensual massage. “Too often, couples fast-forward to intercourse, which means they’re neglecting about 80 percent of each other’s bodies,” says Gordon Inkeles, author of The New Sensual Massage. “Sensual massage encourages lovers to be generous with each other, to explore parts of the body that aren’t overtly sexual.” Here, a step-by-step guide to giving (or getting!) a totally indulgent massage.
Step 1: Make some space
A soft bed may be perfect for lovemaking, but the ideal massage area is firm, flat, and stable, so you don’t bounce your partner around as you move. (Think how unrelaxing it would be to get a massage on a jiggly water bed.) For maximum comfort, have your guy lie down on a futon mattress or pallet of blankets and place pillows under his neck, knees, and ankles.
Step 2: Break out the oil
Besides making your hands soft and warm, massage oil reduces friction and makes it easier to knead, rub, and stroke your guy’s tired and stressed muscles. Scented oils can be erotic, “but steer clear of intense fragrances, like patchouli, which get cloying,” says Steve Capellini, a licensed massage therapist in Miami and author of Massage for Dummies. Instead, try a light single scent, like jasmine, and warm the bottle in a bowl of hot water.
Step 3: Create a peaceful vibe
The tickling of loose hair or a lacy nightie might excite him (and you), but it can also take his focus off the deep, steady sensations of your massage. Tie your hair back and wear close-fitting clothes to minimize distractions. To avoid jarring chills, drape his naked body with sheets (uncover just the body part you’re working on). If you play music, keep it soft and slow.
Step 4: Pick a spot, any spot
Pressed for time? Focusing on one part of his body — really focusing on it — can be even more decadent than a head-to-toe rubdown. If his back is in knots, concentrate on that. If he loves having his feet caressed, give them the royal treatment. Or keep it simple: Just ask him where he wants you to touch him.
Step 5: Get hands-on
To give a great massage, all you need to know are a few basic moves:
Step 6: Focus on the feelings
Intimate massage isn’t about perfection, so don’t worry about doing it “right.” Try to stay in the moment. “The quality of your touch is more important than technique,” says Peggy Morrison Horan, author of Connecting Through Touch and a founder of the Esalen Massage Program at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. “Massage is about being emotionally present, touching your partner with intention, and paying attention to his reactions.” What could be sexier than that?
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: 6 Steps to a Sexy Massage
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Your man (and friends) will love you for learning these expert techniques!
Slow and steady wins the race.
There are regular massages, which most folks find relaxing, and then there are erotic massages, which can be downright life-changing. Erotic messages are similar to regular ones, except they’re aimed at releasing tension and decreasing stress in the recipient by either enhancing or achieving sexual arousal.
Lots of people would be happy to get an erotic massage from their sexual partner—that is, if it’s done well. When done poorly, an erotic massage can painful—literally and figuratively. I once had a man massage the sides of my belly, one of the few places where I have no muscles or tendons. Then when he started massaging parts of my body that could release tension and increase arousal, he didn’t apply any pressure. It felt like he was typing on my back.
Don’t be that guy.
If you’re giving an erotic massage, you can’t do it half-assed. After all, they have their full ass in front of you, so you need to give them a full-assed massage. There are two essential components of erotic massage, and you need to be good at both. First is the actual massage part. That means no back typing. No squeezing belly fat. The second part is making it sensual.
Here are six steps to becoming a master at both.
1) Set the mood.
This should be a no-brainer, but just in case, I’ll make it clear: You have your partner disrobe and lie face-down on a towel or firm bed. Dim the lights. If you don’t have a dimmer, then buy some candles. Play some relaxing music—it doesn’t need to be typical spa music or the sound of the rainforest, but it should be something that you know your partner finds soothing. (My ex liked when I gave her a massage to Rihanna’s album Anti.) If you really want to step your game up, buy a mini humidifier off of Amazon and pour some essential oils in there.
2) Use erotic oils or lotions.
Don’t just grab the big bottle of Lubriderm sitting in the cabinet underneath the sink. Get massage oils, and ones specifically meant to enhance sexual pleasure. Or, if you’re down for it, try CBD massage oils. My partners and I have enjoyed using those, too.
3) Start (and continue) slowly.
For at least the first 20 minutes of the erotic massage, it should simply look like any old regular massage. You shouldn’t head straight to massage their vagina, penis, or butt. At this point you’re helping them relax, so by the time you do get to massaging/playing with their genitals, they’re in a physical and mental space to fully receive you.
“Use the heel of your hand to make continuous fluid movements and work the whole length of the muscle,” says Susan Findlay, director of the North London School of Sports Massage. Make sure you’re taking your time and focusing on each muscle before moving to the next (at least two minutes per area). If you feel a knot in one place, knead that bad boy out before moving on to another part of their body. (Pro tip: Ask them if they’re sore or have any particular pain in a certain region, and focus more of your attention there.)
4) After massaging every muscle, start teasing.
Alright, by now you’ve gotten their neck, their back, so it’s time to move on to… exactly, yes. But jokes aside, you should have given them a full massage at this point. You massaged their back, neck, arms, wrists, fingers, feet, legs, the whole shebang. Now, and only now you can get to the fun stuff. Here, you want to tease them. Get really close to touching their privates without actually touching them. This means instead of going straight for the nipples, massage around the breast. Instead of going straight for the vagina or penis, you massage the crease where the thigh connects to the rest of your body.
5) Start massaging their naughty bits.
Once you’ve teased them long enough, then and only then do you get to actually touch the sexy parts. By this point they should be stewing in sexual tension, so even touching them lightly will be enough to make them moan ecstatically. Start with slow circular motions on her clitoris, or start giving him a light hand job, where you’re barely gripping their penis. Once the allotted time has passed you can then do more, whether that means digital penetration, a firmer hand job, or oral.
6) Let them finish
If you’ve done everything right, there’s a high likelihood that your partner will orgasm. For God’s sake, do not stop right before they finish. That’s brutal. Do your best to make sure they orgasm; at which point, they will be insanely relaxed. Then, and this is not mandatory, but highly recommended, go ahead and get naked yourself and cuddle with them.
Our lives are stressful. The day starts early and disappears into the office, family and the countless chores in both places. In the end, all that we are left with is a drained mind and an aching body.
Sleep helps us relax and de-stress, but is not as useful in cases of sustained stress over a long period. You wake up each day, feeling as tired as you were the night before. For this reason, everyone, and not just the pros, should learn how to give a foot massage.
How to Give Your Foot A Good Massage
Unbeknownst to us all, our feet take an immense amount of pressure all day. We are always either walking, running or sitting still or cross-legged on hard chairs, wearing stiff, professional shoes. We may be standing for long hours on crowded trains and may even have out toes trodden.
By the time we are back, the muscles in our legs and feet have already suffered a lot of strain. This is why we simply love to kick off our shoes and flop down at the end of the day. The feet, after all, take the weight of the entire upper part of the torso.
If you know how to give a foot massage, it is an excellent way for the whole body to unwind after a hard day’s work. But not everyone knows how to and hence the continued sore feet. Let us take a look at some secret tips to giving a great foot rub.
Steps for A Relaxing Foot Massage
You must be prepared to devote adequate time to get a good foot massage. That and a few extra ingredients that you never thought could come in handy. When you are learning how to do it yourself, you may make some errors, but with time and practice, you will get better.
1. Create An Ambiance
Key to every kind of massage and spa session is a soothing atmosphere. Dimmed lights and a quiet surrounding are ideal. Preferably there should not be people talking loudly or a TV running. Some respond well to a soft, calming background music, usually of the instrumental nature.
2. Soak the Feet
Every foot massage starts with a nice, warm bucket of water that you can soak your feet in. You can add a few drops of a moisturizing body wash to the water, although a more helpful ingredient would be some kind of aromatic oil.
Scented essential oils – jasmine, chamomile or geranium – help unwind the muscles and create a peaceful distraction from the humdrum of the rest of the day. The warm water softens the dry skin on feet and boosts circulation. You can scrub at the feet using slices of citrus fruits; this loosens the dirt, opens pores and releases the toxins from the feet.
3. Warm-up The Feet
It is now time to get some relaxing movements into the feet. After taking the feet out of the water and dabbing at them with a towel, keep the feet horizontally on your lap.
Cradling the heel in one hand, use the other to gently swivel the foot in a clockwise direction five times, followed by a counter-clockwise direction five times. Now do the same to each of the toes.
Repeat the whole process another time. This movement gets the blood flowing and lends flexibility to a pair of stiff feet.
4. Stress-Busting
Once the feet have been rejuvenated, put a few drops of a lotion, or cream or oil on your thumbs and start massaging the center of the sole of the feet in a circular motion. Use both the thumbs – one moving clockwise and the other moving counter-clockwise.
You can keep at this for about a minute, after which you can load the thumbs with another dabbing of lotions and gently move the thumbs along the length of the feet, one foot at a time. One thumb can start at the ankle, and the other can start at the toes.
While moving along the length, you can use the other fingers to press lightly the top of the feet. This repeated massaging helps unwind the muscles and the soft connective tissues and increases the blood circulation. You can also slide the fingers – each bearing a drop of lotion – through the gaps between the toes for added effect.
5. Toe-Care
Once the soles and the top of the feet are taken care of, you can take care of the toes, by gently tugging at them and pressing them between the forefinger and the thumb. One way of avoiding stress on the feet is to keep wiggling the toes at intervals during the day. Since most of us never end up doing that, this kind of toe-care keeps them relaxed.
6. Cool off Your Toe
Now that the major nerve endings of the feet have been attended to, you can finish off the foot massage by gently pressing at the ankles and the heels – in the region of the Achilles tendons – and progressing upwards towards the calves. Mild stretching exercises go a long way toward relaxing the bruised muscles.
Learn Step-by-Step Process of Doing Foot Massage
How To Give A Stress Relieving Foot Massage
Use our easy to follow guide to learn the basic techniques for a foot massage. Why not surprise that someone special in your life with these easy to learn foot massage skills? For loads more how-to videos check out our brand new website at Subscribe!
If you know how to give a foot massage, half your problems in the day are solved. But admittedly, it is better served by a masseuse – even an amateur one – than having to do that yourself.
Of course, you cannot always hire someone to give you a good foot massage, and your partner may be as tired as you to humor you. In such a scenario, if you know the process, you will be greatly benefitted.
I read a story that really surprised me and don’t know if that’s true or not. A girl claimed that she met a guy who “could pleasure any woman without taking off her clothes,” and that guy did help many girls reached huge orgasms by massaging their feet.
Is that possible? I understand some women can reach orgasm by foot massage, but a massage technique that makes EVERY woman have an orgasm?
It is possible to bring a woman to orgasm through non-genital touch, even through a foot massage. However, since every person is different and what brings them to orgasm varies, it seems unlikely that there is a massage technique that can make every woman orgasm. But it certainly is an interesting story!
You may be surprised to know that the most critical sex organ is the brain. The brain interprets sensory stimuli (such as touch, taste, smell, etc.) and sends signals to the body that create arousal. Any form of touching can be interpreted as sexually stimulating, though some part of the body, known as erogenous zones, are more likely to elicit arousal. The primary erogenous zones include:
- Genitals
- Anus
- Breasts
- Inner thighs
- Armpits
- Navel
- Neck
- Mouth
- Ears
Secondary erogenous zones include almost all other parts of the body, and the extent to which touching these areas leads to arousal depends on personal preference. This is not to say that if a woman is aroused by having a foot massage she’ll orgasm every time her feet are touched — arousal and sexual stimulation come in large part from context. If her feet are being massages in a sexually intimate setting, it is very possible that this sensation of touch could bring her to orgasm. What makes a person orgasm can vary widely — which helps keep life interesting!
Master these clockwise/counterclockwise techniques to give the most pain relieving, toe-curling, pleasurable foot massage ever.
Aaahhh, the wonders of a good foot massage. Nothing has a leg up on its ability to make your entire body feel soothed, relaxed and perfectly pleasured (well, nothing PG rated, anyway). Couple that with the fact that foot massages promote better sleep, improve your sex life and make you healthier overall, it’s a no brainer that feet damn well deserve those awe-inspiring strokes. But no two massages are created alike, so master the following foot massage techniques to make sure the foot rub you give is the most pain relieving, stress reducing, toe-curling, pleasurable massage ever.
Step One: Warm Up With a Foot Soak
Start with a simple, warm footbath with ingredients of your choice. We suggest adding in calming, aromatic essential oils for additional “mood control,” as well as using orange, lemon or lime slices to rub on your partner’s feet. The fruit’s acid will help soften the skin, release toxins and improve overall foot health.
Step Two: Increase Blood Flow
Place a pillow on your lap and cover it with a soft towel. After drying your partner’s feet, place one foot at a time on the pillow (you’ll enact all of the steps below on one foot first, and then switch and move to the other foot). Use one hand to hold his/her foot by the heel, and use your other hand to gently rotate the foot in a clockwise circle motion three times and in a counterclockwise circle motion three times. Rotate each toe in the same manner. This helps to warm up the feet and get the blood circulating through the toes and ankles. (And as the website SheKnows points out, it’s a great exercise for anyone suffering from arthritis.)
Step Three: Melt Tension With Arch Pressure
Place some foot cream, massage oil or coconut oil into your thumbs and then place each on the center of his/her foot arch, directly below the ball of the foot. With light pressure, rub your thumbs in small circles, one going clockwise, the other going counterclockwise. Do this stress-melting arch technique for about 30 seconds to a minute to help melt away the stresses of the day. Follow up by applying more lotion or oil to your hands and then walking your thumbs up and down the entire length of the foot, using firm pressure. Then slide your thumbs up and down the length of the foot (this feels best when each thumb starts at opposite ends of the foot and slowly move toward one another, one going up and the other going down). Do this for several minutes, or for as much time as you can handle without getting tired.
Step Four: Try Some Tender Toe Techniques
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Give each and every toe on the foot a light squeeze with your thumb and index finger, and then use your thumbs to make small clockwise or counterclockwise circles just beneath each toe. Give each toe about 15 seconds of this relaxing treatment to help reduce pressure in the feet and toes.
Step Five: Soothe the Sole
Starting at the ball of the foot, use your thumbs to make small circles (one thumb going clockwise, the other going counterclockwise) all the way up and down the length of the sole, adding extra pressure as you near the heel. Do this for several minutes, or as long as you can last without getting too tired.
Step Six: Feel Good Finish
Either use your thumb and forefinger to gently squeeze the hollow area below the ankle for several seconds, or use your fingers to gently rub the Achilles tendon (the springy band of tissue that runs from the heel and ankle up through the calf muscles of the leg). Your partner may give you extra thanks if you choose to do both. After all, this is supposed to be the world’s most pain-relieving, stress-reducing, toe-curling, pleasurable foot massage ever. It’s up to you to make it that way!
If your partner is still feeling pain or stress, you may want to try massaging and applying pressure to specific reflexology points along the foot. These types of massages can help alleviate additional discomfort in the body and make your partner exhale a few more “oohs” and “ahhs.” For more information on how to get started with foot reflexology and where to locate specific reflexology points, check out our article Reflexology 101.
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