By Sheila Anthony
Unless you have diabetes or peripheral nerve challenges, you probably don’t give your feet a second thought. A quick rinse in the shower after you’ve vigorously scrubbed the rest of your body should do, right? But your feet do a lot of work for you and could stand (pun intended) a little pampering.
And the good news is, it doesn’t have to cost a lot to tend to your feet. You can indulge them right at home. Plus, a foot-focused spa session is a fun one to do with friends, so invite some besties to join you.
Gather the following ahead of time:
- A comfortable chair (Be sure to select one that ensures your feet will reach the floor.)
- A heat-proof pan, plastic tub, or basin deep enough and large enough to comfortably immerse your feet in
- Hot water, at least 130°F
- ½ cup Epsom salt or 5 to 20 drops of your choice of essential oil (Peppermint offers a nice tingle!)
- Clean towels within easy reach, plus one to spread on the floor next to the basin of water
- Your choice of soothing spa music
- A cold compress, eye mask, or fresh cucumber slices (optional)
Tip: The Brio Moderna RO Bottleless Water Cooler dispenses piping hot water whenever you like so you don’t have to wait for water to boil. You can also preset your preferred hot- and cold-water temperatures so water dispenses at the temperature you like, too. And—bonus points—when you indulge your feet in hot water that’s been RO filtered, you’ll bathe your tootsies in the cleanest water there is.
Turn on the spa music. Pour enough hot water into the basin to submerge your feet up to the ankle and add either Epsom salts (aka magnesium sulfate—a great natural muscle relaxant) or your favorite essential oil. Stir into the hot water. Position your chair directly behind your basin of water, so you can comfortably soak your feet. Sit in the chair, then gently immerse your feet in the water. (If it’s too hot, wait for it to cool a bit.)
Tip: If you’ve selected a chair with a head rest that allows you to comfortably lean your head back, place a cold compress, eye mask, or fresh cucumber slices over your eyes for extra relaxation.
Let your feet soak for approximately 30 minutes or until the water cools. Remove your feet from the basin, placing them on the towel next to the basin, and dry thoroughly. Follow up with a natural foot lotion or oil, then maybe a pedicure. This easy, soothing foot soak softens rough heels and calluses so you can gently exfoliate them.
Interested in a follow-up for your foot soak? Add a fabulous foot scrub!
Recipe for foot scrub:
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- 1 cup sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons of organic honey
- 8–10 drops of lemon essential oil
Combine Epsom salt and sugar, then mix in coconut oil, honey, and essential oil. Combine thoroughly to create this natural foot scrub.
Obviously, this can be messy, so you’ll want to lay out a shower curtain or old towels. Spread the mixture all over your feet and lower legs, massaging gently to do a little exfoliating and release any muscle tension. Wet a towel in a basin of hot water (have it waiting nearby) and wring out. Wrap your feet in the hot towel. Settle in and relax, maybe slipping some cucumber slices or cold compresses over your eyes. After 30 minutes or so, unwrap your feet and wipe them thoroughly.
With 7000+ nerve endings, 26 bones, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments each, our feet take us where we want to go every day. And most of us who exercise absolutely rely on them. When your feet are out of whack, so’s the rest of your body, so give your feet a break from time to time with a relaxing visit to your home spa.
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