Our feet are our foundation, our roots. They are capable of the highest form of celebration: Dance! Dance is the poetry of the foot. Here are some delicious ways to care for these invaluable body parts that have been neglected for lifetimes.
The birth of civilization
Humans stopped walking on all four and stood upright on their feet about one million years ago. That was when our feet took the double load, made our hands free to do other things and civilization was born. Then came shoes – at first simple skin sandals to protect the feet from cold and injury. But since those early times shoes have been more for status and style than for comfort and function.
In some countries, fanatics have walked barefoot on fire to practice their religion. In sixteenth century England, male dandies wore extremely pointed toes. And although it crippled them, years ago upper class Chinese women bound their feet so they could wear tiny shoes – a sign of being well-bred!
Today’s high heels are almost as rough on modern woman’s feet. So it is no surprise that eighty percent of all foot problems occur in women. But men’s feet haven’t fared too well either.
At the feet of the awakened one
Years of wear and tear can be hard on our feet. So can disease, poor circulation, improperly trimmed toe-nails, and wearing ill-fitting shoes. Fortunately most foot problems can be prevented. Just follow the golden rule: be good to your feet and they will be good to you.
Conventional wisdom insists that if your feet hurt nothing feels right. So to be available for celebration and meditation, to be able to dance your way to bliss and beyond, start from the ground up.
Keep the blood circulating to your feet as much as possible. Do this by putting your feet up when you are sitting or lying down, stretching if you’ve had to sit for long while, walking, having a gentle foot massage, or taking a warm foot bath. Try to avoid pressure from shoes that don’t fit properly. Try not to expose your feet to cold temperatures.
The following are a variety of foot soaks which will do wonders for your aching, tired and sweating feet:
Relaxing and cooling
Fill a bucket with cool water and mix a handful of sandalwood powder or ten drops of sandalwood essential oil. Let your feet soak in it for fifteen minutes. This will cool and relax your feet – a wonderful help on a hot summer night.
Disinfecting and invigorating your feet
In a bucket full of warm water put a handful of mint leaves, a tablespoon full of soapwort powder and a pinch of alum powder. Soak and wash your feet in this footbath. This will energize your tired feet and help you get rid of foot infections.
For perspiring feet
Mix the following essential oils in bucket of warm water: three drops of cypress, three drops of lavender and three drops of sage. Soak your feet in this potion and let it work its magic on your feet.
For smelly feet
Take a tablespoons of soapwort powder, two tablespoons of powdered lemon peel and a tablespoon of sandalwood powder. Boil these herbs in 300 ml of water. Strain and cool. Wash your feet or let them soak in the liquid and let your feet bask in delight for being smell-free.
So friends give your feet loving and gentle care and let them sing their poetry in joy, the poetry of dance…a great door to meditation!
