Better Moods and Health Right at Your Feet
Balance Energy Chakras with Foot-Focused Techniques
Oct 10, 2008
If you’re looking for a clue to better health and stress management, it may be right at your feet. Oft ignored and mistreated, our feet can play a more important role in our well-being than just signaling ill-fitting shoes. Several spiritual, health and stress-management practices contend that refocusing attention to the feet may actually counteract and discharge the energy produced by thoughts and imbalances in the body. And while the jury is still out on the medical benefits of energy medicine for specific ailments, there is plenty of evidence that enlisting your feet in your health regimen through exercise and relaxation techniques can have a significant impact on health and mood. Here is a sampler of some of the most popular sole-ful practices.
Tai Chi and Qi Gong
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, energy points in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet can draw life force in or release stale energy out. Tai Chi and Qi Gong provide exercises to clear energy channels.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
Acupuncture and acupressure are therapeutic modalities that target points in the body, including the feet, for relief from specific physical conditions.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a science that maps out reflexes in the hands and feet that correspond with glands, organs and other areas of the body and can be manipulated with special finger and thumb techniques to stimulate natural healing through tension release and increased blood flow.
Grounding Visualizations
Modern life isolates us from the earth and our own bodies, but grounding visualizations can help reconnect us to the healing energy of the earth. Visualizing our feet solidly planted with strong roots growing into the ground is a powerful way to stay emotionally grounded and present in times of stress.
Walking
Walking is an extremely easy way to put your feet to work on your health. Hit the pavement for a fitness type walk or engage in one of these combination methods of enjoying an age-old endeavor:
- Chi Walking—Get your feet fully involved by blending Eastern energy balancing practices like Tai Chi with the proven benefits of walking.
- Nature Walking--Let your feet bring you back to nature with a trail walk or hike. Allow the healing energy of the earth enter your body through your feet.
- Labyrinth Walking—St. Augustine said “It is solved by walking” and taking your feet for a spin around a labyrinth can feed body and soul.
- Walking Meditation—Jon Kabat-Zinn suggests walking in meditation “…as if we were kissing the earth and the earth were kissing right back”, letting attention on our feet help us remain mindful of the present moment.
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