The French are known for the je ne sais quoi – that inexplicable quality that women (and men) all want to emulate. They look so gorgeous and put together, even without makeup and accessories. The secret is in maintaining their personal hygiene. Even at a young age, the French know that pampering their bodies is the rule and not an exception. Hairstyling, makeup, skincare, waxing – they’ve got it.
A foot spa, especially, is never out of the equation.
What is a Foot Spa?
Just in case you’ve been living under the rock and you’ve never had a foot spa, it pays to know that a foot spa is a body care system and technique that relaxes your tired feet and does away with unsightly calluses and dry skin. You soak your feet in warm water with essential oils, salt, or a foot soak solution. The foot spa attendant will then scrub, detoxify, and massage your feet, clean your toenails, and apply nail polish (optional). You can also do this at home if you have your own pedicure set and foot spa machine.
Benefits of Foot Spa
It’s already a well-known fact that regular foot spa sessions can make your feet feel smooth and beautiful. Apparently, it has other advantages, most of which are not told by a spa attendant. Interestingly, foot spa is seen as a mere beauty ritual and little do people know that it has hidden health benefits!
1. It helps prevent foot injuries.
- A foot massage accompanying the foot spa ritual can aid in recovery after a foot injury and can reduce joint and muscle soreness. Combine a foot spa with foot strengthening exercises and you can prevent future injuries from occurring. Take a trip to the foot spa clinic three times a week for a stronger and more flexible ankle, too.
2. It reduces migraine and headache episodes.
- A study from Denmark revealed that people with migraines and headaches reported reduced symptoms after getting regular reflexology treatments. During the times the subjects received reflexology, they weren’t taking any medications, proving that foot massages helped alleviate the pain and have fewer episodes of headaches.
3. It boosts your spirits.
4. It helps ease the symptoms of PMS and menopause.
- Hormonal changes during pre-menstruation and menopausal periods can affect your mood and body. You become irritable and feel down and exhausted. Foot spa can alleviate anxiety, feelings of unhappiness, fatigue, mood swings, body ache, and tension.
5. It improves your blood circulation.
- Foot spa, just like any spa and massage treatment, can release the tension from your tired and aching muscles, and allow the blood to flow properly. Improved blood circulation also means transporting the right amount of oxygen to your other organs. This is primarily the reason you feel renewed and relaxed after every foot massage session.
6. It helps people with flat feet and plantar fasciitis.
7. It reduces edema.
- Edema is the swelling of feet due to fluid retention, which mostly happens to infanticipating women. By getting a foot massage every day, this condition can be combated.
8. It lowers blood pressure.
- High blood pressure is caused by many things: stress, unhealthy diet, genetics, and the environment. When left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems such as heart ailment. Fortunately, regular foot spa and massage can improve your mood and lower your blood pressure. Suffice it to say, the more stressful you are, the more foot spa sessions are recommended for you.
9. It boosts your sex life.
- The feet have erogenous points that can cause mild arousal to you and your significant other. Treat each other to a foot spa and feel invigorated right after. Perhaps you’ll be both in the mood for a night of romance afterwards.
Your Ultimate DIY Foot Spa
You don’t have to pay several bucks every now and then for a relaxing foot spa. In fact, you can do this yourself right at the comfort of your own home! You just have to prepare the essential tools and ingredients, and voila! You have your DIY foot spa treatment.
Don’t worry if you haven’t bought a foot spa machine, Simply prepare the following:
- A tub of warm water (The foot spa keeps the water warm for a long time. If you have a thermos at home, you can just add warm water to the tub whenever necessary.)
- Essential oil (Lavender for relaxation, chamomile or orange for invigoration, and peppermint for a cooling effect)
- Rose petals
- 2 cups of milk
- A cup of brown sugar or Epsom salt
- A cup of oats
- 2 tbsp of honey
- Fresh cream
- Toenail clippers
- Cuticle pushers
- A nail scrubber
- A nail file
- Nail polish remover
- Pumice stone
- Foot brush
- Olive oil
- A clean towel
First, soak your feet in the foot spa solution containing warm water, milk, essential oil, and salt/sugar. Do this for 15 minutes to soften your calluses and cuticle. Next, scrub your feet and soles with fresh cream, oats, and honey. Use a pumice stone to do away with calluses and dry skin. You may add lemon juice to the mix due to its antibacterial properties (it will also make your feet will smell nice!). By this time your feet should have become really soft. Cut your toenails and clean them with a cuticle pusher. Lastly, apply nail polish on your nails and leave your feet to dry.
Here’s another option: You can suggest a foot spa afternoon treat with your girlfriends and call a foot spa attendant to your home. This will cost you only a few dollars, but the experience is priceless and worth every single penny.
