To Live Long…👣

Earlier this week, at the crack of dawn, I woke up, quietly walked into my kitchen, and noticed, wow my feet are so achy and stiff.  All it took was a day or two of wearing my clunky winter boots and not letting my feet express themselves for them to tighten and freeze up. I thought, “This is unacceptable.”

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the feet can tell us a lot about one’s overall health. When the feet lack limberness and are tight, cold and/or extra tender/sensitive, it means blocked energy, kidney/liver imbalances, vulnerable (brittle?) tendons and ligaments over the whole body, and, perhaps, dampness in the gut. Oh, and winter doesn’t help, as this kind of condition is exacerbated in colder months.  There’s a Chinese saying, “To live long, keep a cool head and warm feet.” 

Your body is always speaking to you. Achy feet? Well, they’re begging you to “Get your chi flowing.” And to keep winter weariness OUT. Here’s a list of five things that, in the depths of winter, may restore some chi (or Qi) to your feet: 

Hot Baths
Foot soaking will do too. Cold feet are unhappy feet! 

Wool Socks
There is something special about wool…all those high tech acrylic socks don’t feel as cozy as wool. 

Indoor Barefoot Workouts 
Honestly, feet love to be free, they love to make contact with the ground, and they love movement because movement creates warmth and circulation. Feet don’t want to be in passive for too long. In other seasons of the year, our feet have way more freedom built into our day, but now, we gotta go after it. 

Self-Administered Foot Massages
Sitting in front of the TV? Massage your feet. Sitting on your yoga mat? Massage your feet. Sitting at your desk? Massage your feet. It really helps! 

Relevês Throughout the Day
Yes, I’m doing all sorts of tip toe “calf raises” while I’m in my kitchen or in the check out line at the grocery store. I may be wearing shoes, slippers, or a pair of those wool socks I love, but up down up down I go. Engaging the muscles in your feet keeps them warmer and happier and grounds us. 

TCM and the Ayurveda chakra system differ, but they align when it comes to feet. In the chakra world, warm, mobile and energized feet signify stability and confidence, and they help unite one’s spirit and body firmly in the present moment (a.k.a. embodiment).

So it all makes sense, right? Our feet matter so much. And Holy Moly….when we see feet for what they are, they’re a gateway to empowered wellness. 

Let’s Move! 👣