9 Steps To Sooth Your Aching Feet

To borrow from Will Rogers, everyone complains about their aching feet, but nobody does anything about them.

If you're ready to take action, try this easy, do-it-yourself foot massage, taught by the Heartland Spa in Gilman, Ill., to all its guests. It was developed from the principles of reflexology by spa director Lynn Myers, a registered nurse, and chief massage therapist Betsy Carrico.

1. Sit in a comfortable position.

2. Soak feet for 5 minutes in tepid water. Apply your favorite lotion to your foot and leg.

3. Spread lotion over each toe and gently massage top of foot, making small circles around your ankle with both hands. Repeat three or four times.

4. Apply more lotion to the leg, massage the front and back. Circle your knee three or four times as you did with your ankle. Place ankle over knee of bent opposite leg.

5. Take foot in hand and gently rotate the foot several times clockwise and counter-clockwise.

6. Clasp foot, with both hands; one on inside of foot and one on outside, both thumbs located on the sole of the foot.

7. Begin at the heel and squeeze with equal thumb pressure. Release and continue moving hands up the foot, squeezing and release as you go. Repeat.

8. Grasp foot with one hand. Place thumb of opposite hand on the heel. Press and hold for a few seconds, then release. Continue doing this over the entire foot area. Gently massage each toe individually.

9. Repeat technique on other leg.