Tucked away in America's Ayurveda books are intriguing references
to the benefits of foot massage. In Dhanwantari, Harish Johari
writes, "Diseases do not go near one who massages his feet before
sleep, just as snakes do not approach eagles." Ancient texts,
illustrations, and artifacts reveal that people in places as far-
flung as Russia, Japan, Thailand, Iran, Peru, and North America used
foot massage to relieve pain, treat disease, and promote overall
health. The Chinese used a combination of foot massage and
acupuncture to treat illnesses more than 5,000 years ago. The ancient
Egyptians believed that the body was a symphony of vibrations that
could be tuned, or played, by manipulating points on the feet.
Even today, children in the villages of India continue an age-old
tradition of massaging their parents' legs and feet as a symbol
of service, humility, and love. This custom originated in Vedic
times, when Indians began rubbing specific, medicated oils
(prescribed according to their body type) on the soles of their feet
to treat a variety of ills and boost their overall health. According
to Dr. Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic foot massage can be traced back 5,000
years and offers myriad benefits: it nourishes the skin, reduces
fungal and bacterial infections, and soothes an agitated mind; it can
also help alleviate psychological imbalances, including anxiety,
nervousness, and depression; and it may even balance brain chemistry.
Lad says we can reduce stress, activate our immune system, and even
heal our body, mind, and consciousness through the simple act of foot
massage. "The doors to the body's inner pharmacy," he
says, "are under the bottoms of your feet."
A stable foundation In the Veda, the feet are referred to as
"organs
of action." They are the body's foundation, structured to
support its
weight and provide a mobile platform in a variety of terrains. Just
imagine: if the foundation of a house is weak, stressed, or
unhealthy, the entire structure begins to buckle. In the same way,
problems in our feet can creep into other parts of the body and
weaken our overall health and sense of well-being. Because the feet
work in conjunction with the legs, knees, hips, and back, foot
problems can lead to muscle tension elsewhere in the
body—especially
in the neck and shoulders—and intensify fatigue and irritability.
And
according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA),
"Your
feet mirror your general health. Such conditions as arthritis,
diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial
symptoms in the feet—so foot ailments can be your first sign of
more
serious medical problems."
Today, APMA estimates that 20 percent of the population experiences a
foot problem during any given year, and 75 percent of Americans
experience one at some point in their lives. The majority of these
problems are caused by abuse and neglect, and many can be prevented
by wearing proper shoes and giving our feet a little TLC.

Mapping the feet
According to Ayurveda, the feet contain reflex points to all the
organs and other parts of the body. And even though they're a hot
spot for pain and discomfort (each foot houses 26 bones, 33 joints,
and over 7,000 nerves), they're also an effective site for
treatment.
Ayurvedic physicians know how to treat various ailments by applying
pressure and oil to points on the feet that correspond to the
troubled body part. Imagine that your feet are a mirror for the rest
of your body: if you're having shoulder pain, you can press on
the part of your foot that corresponds to your shoulder and alleviate
the discomfort. Similar treatment is prescribed for kidney stones,
pancreatic dysfunction, liver pain, and other problems. And a spot of
tenderness on your feet might signify an imbalance in another part of
your body before you even notice symptoms. Long ago, Ayurvedic
physicians mapped out these reflex points on the feet and preserved
them in Ayurvedic texts. According to Lad, these drawings reveal the
following: The big toe is connected to the brain. The tip of the big
toe corresponds to the pineal gland; the pad of the big toe
corresponds to the pituitary gland; and the neck of the big toe
corresponds to the thyroid. The base of the second and third
toe is related to the eyes, and the base of the third and fourth toe
is related to the ears. The cushion at the root of the toes is
connected to the lungs. The middle portion of the sole is related to
the pancreas. And the heel is related to the sciatic nerve. "All
the bodily organs," he says, "are there within the feet."
By
activating these corresponding reflex points, Ayurvedic foot massage
can indirectly heal problems we have in the rest of our body and
prevent others from developing.

The immune connection
Stress We all know that stress is the number one killer in our
country—a leading factor in heart disease, immune disorders,
digestive problems, and a host of other illnesses. In fact, stress
and tension are responsible for about 75 percent of all health
problems. Stress effectively alters our body chemistry, depletes our
immune system, and leaves the body more susceptible to disease. But
what, you may ask, does this have to do with my feet? According to
Lad, all of the body's stress accumulates in the connective
tissue lining the soles of the feet—so it's no wonder so many
Americans have foot pain. Foot massage is a simple, drug-free method
for reducing stress and stimulating the body's natural relaxation
response.

The doshas
In the Ayurvedic tradition, foot massage is said to balance the
bodily humors, or doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha. On a biological
level, says Lad, "Vata is the principle of movement, governing
the body's sensory and motor function; pitta is bodily temperature
and governs biochemical changes, digestion, absorption, assimilation,
and the transformation of food into energy; and kapha is the building
material of the body, used to form new tissues and cells." These
doshas are present in every cell as a genetic code and create
a "unique, biochemical lab" in every individual's body.
Since the combinations of vata, pitta, and kapha are endless, each
person has a constitution that is "as unique as his
fingerprint." In
most people, however, one dosha is primary, another is secondary, and
the third is least prominent. (The remainder of the population has
two or three dominant doshas.)
According to Ayurveda, balancing vata, pitta, and kapha activates the
body's natural immune response. Foot massage is one way of doing
this. As Lad explains, "Whenever we rub oil on the soles of the
feet, the oil permeates the skin and travels through the superficial
fascia, the deep fascia, and the oil goes to the neural ending,
releasing the secretion of certain neuropeptides. These are the same
neuropeptides that are released in the nervous system, and they play
an important role in immunological response."
The simple act of rubbing oil on the soles of the feet—especially
at bedtime—calms the vata dosha. But Lad says that if you are
experiencing fatigue or exhaustion, you can further alleviate a vata
aggravation by rubbing sesame or bhringaraj oil on your soles at
night to reduce stress and encourage sound sleep. For those with a
predominantly pitta constitution—especially people who are
suffering from headaches, migraines, or a burning sensation in the
eyes—he recommends rubbing coconut and castor oil on your soles
at
bedtime. By morning, your symptoms will have vanished. And if you are
coughing and congested from a cold (a kapha imbalance), rub mustard
oil on your soles near the cushion at the root of the toes. "This
will
relax the bronchi, stop irritation of the bronchial tree, and promote
a sound sleep," says Lad. People with dominant kapha can also rub
nutmeg oil on the soles of their feet at night. According to Lad,
this type of oil is "narcotic, tranquil, and will help you sleep
like a child."

Subtle layers of the feet
Beyond the mere biological aspects of our feet (and even more subtle
than reflex points, the doshas, and their connection to immunity) lie
aspects of emotion and consciousness that have yet to be quantified
by Western science—at least in terms of our feet. Here are a few
of the more elusive secrets that Ayurvedic sages observed and
recorded long ago.

Emotions
Did you know that you store emotions in your feet? Ayurveda has an
intriguing perspective on emotions—it views them as a reaction of
a
past memory to a present challenge. There are three kinds of negative
emotion: vata emotion (fear, anxiety, nervousness); pitta emotion
(anger, hate, envy, jealousy); and kapha emotion (attachment, greed,
possessiveness, depression). According to Ayurveda, when we suppress
these emotions, they crystallize in the body and eventually
accumulate in the soles of the feet. This is not healthy, of course,
because we end up walking, running, jumping, and twisting on our
unresolved emotions, causing certain areas of our feet to become
tender and painful, and burdening our body with additional stress.
According to Lad, Ayurvedic foot massage can alleviate psychological
imbalances—including anxiety, nervousness, and
depression—because it breaks up these emotionally related
crystals,
reduces stress, and relieves foot pain. Another way to accomplish
this, he says, is to roll the feet back and forth along a hard,
wooden roller.

Consciousness
Here's a fascinating fact: just as there are seven chakras in the
body, says Lad, there are seven chakras on the soles of the feet. The
lower portion of the heel is the root chakra (muladhara); the higher
portion of the heel is the pelvic center (svadhishthana); the central
part of the soles is the solar plexus (manipura); the heart chakra
(anahata) is at the junction between the middle two-third and the
anterior (front) one-third section of the sole; at the base of the
big toe is the throat chakra (vishuddha); the middle of the big toe
is the fifth chakra (ajña), or the eyebrow center; and the tip of
the big toe is the crown chakra (sahasrara). "So the whole chakra
system," Lad says, "is connected to the soles of the feet.
Therefore, the soles of the feet are directly connected to the human
soul. `Soul' means `consciousness.' So the feet
arethe foundation of
consciousness."

Vasant Lad's gentle foot massage
In the Ayurvedic tradition, a full-body oil massage (abhyanga)
performed daily is said to work wonders for the body. But in our
hectic world, abhyanga can be too time-consuming to do on a regular
basis. The next best thing, says Lad, is to massage your scalp and
the soles of the feet with oil, preferably at bedtime. According to
Ayurveda, all meridians (nadis) begin in the scalp and end in the
soles of the feet. Many neural endings, receptors, and marmas
(Ayurvedic pressure points) are also located here. If you perform the
following brief massage, Lad says, "you will get the benefits of
an entire body massage."
First, choose a type of oil that is appropriate for your body type.
Warm oil is preferable to cold because it is comforting and
penetrates the skin more easily. (A clean, quick way to warm the oil
is to put the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.)
It's also helpful to maintain a nurturing attitude and to focus
your
attention on the part of your body that you're massaging to bring
yourself into the present moment. Sit in a comfortable chair or on
your bed, and keep a pair of cotton socks nearby to put on after
you're done.
First, rub your hands with oil and make small, circular motions along
the surface of your scalp, using the flat of your hand and your
fingers. Then focus on your feet. Beginning with your right foot,
gently rub oil in small circular motions from the ankle to the toes;
then from the ankle to the heels. Gently rub oil in small circular
motions on the soles of the feet. Next, press your thumb on the place
where the shin meets the top of your foot. Gently, slowly, drag your
thumb across the top of your foot to the big toe. Return to the ankle
and in the same way drag your thumb toward the second toe. Repeat
this motion from the ankle to the third, fourth, and fifth toes. This
initial treatment improves circulation and activates important marmas
on the feet.
Then cross your right ankle over your left knee and cup the side of
your right heel in your left hand. Place your right hand on the top
of the foot, lace your fingers between your toes, and push the foot
inward, outward, and then in a circular motion. With your right
thumb, apply pressure from the big toe to the heel along the inner
border of the foot. Then drag your thumb from the root of your fifth
toe to the heel. Make a fist with your right hand and press it
against the foot, working it along the sole in a circular motion to
activate a variety of energy points. Slowly pull each toe away from
the foot, as though you are "popping" the joint, to remove
stress.
Then repeat the entire massage on your left foot. When you're
finished, soak your feet for five to ten minutes in a bucket filled
halfway to the top with warm water and one teaspoon of salt to draw
the stress and toxins out of your feet.

Sacred feet
Many spiritual traditions believe the body and soul are connected
to—and even embodied in—the soles of the feet. Buddha's
footprints, for
example, have long been used to represent his entire being. And even
today, Vishnu's footprints are worshipped in temples and other
holy sites across Asia. Hindus have also been known to wear amulets
of Vishnu's footprints to ward off evil. And in ancient Egypt,
undertakers removed the soles of a dead man's feet during
mummification to liberate his soul from the physical plane.
But if the connection between your feet and higher consciousness
seems a little far-fetched, at least consider cultivating some
respect for their earthly function: the feet are the body's
workhorses, and without them our mobility, health, and well-being are
severely limited. So why not follow in the footsteps of the yogis and
use your body as a laboratory to conduct an experiment? For the next
month, make a commitment to develop a deeper awareness of your feet
and begin to appreciate all they do for you. Treat them to Dr.
Lad's foot massage every night and observe the results. Chances
are,
you'll be taking a step in the right direction.•

by Shannon Sexton is the managing editor of Yoga International.

Foot Notes
The average American takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, bringing a
force equal to several hundred tons to bear on the feet and spanning
several miles.

We walk about 115,000 miles in a lifetime—more than four times
the
circumference of the globe.

A 150-pound person walking one mile exerts the equivalent of 63.5
tons—127,000 pounds—on each foot.

Walking on cement can give each foot a 180-pound jolt with each step.

When we run, the pressure exerted on our feet can be three or four
times our body weight.

There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet, and
they excrete as much as half a pint of moisture each day.

Our feet are more subject to injury than any other part of the body.

Walking is the best form of exercise for the feet.

Foot pain affects the quality of life and mobility of millions of
Americans.

Contrary to popular belief, foot pain is not normal!

There is an important relationship between our feet and our overall
health and well-being.

(Courtesy of the American Podiatric Medical Association, www.apma.org)
Touching the Lotus Feet of the Guru
In many cultural and spiritual traditions, seekers kiss, wash, or
worship the feet of their spiritual teachers. The Bible contains
thirty-three references to this phenomenon, including the gospel
scene in which Mary Magdalene bends to wash Jesus' feet with her
tears and olive oil (as a symbol of deep respect for him and as a
form of penance). India's reverence for this tradition is so old
that
it is recorded in the Veda and the Upanishads, and is lovingly
referred to as "touching the lotus feet of the guru."

Whenever a disciple visits a guru in India, he humbly bends to touch
the guru's feet. The guru, in turn, places her hand on the
disciple's
head to bestow a blessing. Although this traditional greeting is an
expression of love and respect, it's also a two-way test.

When a disciple touches the guru's feet, he feels the warmth and
vibration of prana emanating from the teacher's toes. If her feet
are
cold and fail to give off a pranic vibration, then she's an
ordinary
woman. But if the guru is enlightened, legend says, even her feet
will give a blessing.

When the guru touches the disciple's head as a gesture of
blessing,
she is also sensing the vibration of prana emanating from his scalp.
If the vibration is even, the guru takes this as a sign that the
disciple is ripening and ready to receive her teaching. If the
vibration is uneven, however, he isn't ready yet.
Choosing an Oil
Ayurveda says that organic, cold-pressed oils have stronger healing
properties than more processed ones. If you know your prakriti
(constitution), choose an oil accordingly or follow the chart below.

For dry skin (vata): use a warm, heavy oil such as sesame, almond,
avocado, or bhringaraj.

For sensitive or overheated skin (pitta): use a cooling or neutral
oil such as olive, sunflower, coconut, castor, or ghee.

For oily skin (kapha): use a light oil such as mustard, flaxseed,
canola, or safflower
Your Vision and Your Feet
There is a direct link between the feet and the eyes through two
primary spinal nerves. Wearing shoes that do not allow the feet to
breathe impairs function of these nerves and spoils the eyes (as does
exposing the feet to a fire or other kinds of excessive heat). By
keeping the feet clean, eyesight is aided. Massaging the feet with
clay, mud, and henna pastes also improves the vision. Henna is
especially good, but only for use in warm and hot weather because of
its strong cooling power. By application of oils and pastes to the
feet, coupled with gentle massage, one waters the plant of good
vision and ensures proper eyesight in later life.
—Harish Johari, Dhanwantari