Foot Massage

The feet are often the most neglected or ignored part of the body. Hutched up in socks and shoes all day, the feet rarely get the chance to be out in the open. And, being ignored, small twinges and discomforts on the feet often go unheeded. With this, it’s no doubt that the feet need to be treated, and perhaps a real treat for someone close to you is the gift of a foot massage. My husband and I will frequently give each other foot massages in the evening after dinner while sitting on the couch relaxing.

What is Foot Massage?

The theory of foot massage is plainly simple, but the practice is far more complex than the other therapeutic techniques. It is commonly associated with the concept of reflexology, which is pressure therapy that involves applying a focused pressure to the particularly known reflex points in the foot to cure any form of discomfort. However, it is important to note that foot massage is different from foot reflexology. In reflexology, some of its benefits will happen automatically by virtue of massaging the feet, while on foot massage, the main aim is to help the tired feet feel better.

How to Give a Foot Massage

Generally, the foot massage techniques do not claim to have any documented medical benefits. Nevertheless, when the massage is applied correctly and properly, chances are the receiver can walk away with a feeling of well-being and peace.

Now to begin with, it is very important to make sure that you have the right supplies. Typically, what you will need are two or three big towels and some form of lubricant. For many, a rich cream works better for the tough calluses and the hardened skin of the feet than the hand lotion or oil. But, if you don’t have a rich cream, you can use the lotion or the oil for any of these will work.

Wash thoroughly the feet of the receiver, and anoint it with a skin lotion for lubrication when carrying out the foot massage. Start rubbing the sole of their foot with your thumbs. You can do this by simply working your thumbs in a circular motion all the way from the heel to the base of the toes. However, we can’t escape the fact that most people are sensitive and ticklish on their feet. So if this is the case, reassure the receiver that you will use firm, slow strokes rather than light and quick ones. Make him or her comfortable if possible.

Take each toe individually and place it between your thumb and forefinger. Then, gently manipulate it and give it a slight tug at the end. Gently press your fingers into the person’s foot all along the sole. At the end of the foot massage, gently run your fingers along the top of the foot to provide a relaxing feeling. And, remember to do the massage on each foot.

It is important to note, however, that when applying the foot massage, you should use more oils as needed, but do not use to much of it for this will only cause your hands to slide, making the receiver feel uncomfortable.

This is a low-cost idea for gift-giving this holiday season. If you are accustomed to giving gifts for your children's teachers, dance instructors, the women that share car-pooling duty with you, a hostess gift and more......then consider this option for your holiday gift giving.

Anne

Healthy, Natural Ways to Look 10 Years Younger

You don't have to go under the knife or spend money on botox treatments in order to look ten years younger. Instead, make a few lifestyle changes and start treating yourself with a little TLC and you will be amazed at the results. Things such as sleep, diet, exercise and more play a huge role in your appearance.

Getting a good night's sleep is a sure-fire way to not only look younger, but to feel great as well. This is because while you sleep, cells go through a repair process and your body releases the hormone melatonin. This hormone has very positive effects on the skin. The result is radiant and youthful looking skin, fewer lines and less puffiness around the eyes. So do yourself a favor and get your z’s.

Be sure to eat a balanced diet, including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Not only will this regimen help you to maintain a healthy weight, the vitamins and anti-oxidants in the fruit and veggies nourish your skin and hair. Having healthy skin and shiny hair is a definite recipe for a more youthful look.

While you're at it, drink lots of water each day. Water cleanses your body of toxins and hydrates your skin. Hydrated skin just plain looks younger. While we’re talking about skin, don’t forget to protect your nicely hydrated skin by wearing sun screen. The damaging effects of the sun, including skin cancer, have been well documented and should be taken very seriously. Excessive exposure dries the skin and will eventually give it a leathery appearance at the least.

It's important to use a good cleanser on your face each day to unclog pores and keep your skin from looking dry and dull. Don't forget to moisturize after washing and this includes your entire body, not just your face. Your hands take a beating in the course of daily life and are exposed to the sun while driving in the car. Treat your hands to a rich lotion, nightly, to have soft, younger looking hands.

Exercise increases bone density and muscle tone. So get regular exercise, including a routine like Pilates or Yoga, to tighten sagging muscles. A fit, trim body looks younger. Not only will you be healthier and more energized on the outside, you'll feel younger too. I fell in love with Pilates and took 2 classes a week for 2 years.

Updating a haircut can cut years from a woman's appearance.Consider highlights rather than simply dying your hair to soften your look. Find a cut that accentuates your best facial features and your lifestyle. Talk with your stylist about what type of cut and color will look best on you and try it, you never know you might just fall in love with your hair again.


Your lifestyle choices greatly affect whether you look ten years younger or ten years older. Smoking and drinking both negatively affect the aging process by blocking the absorption of necessary nutrients and over time cause damage to the major organs of the body. So, if you smoke or drink more than “moderate” amounts of alcohol (I won't give up my wine!) quit and soon you'll begin to look and feel younger.

There are so many easy, natural ways to become a younger you. Once you’ve applied some of the tips above and started seeing a difference in yourself, try not to look too smug when people find out your true age.

Stress and Exercise

If you are a mom then you’ve dealt with stress at some point. The problem with stress is how to make it go away. Maybe exercise is the answer to your stress problem.

Exercise and stress are related. Exercise can reduce the amount of stress in your life. Lets take a look on how it works.

When we are under stress, the body secretes a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol has been shown to help the body store fat and not let it go. As we worry, we get bigger. Lack of sleep has the same effect. Stress busters inhibit this hormone from being secreted.

One such stress buster is exercise. Exercise keeps the body running like a well-oiled machine. Doing it daily helps our bodies to age slower than the biological clock. We look and feel younger despite our busy schedules. Moms everywhere would love that.

Exercise release endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good. The more you exercise, the more your mood will lighten. Blood pressure lowers and more oxygen reaches the brain. Some people find better solutions to their stressful situations while walking on the treadmill or using the elliptical trainer. If you can get outdoors to hike or bicycle, not only will your mood lighten, but you’ll be breathing fresh air too.

These are byproducts of exercise that are sometimes more beneficial than the reasons we were exercising in the first place. Exercise decreases incidence of depression without medication. Working out with a partner doubles the benefits. Not only do you get in shape but you can share a laugh with someone else who understands you. I am sure you can find another mom, sister, or friend to work out with you. My husband happens to be my workout partner.

Our bodies become stronger and fit. When I lost 14 lb.’s a few years ago and was able to fit into size 6 pants and in some cases size 4, not only was I ecstatic, but my stress level went down too. Here is the fun part….exercise is not limited to the gym…..Yeah! Romantic aerobics can benefit the body and combat stress. Sex releases endorphins throughout the body without having to drive across town to the gym. How fun is that?

Exercising with your kids can help everyone’s stress level. Use a walk around the neighborhood to discuss issues that are on your child’s mind. Working through his/her problem won’t leave room for you to think about yours. It may even give you a few ideas about how to deal with your own stress. Helping others does put our situations in perspective.

Confidence is a part of a healthy mind and body. When moms are confident in themselves they cope with stress better because they believe that they can. Exercise increases confidence. Health improves, disease is curtailed, and your outlook changes.

There is a connection between stress and exercise. The latter can bring down the levels of the former. Put on those sneakers and get moving girlfriend! And after you’ve worked out, take a hot shower or bath with some uplifting and refreshing soap and treat your skin to some fabulous lemongrass Sage energizing lotion.

Create an Oasis at Home to Combat Stress in Fifteen Minutes or Less

Stress is no stranger to the average mom. Day in and day out it tries to enter our lives through busy schedules, a messy home, and screaming children. Here are a few ways that moms can reduce their stress levels fast.

Remember that commercial for Calgon bath soap? Calgon would seem to whisk women everywhere off to exotic locales. Too bad that that can’t actually happen—or can it? Light some scented candles and climb into a nice hot tub filled with lavender bubble bath, and try this quick visualization technique while you enjoy a spa experience at home.

Imagine the place you would most want to be if you could. See the sights. Smell the air. Feel the breeze. Let the scene take you away along with the stress. It’s simple but effective. You can do it anywhere and at anytime.

Do you own an IPOD or MP3 player? If not, get one. You can load music, videos, and pictures on them. My IPOD has a great selection of relaxation music that I listen to in the tub or while flying on an airplane. I also created a CD full of relaxation music for EclipseSpa that has received wonderful reviews.

Music that reminds us of happier times is a stress reliever. The memories that are conjured up relax our mind and return us to more peaceful times. Concentrating on these things leaves no room in our mind for stressful thoughts.

Laughter truly is the best medicine. Watch a comedy on television or rent a comedy movie if you have more than 15 minutes to spare. Alternatively, you can read the comics in the newspaper or check out YouTube clips of political comedy and such. A good laugh works your abdominal muscles. You can get in shape and have a good time while doing it.

Maybe your stress is a result of low blood flow to the brain. You just aren’t thinking clearly. The quickest way to return that mental clarity is to stand on your head. I’m not advocating torture here. This can be as simple as laying on the couch with your head hanging off the side or bending over with your hands on the floor.

More blood to the head means more oxygen also. After a minute or two of this you’ll feel silly and more alert. The thoughts of a few minutes ago will fade away. Don’t turn right side up too fast or you’ll be popping a few aspirin for a headache. Oh well.

Have a drink to relieve your stressful situation. I’m not referring to Jack Daniels or a Grey Goose Martini (although they are great, too), but Earl Grey. Tea seems to have a calming effect on the mind. My favorite tea is a lemon zest or a peppermint tea. Taking a few minutes to relax over a good cup of tea can lower your heart rate and your anxiety level.

Any one of these things can be done in fifteen minutes or less. It doesn’t take much—just a willingness to get centered.

When to Seek Help For Stress

For some of us, stress is a condition that we cannot tackle alone. If you are a mom who has tried to manage your stress alone but to no avail, it may be time to seek help from an outside source. Here are a few suggestions to help with that decision.

Stress can affect our physical body. Too much stress can lead to symptoms like hair loss, headaches, weight loss or weight gain, ulcers, and depressive disorders. All of these symptoms can be signs of conditions other than stress, but if you have been in otherwise good health before they showed up, there is a good chance that stress may be the cause.

Examine your daily life. What are the pressures you face each day? Stress on the job can spill over into family life. The threat of downsizing or loss of a job due to poor economic conditions can cause problems at home to get blown out of proportion. Financial losses in the stock market combined with decreasing home values are wreaking havoc with our emotions.

See a medical doctor if your physical body has shown signs of stress overload. Be sure to tell your doctor when the symptoms started and their intensity. The more information you can provide to your doctor, the better chance of an accurate diagnosis. Holding back anything because of embarrassment is not wise.

Get a full physical exam each year. This will give your doctor a baseline to work from when assessing new problems. Whatever his diagnosis, comply as fully as you can. It’s the difference between getting well or getting worse.

Stress builds up when there is no outlet for the pressure. Moms that have no one to confide in about things going on in their lives could use the help of a professional counselor. A counselor will listen as you speak and offer coping suggestions and solutions.

Many employers offer employee assistance programs (EAP) that allow employees to see counselors for little or no cost. The human resources officer would have information about that. These programs are confidential.

There are clinical psychiatrists and psychologists who can help, whether the problem is related to a mental or chemical breakdown in the brain or situations outside your control. Marriage counseling can help you and your spouse if this is the source of your stress. Group counseling can help moms whose stress has led to unhealthy addictions like smoking, drinking, or overeating.

If your weight is causing stress, join a fitness center and sign up with a personal trainer – someone who will hold you accountable. Sometimes just having an appointment to work out will get you to the gym. And, of course, getting regular exercise can be enough to combat your high levels of stress. Either way, it sure can’t hurt!

I have turned to exercise during times of extreme stress. When I went through a divorce in my first marriage, I turned to riding my bike, which then turned into many years of riding with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Cycling, literally saved me from depths of depression. Being physically active got me in better shape, which in turn gave me better self-esteem and confidence in myself again.

Getting help is nothing to be ashamed of, I sought professional help when I needed to, and would do it again in a heartbeat if needed. Moms are always helping others, but sometimes they are the ones in need. Doing nothing is the worst solution to the problem of stress.

Being a Great Mom and Coping With Stress

Into every life a little stress must fall. When the stress reaches higher than normal levels on a regular basis, your health can start to be affected. Moms may look invincible or even think they are invincible but it’s not true. Stress and good health don’t mix.

Stress is our body’s response to outside stimuli. Sure that sounds good, but it doesn’t mean very much. When you come home from a hard day at work and the sink is full of dishes, the laundry room is piled high with clothing, and the sink in the bathroom has been dripping all day, your blood pressure begins to rise.

The first person who says something to you usually gets to hear about your frustration. Or, they get to see you run bawling to the bedroom and shut the door. This is stress.

Moms, you have to protect your health. If the above scenario is typical of your daily life, watch out. You need to cease and desist before you end up in bed or the loony bin. Popping pills is not a long-term solution to the side effects you are experiencing from your stress. Antacids and headache medication is not the answer.

Did you know that too much pain medication can irritate your digestive system? Your body will fight back with bowel trouble or worse. There’s a reason that labels tell you not to exceed a specified dose in twenty-four hours. We’ve go to stop abusing our bodies.

Are you a stress eater – increasing your caloric intake as your stress increases? I am. I didn’t know it until I had gained about fourteen pounds. Stress can lead to some unhealthy ways of coping. My fix was mint chip ice cream. Do you know how many calories are in ice cream?

Stress can lead to poor eating habits. Overeating or eating the wrong things can lead to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. These illnesses can lead to heart disease and stroke. Basically, we’re talking about a premature death. That is not an option for you, mom.

Stress can also cause ulcers, migraine headaches, and depression. These conditions can be avoided when we take better care of ourselves. Enlist the aid of your spouse, parents, sisters, brothers, and friends. You are not the first one to suffer stress and you will not be the last. Living with it is not an option.

As a mom, your children can even help you. How can that purple-faced person with jam all over himself or herself help you? Kiss his/her jam stained face until all the jam is gone. Jump on the bed with him. Snuggle together with some books and let all the day’s worries stay outside that door.

Then, after the children are in bed, draw a hot tub filled with lavender bubble bath. You may want to light a candle or two for ambiance. Turn off the lights and let the glow and scent of the candles be your beacon. Just 15 minutes in a hot bath where you can turn off the day is a renewing and relaxing experience and will likely guarantee a better nights sleep too. Even a long hot shower will do the trick. You owe it to yourself and to your family to take a slice for time for yourself.