Dear readers,

We would like to introduce you to a spa ritual you could easily enjoy at home; the foot bath.

Did you know that your feet are among the most nerve-rich parts of your whole body? This key centre of your nervous system is also what supports your body and its whole weight on the ground, taking in any weight changes among other things, which is why they’re so important to take care of. It’s easy to understand why the foot bath ritual holds such an important place in many cultures and traditions, with the aim of relaxing and easing any pain.
Since ancient times, cleaning feet is a ritual around the world for hygienic reasons of course but also therapeutic and relaxing purposes. Asia, North Africa and India have been promoting it for centuries while Eastern cultures have introduced it later on.
In the spa world, you will find foot bath rituals offered along specific rituals such as the Japanese Bath or Ayurvedic rituals.

Why not introduce such a ritual in your health and body routine at home? It will help you relax after a long day at work for example. Here are our tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your foot bath ritual :

• Prefer cold water at 15°C for pain relief related to blood circulation for example. Enjoy your bath for 3 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water, it will promote healthy blood circulation.

• Prefer warm to hot water -between 37°C and 42 °C- for relaxation after a hard day at work or a prolonged physical activity; it will promote a good muscle relaxation and toxin elimination. At the end, rinse with lukewarm or slightly cold water to promote good blood circulation and full relaxation.

• If you wish, you can add a few drops of a chosen essential oil in your foot bath. Lavender, Tiare flower or ylang-ylang are great for a cocooning effect while peppermint, eucalyptus or lemon will have an energising effect.

• If you feel your feet need it, use a pumice stone or a foot scrub to soften and help get rid of corn and calluses.

• The oshibori (a hot wet towel) can be used at the end of your ritual. It is often used in spas and is found to have great relaxing and comforting effects.

• Last but not least, you can apply a moisturiser treatment, massaging the most painful areas for an ultimate tension relief.

Our recommended ethical and natural products

• For your foot bath basin (or bucket), check out these suggestions

• For your essential oils, we highly recommend DoTerra, a fabulous brand we recently discovered Do Terra

• Other feet care products;:
  – Scrubs from Botaniclas or great DIY options here with We Are Thought
  – Pumice stones from Beauty By Earth
  – Moisturising balms from Botanicals

Are you looking forward to trying it at home now? Go for it, pamper your feet!