Feet Retreat
Feet and pedicures have a far-reaching history. The oldest pedicure may have been performed in Ancient Egypt, according to tomb paintings. The Greeks were also fond of feet; the strongest tendon in the foot was named after Achilles, a character from the Illiad. And, Asian cultures have long considered feet a symbol of beauty and health, practicing reflexology for nearly 5,000 years. So, what is this foot fetish that existed long before Cleopatra had her first footbath?
The Health-Related Effects of a Pedicure
There are twenty-six bones in the feet, which account for one-fourth of all bones in the body. It seems imperative, then, that we keep a quarter of our being in good working order. Women are approximately four times more likely than men to experience foot problems, which begs the question: How bad are high heels anyway?
According to an article by The Washington Post, it depends on the size of the heel. One-inch heels increase pressure on the forefoot by 22%, two-inch heels by 57% and three-inch heels by as much as 76%. Continuously wearing high heels can shorten the tendons and calf muscle, and too small or pointy shoes can cause hammertoes, corns, and calluses.
As a long-time lover of extremely high heels, I sought relief from a summer of wedges and strappy stilettos, and help came in the form of a Thai foot massage at the Terme di Aroma Day Spa in Old City, Philadelphia. Because this exotic-sounding treatment was new to me, I drank some liquid courage in the form of a nonalcoholic sangria and chatted with owner Jim Leemon, who explained to me that he and his wife, Gail, approach massage as a means to preventing illness. Since both Jim and Gail have a background in medicine, I knew my feet were in good hands.
My massage therapist, Tajsha, explained that Thai foot massage is much like acupressure, and then she proceeded to work a small wooden stick into pressure points on my feet. This stimulated energy flow from my feet up my legs and into my back. I imagined glitter flowing through my veins. Tajsha stretched, tapped, and rubbed my feet, and I left feeling like I’d been on an all-day relaxation course in the Orient.
Similarly, reflexology stimulates points on the feet to promote overall health. According to Craig Landau, a twenty-year veteran reflexologist practicing at Body Tech Fitness in Lambertville, NJ, “reflexology is a type of acupressure that stimulates the nerve endings on the feet, which connect to organs and various parts of the body.” For example, the balls of the feet correspond to the lungs, and a small area just behind the second and third toes is linked to the eyes. “This [practice] allows the organs to function normally,” he explains, “and creates a sense of balance throughout your body.”
“I most often treat insomnia and sciatica,” continues Craig, and he credits reflexology for his successful treatment of a man with insomnia, complicated by restless leg syndrome; the man slept through the night for the first time in ages after just two sessions. When asked why he became a reflexologist, Craig recounted his story as a former photographer for the FBI and how he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage resulting in seizures and headaches. “Frustrated with Western medicine, I met a reflexologist,” he recounts, “and after the first session, my headaches disappeared.” Seizure-free for twenty-three years, Craig is now both a reflexology practitioner and recipient.
In addition being a gateway for the treatment of medical issues, the feet can also be a site of detoxification for the body. According to Sharon Cross, Owner of Inner Spa in Newtown, “the soles of the feet have over 2,000 pores, and our footbath emits millions of ions that enter the body through the feet and neutralize tissue acid waste.” Deemed a medical device in Europe, the Aqua Detox Ion Foot Bath used at Inner Spa “cleanses the body of heavy metals absorbed from everyday items like cooking utensils, paint fumes, and fertilizers,” according to Sharon. “The purpose is to prevent disease,” she says, “because the body is [an] electrical roadmap, and the actual current created in the water balances the body’s energy meridians.”
The Beauty of a Pedicure
Pedicures are meant to not only prevent toenail disease and remove dead skin but also to tidy up the toes. The word pedicure comes from the Latin words pedis, meaning “of the ankle” and cura, or “care.” There have been, however, many advances made in the pedicure scene since this word came into being, including CND Shellac Hybrid Nail Color. “Shallac is pretty much guaranteed to last for a good four weeks with a pedicure,” says Ginny LaMaina, Owner/Manager of Hair Apropos Salon in Chalfont. “And customers are clamoring for the stuff,” says Ginny, “which is a polish that acts like a gel.”
Keeping things healthy, Hair Apropos also offers organic pedicures. “We use organic products and sake, rice, ginger, and lemon grass as a foot soak,” Ginny explains. In addition to a beauty benefit, organic pedicures “avoid chemicals that hurt our bodies and the environment.”
In Doylestown, Serenity Day Spa and Wellness Center offers the Fiji Islands Pedicure, a fifty-five-minute trip to paradise. The feet are bathed in a coconut milk whirlpool bath, scrubbed with sugar, and rubbed with a coconut cream. And, as Owner Jennifer Wiegand explains, “everything is direct from Fiji, where entire villages are kept employed by creating these organic and sustainable products.”
Our feet are our foundation. As such, maintenance should be done in the form of good health and beauty practices. Wear shoes that fit, and seek foot services that stimulate circulation and promote cleansing. Exfoliate and moisturize the skin, taking care to address any toenail issues like fungus or ingrown nails. As Socrates said, “when our feet hurt, we hurt all over.” And, as such, we should all remember that this—and every—sandal season, the pedicure is our pal.
Story by April Reynolds
