Most people stuff their feet into ill-fitting shoes and suffer from cramped and strained archers, heel pain hammer toes, bunions, calluses, corns and toe cramps.
If you want your feet to provide you with years of uninterrupted service, treat them with utmost care. Daily hygiene and a few foot exercises go a long way toward this goal. Keep in mind though that 10 to 15 minutes of foot exercise daily will not do any good if you continue wear ill-fitting shoes that constrict movement and force your feet into unnatural shapes.
The following foot, ankle and toes exercises can be performed anytime you feel the need to stretch and release tension:
Footsie Roller Massage. Wooden footsie rollers have been around for many years. They come in all shapes and sizes. If you don’t have a footsie roller, you can use a wooden rolling pin. Simply place the footsie down and roll the entire length of your foot over the tool back and forth. Repeat concentrating on your arches. Do this for five to10 minutes per foot. This exercise relieves fatigue and cramping, especially in the arches.
The Golf Ball Roll. Roll a golf ball under the ball of your foot for two minutes. This is a great massage for the bottom of the foot and is recommended for people with heel pain, arch strain or foot cramps.
Point and Flex. This is a great exercise to stretch and strengthen just about everything from your knees down. Sit on the floor, legs stretched out in front of you and palms facing down at your sides. Now point your toes as hard as you can and hold for five seconds, then flex your feet up as hard as you can and hold for five seconds. Repeat a total of 10 times. If you experience cramping, cut back on your repetition and gradually work up to 10.
Plus, our hair is exposed to environmental stress–sunshine, salt water, chlorine, cigarette smoke and pollution. Our hair is not meant to take all these.
Here is a simple recipe to improve the condition of your hair and scalp.
To condition dry, brittle, damaged hair, mash a very ripe, large banana. Add a tablespoon each of heavy cream and honey and whisk together. Apply to dry hair from the roots to the ends, cover your head with a shower cap and then wrap your head with a warm towel. Allow the mixture to remain on your hair for as long as possible, even up to an hour. Rinse thoroughly with warm water then shampoo as usual. If necessary, follow with a natural, detangling light conditioner.
Basic hand care. Apply moisturizer frequently throughout the day, especially after contact with water.
Wear rubber or latex gloves when exposed to water or cleaners and wear quality cotton gardening gloves when working outdoors. Waterproof cloth-lined gardening gloves are recommended when working with moist or soggy oil.
Get into the habit of applying a moisturizing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Sun damage can result in premature aging of the skin, blotchiness, dryness and the development of those dreaded "liver spots."
Banish onion, garlic and tobacco odors from your hands by rubbing them with diluted lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Or place a couple of drops of essential oil of orange on your palms and rub your hands vigorously. Rinse with cool water and follow with moisturizer.
To exfoliate dry skin from your hands, try this simple formula: In a small bowl, combine a tablespoon of sugar with a tablespoon of olive oil. Stir well. Now massage your hands thoroughly, especially around the cuticles and in between your fingers in the webbing. Rinse thoroughly and apply moisturizer.
These are a lot of self-help books for the mind, body and spirit but I believe the most important things to remember are the simplest lessons we have learned from our parents, teachers, children or even through our own experiences.
• Live well.
• Trust in yourself. Your creativity will flow and life will be easier to handle.
• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Choose challenge and change.
• Ask for hugs from those you love.
• Do something that will make you feel good about yourself.
• Talk to and love the child inside you.
• Stop blaming yourself and others.
• Begin each day on a positive note.
• Communicate with nature. Take walks or just sit outside on the grass and appreciate the sights, sounds and smells.
And most importantly, sit quietly and listen to your heart. It often gives the best advice. Always be in touch with yourself. Be honest with yourself and everything will just flow. Everything will just fall into place. Your heart will always lead you to yourself.
Happy New Year, dear readers!