The following routine soothes not only the feet, but the entire body:
1. Have the woman sit in a chair; sit in another chair facing her. Rest her foot on a pillow in your lap.
2. Pour a little oil into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together until they are warm.
3. Place one hand on the bottom of the woman’s foot and the other hand on top. Pull down and off her foot as if you were ‘pulling’ out her tension. Repeat this motion three times.
4. Cup your hand around her heel. Gently squeeze the back of her foot.
5. Place your thumb just below her ankle bone and gently circle this area with firm pressure. It is important that you do not go any higher than the bone. An acupressure point is located just above the ankle and stimulating it could initiate labour.
6. Gently work the arch with your thumbs, using circular motions to cover the entire arch area.
7. Lightly stroke each toe, working from the big toe to the little one.
8. Finish by again putting one hand on the bottom of the woman’s foot, one hand on top of her foot, and pulling down and off the foot. Repeat this motion three times.
Repeat the entire sequence with the other foot.
