Shoe Boxers

Hot weather can be hard on your feet, but winter weather can be just as worse. From dry skin to sweaty feet where they are stuck in winter boots and winter shoes. But you can save your tootsies in three simple steps. You don’t need time to get your feet into shape, you just need consistency.

1. Pick the right shoes: Poorly fitting shoes are the number one cause of foot issues. Either it’s too high of a heel or too tight on the foot. These problems can create bunions, blisters, corns, calluses, and even sprained ankles. At times too tight of shoes can cause ingrown toenails as well. The best solution to these issues is to wear shoes that have a wide toe so that they don’t bunch up the toes during wear. Always alternate your shoes from day to day so that your feet don’t feel confined. This will give your shoes plenty of time to dry out completely and the padding in the shoe will go back to its normal shape as well.

2. Give your Feet a good soaking: Soak your feet in a soothing tea bath for added relief from foot discomfort or wearing certain shoes for a long period of time as well. You can use rosemary tea for a great soaking. It helps to warm the feet inside and out. Use about 1 tbs. dried rosemary or 3 tbs. fresh rosemary to achieve these great soak. You can even use a salt scrub on your feet by using ground sea salt and 1/2 cup of olive oil, you can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil blend as well.

3. Helping problem feet: Giving your feet a good massage is the best way to help with problems with the foot. Cut your toenails straight across when trimming them as well. Never cut down into the side of the nails bed. Rubs your rough areas of your feet with a pumice stone to remove calluses and corns. Apply tea tree oil to fungus and athletes foot as well.

Just like my previous post, the feet are the most neglected part of the body. From stress in your back and your neck, which is associated with your feet, to wearing the wrong kind of shoes for your foot shape? Along with regular yoga for your feet you can also give your feet mini-massages every night or every morning. Its one thing to massage your feet with just a regular lotion, but it’s another to use great lotion to achieve that great feeling in your feet. There are many brands of lotion out on the market that can achieve soft skin, but there are many others that can give a tingling feeling for up to 30 minutes after the mini-massage is over. Here is a list of some great lotions to try on your feet tonight.

• Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion: Contains peppermint essential oil to soothe tired aching feet. And there is witch hazel to help deodorize naturally. This helps eliminate dry skin on the feet and also has a tinkling effect on the feet. It is also 100% natural as well. You can pick a tube up off their website for about $9.

• Badger Foot Balm: This foot balm contains extra virgin olive oil as well as jojoba oil mixed with peppermint and eucalyptus oils to give your feet the AHHH they are seeking at the end of a busy day. This balm is also USDA approved as organic and you can pick up a tin of this foot balm on their site for $10

• The Body Shops Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion: This lotion too contains peppermint oil and gives your feet that added stress relieving properties. It also contains cocoa butter and menthols to help deodorized the feet and soothe. You can pick up a bottle of this lotion for about $14.