When I was a kid growing up in Io-way, I remember
watching a program on the tube about how the Viet Cong
used to beat the bare feet of American P.O.W.’s.
At the time (I was 10 years old) it seemed like an odd
form of torture – I figured the worst it did was make
it incredibly painful for the victim to walk.
Little did I know that when the feet are attacked in a
vicious manner, the entire body is attacked.
Why? Because every system of the body has a cor-
responding place on the feet. The same can be noted
about your hands and ears. This is something the Chinese
figured out thousands of years ago – and we in the western
world still haven’t caught on.
In my home I keep a chart on the wall that shows a diagragm
of the human feet and where all the various pressure points
are located on them. Keeps me focused on how vitally important
the entire body is – especially when it can be reflected on one
part of the body.
Now, when I tell people I’m going for a two-hour foot massage,
they otten think of it in terms of candlelight dinners, romancing
the stone, caviar, wine and song. Well, I’m here to inform you
that it ain’t nuttin like that.
Anyone who has had his feet massaged by a real pro will tell
you it can be hell on earth – until the session is over – then you
feel like a billion bucks.
I, myself, used to get worked over during a typical session. At times
I would feel sharp pain and would often bark in loud tones,
some of which were in expletive form. But the pain I felt was nothing
compared to the others next to me who never work out. Man, they
were in agony.
The good news is that now a foot therapist can darn near take
a drill to my feet and there isn’t a peep that comes out of me.
This shows a great improvement in overall health.
Okay, so what about you?
Well, the sorry news is that there just ain’t much for good foot
massage in the western world. People who know how to do it
properly are few and far between. Yet, there are some things you
can do to bring greater stimulation to your feet – and thereby
improve your health.
Here are four suggestions:
1. Rope skipping – the jumping up and down puts pressure on
the kidney point in the middle of the foot. The kidney point is
a major deal in Chinese medicine, so believe me this is a good
exercise for more reasons than the cardiovascular and muscular
benefits it brings you.
2. Hindu Squats – when doing this exercise, especially when you
stay on your toes, you strengthen and revitalize the feet and thereby
the entire body. Many people feel the muscles in their feet getting fatigued
when doing Hindu Squats and wonder about it. Let me assure you, it’s
a good thing. See Combat Conditioning for instructions on ths vitally
important exercise – http://www.mattfurey.com/conditioning_book.html
3. Massage the kidney point of your foot each day for a few minutes.
Take off your shoes and socks and turn the bottom of your left foot
up. Find the middle toe, then draw a straight line down the middle of
the foot. About three finger-widths below the middle toe you’ll find
the kidney point. Massage it by pressing in with your thumb – then
releasing. Do this about 20 times and you’ll feel your body getting
energized. Switch feet.
4. Hindu Pushups – again, these are a staple of the Combat
Conditioning program. To give this exercise an even greater
overall effect on the body – spread your toes while you do
the pushups. This opens up the meredians of the body and
increases energy and awareness.
Do all of the above on a daily basis and your health and fitness
will continually take turns for the better.
In the interim, make sure you stay active during this holiday
Kick Butt – Take Names,