The other day I was thinking about feet.

I was giving myself my bi-weekly pedicure (when you’re a yoga instructor, whose feet get seen all the time, you learn to keep them looking as nice as possible at all times.)

In fact, it’s one of the first comments new yogis often make. They can’t help but notice their feet when they’re upside down looking directly back at them in Downdog, and they often recognize that they haven’t been giving their feet much love or attention lately.

Maybe you haven't been either.

Or maybe you're even one of those people who think feet are gross, even your own.

The weather getting warmer means open-toed sandals, summer shoes and running barefoot through the grass, you might be thinking about your own feet a little more right now too and like it or not they're going to have a lot of reasons to come out and play very soon.

No matter what time of year, it’s so important that we regularly give our feet love!

Why is it important to love your feet?

Our feet support the weight of our entire body and have a lot to do with the alignment of our bones
They are responsible for moving us through life
Our feet are not only physically connected to the ground, they energetically take in the characteristics of the earth beneath us to help us feel grounded, rooted and connected
There is a reflexology point on the soles of the feet for all the major organs of the body

So if our feet are unhappy, chances are other parts of our body are feeling it too.

Since you might have a little extra motivation these days with the promise of warmer weather, I thought it was the perfect time to give you some self tips and techniques you can use to keep your feet happy all year round!

5 ways to show your feet love

Take an Epsom salt foot soak: you can add your favorite essential oils like lavender for soothing or peppermint for revitalizing.
Roll the soles of your feet: helps to release tension through the ligaments and muscles of the feet. You can use a frozen water bottle or a tennis or lacrosse ball. Don’t forget to (gently!) roll across the underside of your toes too!
Get a pedicure (and yes, I know many guys who do this!): when our feet are stuck inside shoes the balls of the feet and toes often get squished together. Regular pedicures will help remove calluses, cuticles and other things that build up to try and “toughen” our toes and toenails from the repetitive impact of hitting the insides of our shoes as we walk.
Strengthen your feet: place a thin towel, like a dish towel, on the floor and use your toes to scrunch up the towel a little bit at a time until it’s all together. This helps to strengthen the arches and the muscles of the toes.
Give them gratitude: it might seem silly, but how often do you look at your feet and truly appreciate them for everything they allow you to do each day? So take a moment to truly take them in and say, thank you feet for all you do for me.

Want to give your feet some more love?