Lesson One: The feet

          The massage starts here and, since this is the first physical contact between the giver and receiver, the scene should be set very carefully. To receive massage, your partner should be lying very comfortably in the supine position (lying on the back) with arms in a relaxed position down the sides of the body, and with legs apart leaving a gap of one body-width between the feet.

            The aim of this lesson is to stimulate the smooth energy flow through the Sen (energy lines) of the feet and legs. 

         The massage starts here and, since this is the first physical contact between the giver and receiver, the scene should be set very carefully. To receive massage, your partner should be lying very comfortably in the supine position (lying on the back) with arms in a relaxed position down the sides of the body, and with legs apart leaving a gap of one body-width between the feet.

           The aim of this lesson is to stimulate the smooth energy flow through the Sen (energy lines) of the feet and legs.

Sen channels on the feet

           There are five Sen channels on the soles of the feet. They all start at a point on the front margin of the heel pad on the mind line. The Sen channels radiate from this point to the toes.

        Thumb press from the center heel point towards each toe, working both feet together. Press the Sen channels as many times as the strength of your thumb permits. Feet bear the weight of the whole body as well as moving to walk and run, so they require both flexibility and strength. Working through the techniques in this lesson will help your partner maintain foot flexibility and avoid injury.

ABOVE: These are the five sen on the soles of the foot.
Thorough pressing of these Sen is regarded as a
vital prelude to overall energy balance.

Massaging both feet

 1. PRESSING FEET & ANKLES

          Kneeling between your partner’s legs, grasp both feet. Keep your arms straight so that your body weight can be transferred through them. Rock forward and outwards or from side to side, increasing pressure through the palms. Move your palms down the inner margins of her feet towards her toes using pressure at each position.

•  Warms and loosens the feet, and has a relaxing effect on the recipient.
• Twists the thighs outwards and exercises the hip.

2.  PRESSING THE FEET SIDEWAYS

          Press your partner’s feet outwards (evert) as far as they will stretch and hold then in place for a few seconds. Release her feet, place your hands across the top part of the feet and press them inwards (invert) as shown by image. Repeat the sequence once or twice.

•         Improves ankles flexibility.

3.  PRESSING THE CROSSED FEET

          Bring your partner’s feet together to cross one foot over the other. Apply gentle sustained downward pressure on them, then reverse positions and press again.

•  Loosens the ankles, arches and toes, so increasing the flexibility of the tarso-metatarsal joints.

• 1. PRESSING FEET & ANKLES   
  Stretched: Tibialis anterior (outwards)

• 2. PRESSING THE FEET SIDEWAYS   
  Stretched: Tibialis anterior (outwards), peroneus  longus (inwards)

• 3. PRESSING THE CROSSED FEET   
  Stretched: Peroneus longus, tibialis posterior

4.  SQUEEZING THE FEET
      Grasp the tops of your partner’s feet and squeeze firmly and progressively down towards the toes. Repeat several times.

• Improves flexibility of the feet.

5.  FLICKING THE TOES

          Place the heel of your hand under your partner’s toes and close your fingers above all the toes. Slide your hands off the toes, flicking them repeat Technique 1.

• Produces a pleasant, relaxing sensation for the recipient.

6.  PRESSING THE FEET BACKWARDS & FORWARDS

          Place the heels of your palms under your partner’s toes and firmly push towards her head. Then with your palms on top of the toes, press downwards.

• Improves flexibility of the ankles and the feet.

7.  PRESSING POINTS ON ANKLES & FEET
          Thumb press deeply into the three ankle points, marked here with dots, on both your partner’s feet. Then thumb press around the margins of the undersides of her heels. Now thumb press along the energy lines between her heel and toes.

•  Balances the energies within the reproductive system and organs of the lower back.

• 6. PRESSING THE FEET    BACKWARDS & FORWARDS 
  Stretched: peroneus longus (upward), tibialis posterior (upward),            soleus (upward), tibialis anterior (downward)

Massaging each foot individually

1.  FLEXING THE ANKLES BACKWARDS

Grasp your partner’s foot with both hands, pressing your thumbs down into the center of her front ankle crease. Then lean forward to press her foot backwards against this pressure.

• Increases flexibility of the ankle.
• Beneficial for those who suffer from beadaches.

2.  PRESSING THE TENDONS OF THE UPPER FOOT

          With circular movements, thumb press into the spaces between your partner’s tendons. Begin at the hollow at the center of the top of each ankle and work your way towards her toes. Follow each tendon in turn.

•  Has an invigorating effect upon the recipient.
• Increases blood blow around the tendons (tissue which is normally very inert) which helps to maintain healthy feet.

3.  PULLING & CRACKING EACH TOE

          Hold each of your partner’s toes, lean back and pull vigorously in turn. During this technique a cracking sound may be heard.

• Loosens toe joints and increases blood circulation.

4.  TWISTING THE FEET

          Support your partner’s foot with one and bend the free edge of her foot up and down with a twisting, flicking action. Do this two to three times whilst working towards her toes. Repeat the sequence on the opposite side of her foot.

• Stimulates the foot and increases lateral flexibility.
• The intrinsic muscles of the foot are well stretched during the twisting movements.

5.  MASSAGING THE TOES

Touch Method one: Fast Toe Pulling Start by rapidly pulling all our partner’s toes. Use all your fingers simultaneously and work with a rapid snapping action as the toes are released.

Touch Method Two: Rotating & Squeezing Rotate each of your partner’s toes both ways. Follow this with a firm squeezing action towards the tip of the toes and release with a sliding movement.

Touch Method Three: Toe Tip Massage Here, the toe is held between two fingers and the extreme tip is massaged vigorously with a circular motion.

• Brings the recipient’s awareness into the tips of the toes which is both stimulating and relaxing.
• Starting points of the Sen channels are massaged to affect overall energy balance very positively.

• 1.   FLEXING THE ANKLE BACKWARDS
  
         Stretched: Peroneus  longus (upward), tibialis posterior (upward),           soleus.

6.  STRETCHING THE ARCHED FOOT

          Grasp your partner’s foot with your thumbs over the front of her ankle. Lean back as you press down with the base of your thumbs to stretch her foot into an arched position. Repeat this stretch twice: first, with your hands around her instep and then again nearer her toes which then again nearer her toes which are arched downwards.

• Improves the lateral flexibility of the foot and strengthens the instep.

7.  ROTATING THE FOOT

          While supporting your partner’s leg above the ankle, firmly grasp her foot from below and rotate it several times in both directions.

•  Improves flexibility of the ankles.

8.  ROTATING THE HEEL

      Grasp your partner’s heel as shown and then rotate it with a simultaneous squeezing action.   

9.  PRESSING THE FOOT SEN

             Grasp your partner’s foot in both hands so that your fingertips are lined up along the energy channels on the sole. Using the fingers of both your hands simultaneously, dig your fingertips right into the sole and press deeply with a squeezing action into the central and then the two lateral Sen channels in turn. Then thumb press along all five Sen channels.

•  Promotes improved foot flexibility and stimulates Sen energy flow.

10.  PUMMELING THE HEEL 

        Stretching your partner’s toes towards her head, pummel the underside of her heel using your clenched first

        Now repeat Techniques 1-10 as described above on her other foot.

• Stimulates energy flow in the feet, creasing a feeling of groundedness.

• 6.  STRETCHED THE ARCHED FOOT        
  Stretched: Foot flexors, tibialis anterior
• 7.  ROTATING THE FOOT     Stretched: soleus, foot extensors and flexors