If We Take Care of our Feet, Our Feet Will Take Care of Us
The key focus for April and May as it relates to your Spas will be centered around the new BC Spa Pedicure line…so, I thought it would be good to post some facts about our feet that will give you some useful “words to say” as you position these products in your Spas. It may be a little more than you wanted to know, but I got a little carried away with my research…LOL.Feet Fun Facts:
We've probably all heard foot facts like 1/4 of all the bones in the human body are down in your feet...no? - ok well maybe you haven't, but here are some more interesting facts that you didn't know about your feet!
• The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps in a day During a lifetime the average person will walk more than 250,000 miles. That's the distance from the Earth to the moon!
• Toenails and fingernails grow fastest in hot weather, in pregnancy and during the teen years.
• Runners hit the ground with a force of two and a half times their body weight.
• The ancient Romans were the first to create distinct left and right shoes; previous to that all shoes could be worn on either foot.
• Foot fact - Your average foot gets two sizes longer when you stand up.
• A 2½-inch high heel can increase the load on the forefoot by 75%.
• Shoe sizes were devised in England by King Edward II who declared in 1324 that the diameter of one barleycorn - a third of an inch -would represent one full shoe size. Today, that's still true.
• For two out of every ten people the second toe is the longest.
• The average foot expands about five percent in volume as the day goes on.
• Each foot produces more than a cup of perspiration per day. More when you exercise, at least one pint!
• The most common foot injury is plantar fasciitis which is pain under and in front of the heel.
• The skin on your feet is 20 times thicker than on any other part of your body!
• There are 28 bones in the human foot, along with 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 major muscles, and tendons to hold the structure together and allow it to move in a variety of ways.
• Corns and callus are most commonly caused by improper foot function. This results in friction and pressure. Your body's natural defense is to build up a "wall" or "armor" of thick skin. Alleviating the improper foot function can reduce or eliminate the problem. Poorly fitting or worn out shoes can also cause corns and callus.
• The pressure on your feet when running can be as much as four times your body weight.
• It's best to shop for shoes in the afternoon or late in the day. Your feet actually swell during the day from walking and activities, so a pair of shoes that felt comfortable in the morning might actually be too snug by day's end.
• Women suffer from foot problems nearly four times as often as men. This may be attributable to wearing high-heeled shoes.
• There are roughly 250,000 sweat glands on a pair of feet.
Treating Dry, Cracked Feet
For most people dry feet is a nuisance and often thought of as a cosmetic problem but if the condition is bad enough it can result in deep fissures that make it painful to stand or in serious cases bleed and become infected.
Some common causes of dry cracked feet are...
• Wearing open heeled or thinly soled shoes during long periods of standing
• Medical conditions such as diabetes and thyroid disease
• Skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema
• Or perhaps kicking off the shoes and enjoying a little barefooted walking during the warm summer months.
Whatever the cause, the good news is that dry cracked feet can be treated easily with a little care and by using our new BC Spa Pedicure products.
The most effective way to treat and prevent dry feet is to treat your feet to a soothing footbath, remove dead skin and apply a clinical strength foot salve.
Try this night time regime repeated two to three times a week and your feet will thank you.
• Pamper your feet at least twice a week with a soothing footbath uising the Therapeutic Bath Minerals
• Remove hard skin by applying the Foot Spray, formulated with salicylic acid, followed by the Foot Scrub, formulated with volcanic pumice. Afterwards, use the Foot Smoother, available in the Pedicure Tool Kit to smooth away excess skin build-up. This will allow the moisturizers applied in the next step to better penetrate the skin. Rub lightly back and forth, don't try to make your feet perfectly smooth the first time.
• Moisturize feet while you sleep - dry feet well and before bed apply the specially formulated Foot Salve, with intensive, deeply penetrating moisturizers, to increase skins natural renewal process and provide deep rehydration while you sleep. Next put on the Cheetah Spa Socks to help the salve better absorb into your skin.
Do-It- Yourself Reflexology
"WHEN OUR FEET HURT, WE HURT ALL OVER."—SOCRATES
Our feet are our foundation. By being in constant connection with our brain, they enable us to stand, walk and balance. Our feet can carry several hundred tons of total weight in a single day. In confined spaces known as shoes, we walk up to five miles or 9,000 steps on an average day! In order to do this, the foot must maintain a certain level of tension. With repeated patterns of uninterrupted tension, our feet get tired and sore, thus creating stress throughout the entire body. That's where do-it-yourself reflexology, enhanced with the clinical strength BC Spa Pedicure products steps in. By the use of specific hand and finger techniques, along with the application of the Foot Salve to the feet, we can begin to interrupt stress patterns and clear any blockages that occur over time from everyday wear and tear.
Reflexology is an energy-based healing art that works through the nervous system. There are zones and reflexes on your feet and hands that "mirror" your entire body. Stimulating these reflexes sends messages to the associated body parts. It relieves tension, improves circulation, aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells, and assists in bringing your body to a natural state of balance. There are many self-care techniques you can do to help ease the discomfort of tired, achy feet and aid the body in its own healing process. Some self-care techniques done on a regular basis, can bring you one step closer to good health.
Many have reported success for sinus and respiratory problems with the following technique. After treating your feet with the BC Spa Pedicure Foot Spray to loosen the dead skin and following with the Foot Scrub to remove any build-up of excess skin tissue, apply a liberal amount of the Foot Salve. Now, with the left hand on the dorsal (top) surface and the right hand on the plantar (bottom) surface of all five toes, rub vigorously back and forth. This helps the penetration of the essential oils from the Foot Salve. Next, supporting the base of the toes of the left foot with the left hand, grab the big toe on either side between the index finger and thumb of the right hand and "crab walk" down to the base of the toe, taking about five to six steps. Repeat in two rows, then "crab walk" along the inside and outside of the toe in two rows. Do the same for each toe. Switch feet. This helps stimulate the reflexes for the head, brain, and sinuses. Sit for a few minutes and breathe in the aroma of these invigorating oils. This can be especially beneficial for sinus and respiratory conditions!
For those days when you are experiencing intestinal or stomach discomfort,. Grasp the foot with the left hand along the dorsal surface of the foot, just below the ankle. With the thumb of the right hand, "walk" up the arch of the foot vertically, making several successive passes from the right to the left, taking about twelve steps per pass. Repeat at least two times for each foot. Some of the many reflexes you will be stimulating in this area are the stomach, liver, pancreas, colon, and small intestines.
For helping relieve PMS symptoms and headaches caused from hormonal imbalances, grasp the left foot with the right hand from behind the ankle. Position the thumb at the midway point between the anklebone and the posterior edge of the heel. Position the index finger in the same place, on the opposite side. Exerting pressure with the thumb and index finger, rotate the foot in a clockwise direction six times, then in a counterclockwise direction six times. Repeat with varying pressure. Switch feet. This action helps stimulate the ovary and uterus reflexes on women and the prostate reflexes on men.
For overall circulation, it is good to work the entire foot. With one hand on the dorsal surface and one hand on the plantar surface, vigorously rub the entire foot.
Finally, have you heard about this special "hands off" tip for busy folks? When sitting around a table or while on the phone, roll a tennis ball under your foot. This is a great way to stretch the plantar fascia, that long tendon that runs along the plantar surface of the foot from the heel to the ball of the foot. It's also an easy way to stimulate all those reflexes on the planter surface. By doing these simple techniques and applying essential oils on a regular basis, you can begin to feel how your feet directly affect your entire body.
Last but not least, try this tip after a long, hard day. Pour hot water into a basin and apply at least 2 tablespoons of the Therapeutic Bath Minerals. Sink your feet into a taste of heaven: aaahhh! Now that makes scents ... from head to toe!
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What’s the secret to hosting a spectacular spa? Inviting lots of people! Your BeautiControl spa should be a relaxing, refreshing experience. Follow these simple tips for the perfect at-home getaway:
Hosting a Spa:
The Plan to Relax
- Plan your guest list - Make a list of 20 or more people you know who deserve some pampering or relaxation. Having trouble thinking of 20 people? Use this simple acronym – FRANK. Contact Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors and Kid’s connections. When you think about FRANK, you come up with a LOT of people!
- Hostess tip: Invite twice as many guests as you plan for to allow for cancellations.
- Make your invitations personal: Call everyone on your list and ask them to save the date. Your Hostess Packet will include a simple script you can follow if you want. And when you provide your guest’s names and addresses to your Consultant, she will send out spa invitations! How’s that for personal service?
- Hostess tip: Consider e-invitations too! They are great for keeping track of your responses!
- Follow-up, build excitement – Call your friends and family a couple of days before your spa to remind them of their relaxing, pampering experience. Encourage them to be on time so they don’t miss a thing!
- Hostess tip: Keep your call light and breezy.
- Get pre-spa sales – When someone says they can’t attend, ask if they would like to order a spa treatment set or other item from the BeautiControl Product Guide.. This is a great way to increase your spa sales, thereby increasing your hostess credit. Set a goal of $100 in pre-spa sales. You can do it!
- Hostess tip: Remember – you get sales when you ask for them!
- Should there be refreshments? This is totally up to you. It’s not necessary to provides food or drinks at your spa, however, you can if you desire.
- Hostess tip: We suggest a pitcher of lemon water and some light snacks. Remember – simple is best!
- One word: RELAX – Your BeautiControl Independent Consultant will bring everything you need for an indulgent, pampering, rejuvenating, ahhh-inspriring getaway in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
- Hostess tip: Let it all go. Just kick-back and have fun!
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