Good day one and all!  Chef Tom has kindly put together some recipes that have been requested by guests of the Inn during his time with us.  He will be sharing one of these from time to time.  We hope you enjoy it!

Red Potatoes with Walnuts and Gorgonzola  

80 pieces

      ·         40 red Potatoes

I can’t tell you how many times I hear people say, “I don’t know how you manage to do so many massages in a day. Don’t your hands get tired?” In the same vein, I’ll hear people mention that although their spouses give great foot rubs, they can’t do more than a minute because their hands get achy.

Well, I bet you’ve guessed that I have a solution and some suggestions. First of all, massage therapists aren’t machines. One of the tricks we use to avoid overwork is to get treatments ourselves. I can always tell when it is time to lie down and receive because my body lets me know – just like yours might!

Second, we do have to limit how many hours a week we do this work, because it is physically taxing. If you knew the attrition rate in this profession, you might be surprised. Then again, maybe you wouldn’t, because so many people do acknowledge that hands can only do so much before they ache or lose their strength.

Third, (did you forget I was still counting) those of us that stay in the profession do everything we can to work in ways that conserve energy and minimize the amount of stress our bodies receive. We take workshops that teach us, tangibly, about body mechanics and how to work in ways that are most efficient.

Now, (I was going to say “fourth,” but it really seems to be getting a bit much) how can you benefit from all of this?

Well, I’d like to teach you a simple foot massage routine that is therapeutic and relaxing for recipients and easy on the practitioner.

To begin, you will need at least one foot, not your own for this particular treatment. You will also need a massage oil of your choice, or a good quality olive oil. In the spa we use a high grade organic olive oil that is great for the skin and easy to use. It’s good for you inside and out.

Sit facing your partner, whose bare feet should be propped up on a chair or couch with room for you to stand or sit right in front of them. As one reflexologist put it, it is now time to “meet the feet.”

A simple way to do this is to bring your thumb and forefinger of one hand together around a toe. The pad of your thumb lies on the sole side of the toe and the pad of the finger on the top side of the toe. Both thumb and finger rest at the base of the toe – closest to where it attaches at the foot.

Next, gently press your thumb and finger together in a pinching motion. When this is complete, move a centimeter or so toward the toenail and repeat, continually moving along the toe in this way until you’ve got no more toe to work on. Go back to the starting point and now do this a little deeper (being sure to communicate with your recipient and modifying for comfort). Repeat a third time and then continue on to the rest of the other nine toes. Refrain from chanting rhymes about pigs going off to market and doing strange things like eating roast beef. It may be enjoyable for you, but your friend is just trying to relax and you will likely being lying down next.

The next step is what I call “Hey, that really feels great!” You can come up with your own name if you want. A more clinical option might be “Stimulation of parasympathetic nervous system via somatovisceral reflexes,” or something catchy like that.

Bring both hands together so your thumbs are on the top of the foot and your fingers naturally come to rest along the sole. This is the perfect position for you as a practitioner, because it requires minimal effort and little stress on your body. Begin by gently kneading or squeezing your fingertips in the direction of your own palms. This hand position creates a lot of support for you and the foot. As before, you now move about a centimeter towards the toes and repeat, coming back to your starting point and repeating the whole process many times.

Step three feels great too, and all of this really does have health benefits, it’s just a relief to know that you don’t have to concentrate or try for those – they happen naturally. Relax and enjoy yourself. Take your thumb and index finger and place one on the outside of the heel just below the ankle and the other on the inside of the heel, just below the ankle. With your other hand, gently hold the toes.

This next part sounds harder than patting your head and rubbing your belly, but it’s really quite easy. Using the hand holding the toes, gradually bend the ankle so the toes move towards the person’s head, then bend gently back in the opposite direction. Continue this motion as you simultaneously squeeze your thumb and index finger towards each other, pressing into the sides of the foot. You can repeat this squeezing many times, moving in a sort of a crescent shape back and forth under the ankle.

Finally, and this is the finale, get a little bit of oil spread between your hands and return to the previously described hand position. This time, let your fingers glide towards the toes, varying your pressure to your partner’s needs. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat…

Wasn’t that easy? The best part is that you get to trade places now, or you could start again and repeat the whole series of techniques multiple times for a longer treatment. I find this is simple to learn and very good for people.

Of course, it’s always best to use common sense. Don’t do this with someone who has an injury, is in the midst of a fever or an infection. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you.

The original version of this column appeared in The Holmes County Shopper

Dave Pratt, LMT, BA, is Director of Spa Services here at the inn. He is a licensed massage therapist and offers treatments and classes at the spa. He welcomes your questions and can be reached at 330-674-0011, extension 234 or spa@innathoneyrun.com.