Japanese Foot Massage – A Secret to Japanese Health and Longevity
Japanese people have the highest life expectancy in the world, and one of the secrets to their longevity is the practice of Japanese foot massage. Learn about this simple yet incredibly effective home health care practice.
What is Japanese Foot Massage?
Japanese foot massage, called Zoku Shin Do, is based on the practice of reflexology, which originated in China but has been practiced in Japan for hundreds if not thousands of years.
Reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principle that there are pressure points in the feet that correspond to every vital organ and gland in the body. The application of pressure to these points releases tension that tends to store up in the feet, which in turn improves circulation and energy flow and contributes holistically to the health of the body as a whole.
The Japanese take this philosophy to heart, and routinely practice foot massage in order to maintain their overall health. Japan is also a country where people do quite a bit of walking, often in high heels and dress shoes, so Japanese foot massage is also practiced in Japan simply as a way to effectively care for and eliminate foot fatigue and soreness!
Japanese Home Foot Massage Tools
Due to their busy lifestyles, it is often not practical for most Japanese to regularly visit a reflexologist or masseuse. Therefore, it is not surprising that almost every Japanese home has one or more foot massage devices that they use on a daily basis to care for their feet and overall health.
Take-fumi Japanese Foot Massager
The take-fumi, which in Japanese literally means “step bamboo,” is just that, a simple half-cut piece of smooth, hard bamboo that is arched perfectly to provide an unbelievably blissful foot massage.
How to Use a Fumitake
The take-fumi is incredibly simple and efficient to use. Simply place it on the floor and stand on it. As you work your feet back and forth, the natural arch of the bamboo hits all of the pressure points of the feet.
As you stand on the take-fumi, you feel the tension in your feet releasing instantly, tension that you likely did not even know you even had. A couple minutes per day is all that is required to enjoy tension-free feet and contribute to your body’s overall health through the practice of home reflexology.
There are several types of take-fumi. The most basic and most popular is the simple bamboo take-fumi described above. Another type is made out of hard plastic, and has little nubs that act kind of like fingers and provide additional stimulation to the pressure points of the feet.
The Japanese Secret to Health and Longevity
Almost every home has a take-fumi, and almost every Japanese uses one for a couple minutes each day for home reflexology. It is no coincidence that the Japanese have the highest life expectancy and enjoy the best health in the world.
By: Shane A Jones
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Filed under Health And Fitness by on Sep 8th, 2010. 