Healthy Feet – Healthy Body

2026 January 06

Do you care for your feet?

"Of course," you'll probably think spontaneously.

But what exactly is meant by "foot care" – and what tips does Ayurveda have for beautiful, well-cared-for feet?

Foot care goes far beyond what we call "pedicure," i.e., bathing the feet, trimming nails, removing calluses, caring for the feet with cosmetic products, and fashionable nail polish.

Our feet are the foundation of our body. They carry us through our entire lives. That's why we want to focus entirely on the topic of foot health and the importance of healthy feet for our body. Appropriately, we introduce you to the Ayurvedic foot massage "Padabhyanga," which brings body, mind, and soul into harmonious balance, and we are pleased to be able to offer you the traditional "Kaash Wellness Bowl" for foot massage in our online shop starting now.

The right footwear for healthy feet

Almost 100% of all infants are born with healthy feet, whereas about 80% of adults have foot problems such as enlarged bunions, hammer toes, corns, flat feet, splay feet, or heel spurs.

Why is that?

According to experts, a major role in the development of these problems is played by inappropriate footwear, which we often wear from childhood onwards. That good, foot-healthy shoes are not a luxury is truly not a new insight. Even the ancient Ayurvedic texts advised paying attention to "correct" footwear.

What does that mean?

Of course, thousands of years ago, there were no "high heels" or "high-tech" shoes, and therefore, the ancient texts do not contain Ayurvedic recommendations for correcting problems caused by particularly fashionable shoes with high heels and insufficient toe room.

Let's take a brief look at how high heels and tight shoes affect our health.

Shoes shape our feet

Pointy shoes disable the big toe, which should actually be actively involved in the rolling motion of the foot. If this active use of the toes during rolling is not possible, the body adapts and only uses the midfoot and hindfoot to bear the body's weight.

This incorrect loading often goes unnoticed for a very long time, sometimes for many years. This is because, at first, it causes only limited pain. The foot adapts. But the toes deform, taking on the shape of the frequently worn pointed shoes; the foot becomes weak, the muscles waste away – and problems are then inevitable.

An approximately 5,500-year-old leather shoe, found in a cave in Armenia in early 2010. Note the wide toe box. Source: Press release University College Cork dated 09.06.2010

Free your feet!

Make sure your shoes offer enough freedom for your toes. Our feet are actually asymmetrically shaped: they are wide at the front and narrow at the back. Most shoes, however, have nothing in common with the anatomy of our feet.

A shoe should not restrict your foot, should have no heel (= zero drop) and a thin sole, and should also allow the big toe ground contact and enable it to function as if it were barefoot, so that muscles and arches are engaged and trained.

Therefore, it is best to wear shoes with high heels only rarely. Tip for ladies: Take your "high heels" with you to events or parties and wear them only for a short time.

If the heel is positioned higher than the forefoot, this is called "heel drop." This has an adverse effect on our body's static: We tip forward and have to compensate with compensatory movements in the knees, hips, and spine to maintain balance. We develop a hollow back. Many joint and back pains come from this alone. Did you know that?

By the way, this is already the case with a minimal heel (even with "ballet flats") – and, of course, much more so with high-heeled shoes.

Walking barefoot

Try to walk barefoot as often as possible and enjoy this wonderful sensory experience. Of course, this is not always possible in everyday life. Then "barefoot shoes" are a good alternative, provided there are no health reasons against them.

We have tested some models – and found them to be good. There are now very chic and elegant barefoot shoes on the market (for example, from the companies ZAQQ, Vivobarefoot, and Joe Nimble).

But be careful: wear barefoot shoes only for short intervals at first, as your foot is probably no longer accustomed to this unusual strain due to cushioning, pronation supports, insoles, etc.

For most people, the foot muscles are impaired or no longer functioning correctly due to insufficient movement, incorrect footwear, etc.

The good thing is: these muscles – like all muscles, in principle – are trainable.

Foot training

It is ideal to book personal coaching or participate in a workshop, for example, at a barefoot school or the German "Barefoot Academy."

There you will learn how to regain natural foot function and how foot misalignments affect the body. You will learn "correct" standing, walking, and running, and receive many exercises and instructions for strengthening, mobility, and sensory perception of the feet, as well as an individual foot analysis.

Foot exercises with special balls, fascia rolls, or bands are also highly recommended. A large and good selection of instructions can be found on YouTube.

We at Maharishi Ayurveda Europe find the topic so exciting that we will spend this year's company outing in a Dutch "barefoot park." Perhaps this is a tip for your next outing with family or friends.

Happy Toes

If you already suffer from problems such as bunions, hammer toe, etc., consider purchasing a toe spreader. Here, it is worth paying attention to good quality. The "Correct Toes," sold in Germany as "Happy Toes," are recommended. These high-quality toe spreaders realign the toes correctly, provide stability and balance, and strengthen the toe and foot muscles.

Ayurvedic Foot Massages

That we should take good care of our feet is truly not a new insight. The millennia-old Ayurveda also recognizes the great importance of feet and their care for our health. One of the most valuable Ayurvedic massages is "Padabhyanga," the wonderfully soothing foot massage. It is one of the most important sub-treatments of a Panchakarma cure. But you can also enjoy the calming effects at home and, incidentally, do a lot for beautiful, well-cared-for feet. In one of the oldest foundational works of Ayurveda, the Charaka Samhita (Sutra Sthana V, 90–92), it is written: "By massaging oil in the feet, roughness, immobility, dryness, fatigue and numbness are instantaneously cured; tenderness, strength and steadiness of feet are effected; the eye sight becomes clear and vata (vitiated) is relieved thereby. Prevention from sciatica, cracking of feet, constriction of vessels and ligaments of feet is ensured if (oil) massage is applied to the feet."

"By massaging oil into the feet, roughness, immobility, dryness, fatigue, and numbness are instantly cured; tenderness, strength, and steadiness of the feet are achieved; eyesight becomes clear, and Vata imbalance is thereby reduced. If the feet are massaged (with oil), this prevents sciatica, cracking, constriction of vessels, and ligaments of the feet." Take some time, preferably before going to bed, and consciously massage your foot soles with (warm) oil. Vata Massage Oil is particularly suitable for this evening foot massage. The massage should be performed with gentle, stroking, and circular movements, and the calves can also be included. After just a few minutes, you will notice the relaxing effect and an increase in well-being.

Massaging the feet in the evening helps with insomnia, stress, nervousness, and inner restlessness, and also stimulates the "Marma points" of the foot, which are sensitive vital points. The most important Marma points on the foot are located between the toes, and the "heart of the foot" is situated slightly above the center of the sole of the foot. Tip: Treat yourself to a warm foot bath of about 10 minutes before the massage. Afterward, dry thoroughly. New with us: Kaash massage bowl Available now from us is the Kaash massage bowl, a harmonizing wellness bowl for foot massage. Foot massages with the Kaash bowl and ghee are traditionally performed in large parts of India, primarily before bedtime as a relaxing application.

The name Kaash stands for a special mixture of metals: its main components are copper and tin. The Kaash massage bowl looks like a small singing bowl and fits in one hand. It is smoothly polished on the inside and outside and provides exceptionally soft and gentle massage effects. We are pleased to be able to offer you this traditional massage bowl now. Each bowl is handmade and comes in a cotton bag with massage instructions. Foot massage with the Kaash massage bowl is generally possible at any time of day. Due to its relaxing effect on body and mind, we especially recommend it before bedtime.

We hope that our suggestions have made a small contribution to your foot health and wish you that you can continue to go through life with happy feet in the future. Your Maharishi Ayurveda Team