A dancer’s feet are the most important tool, and they need to be cared for.
How to Soothe Your Achy Feet
The number one body part that takes most of the stress from dancing is your feet. You twirl, jump, travel across the floor, thanks to your feet and although dancing can be a liberating type of physical activity, you can’t deny that your feet get tired. Sore feet are very common among dancers, but that doesn’t mean you need to settle for the pain.
A little self-care goes a long way in pampering your feet, and it is definitely necessary. When your feet are sore, it is good to take the time to care for them and help those tired, achy feet get some relief so that you can get back to dancing pain-free, in no time. Here are some tips to help you refresh your dancer’s feet.
Put Your Legs Up Against the Wall
If you’ve never done this before, it can sound crazy. Why would you take your legs up the wall? After a long day, you’ve used your feet and legs a lot, and if you danced, they are possibly even more tired. Try to lay down on your bed or the floor facing the wall and extend your legs and rest them against the wall. This practice helps improve circulation and minimize inflammation of the legs and feet.
Go for a Warm Water Soak With Epsom Salt
Sore feet love warm water. In a small foot tub, a bucket or your regular tub, add warm water and Epsom salts and soak your feet. In addition to relieving muscle cramps, the salts can help neutralize foot odor and even smooth the skin. Using salts with essential oils like lavender is a great way to incorporate some aromatherapy to this whole ritual.
Self-Massage Them
Applying pressure to your feet with your own hands can also help relieve the pain and stress that they might be carrying. You can certainly go to a professional to get a massage, but you can also do it yourself at home and save yourself some money. Just make sure you go over the ball of your feet, your arch and heel, and be gentle around your Achilles tendon.
Sore feet are part of a dancer’s life. It’s all about learning to manage that and doing what’s best for you and your feet at any given time. If you take more than one dance class a week, it can be effortless for your feet to become tired. Pamper your feet. They deserve it, and so do you!