YOGA FOR YOUR FEET. AHHHH-OMMMMM.

Like the roots of a plant, our feet give us immense possibilities to grow and go to places we never likely thought of visiting. Without them, we can never walk from place to place, let alone fulfill our essential Nursing responsibilities.

Unfortunately, we are often too busy to give our tootsies the much needed TLC. They’re so taken for granted that few nurses are even aware that April is the National Foot Health Awareness Month in the US.

But it’s not too late for a fresh start. Using the infographic above from MassageBoss, you can now add a few knowledge to your arsenal—tips that will not only keep work-related foot pain at bay but also help you have a long-term job satisfaction. Here are some of the key takeaways from the list:

Rotate your Nursing shoes.

Provided that you’ve followed all the cardinal rules in choosing the best shoes for your feet, you can rest assured that the chances of you getting debilitating foot injury are slim. But there’s one more important advice that podiatrists want you to remember: Rotate the shoes you use every other day.

Having at least two pairs will prevent the same shoe from putting too much stress on the same pressure points of your feet. Wear a different pair every few days to allow these pressure points to heal and keep your feet comfortable.

Watch what you eat.

Our diet can also dictate how our feet will perform. In the case of nurses, dehydration and lack of potassium often lead to foot cramps. Cellular repair and other metabolic processes in the body depend on water and electrolytes. Therefore, make it a ritual to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day no matter how busy your shift might become. As for the potassium, you can get a sufficient supply of it by snacking on papaya or banana.

Give your feet a yoga-riffic treat.

Yoga is just as good for the feet as it is for the whole body. In fact, a foot yoga brings health benefits that ripple towards other parts of the body. In the words of Robert Kornfeld, a holistic podiatrist, “when you treat foot problems with yoga, you end up treating back pain, hip pain, all kinds of structural problems. Not only does it stretch out the muscles and lead to a greater range of motion, but it helps heal the root issue of inflammation as well.”

Start with a simple stretching exercise by rolling a tennis or golf ball under your feet. Then, proceed to a standing pose like Tadasana (Mountain Pose) to build awareness of your feet.

Try lifting the arch of the foot while pushing down in the edges; by doing so, you are helping your feet distribute the weight of your body better. It’s important to keep the feet in a healthy alightment with the rest of the body to prevent foot ailments. You can then proceed to yoga poses like downward facing dog and hero pose that can give your feet a nice stretch.

Take note, however, that although these tips help alleviate foot pain, they aren’t as effecctive in addressing the underlying cause. If you’re suffering from chronic foot pain accompanied by tingling sensation or numbness, get professional help as soon as possible. Podiatrists will direct you to the right approach to prevent a simple foot pain from evolving to a debilitating disorder.

Gratitude to Lui Batongbakal and Massage Boss who brought this info to our attention and put this post together.

My feet see your feet, my heart sees your heart. We are grateful. 

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