Barefoot Sage
Feet: The Heart & Sole of Walking

Feet. An imprint is taken of them when we’re born to capture the unique, intricate, and personal identifying lines they have. Feet are literally amazing feats of physics. Our tiny foot bones would crush under our weight, were it not for the perfectly designed arch. They are dynamic on many planes of movement. Our feet are such intricate and finely balanced structures that even a slight imbalance can greatly affect the rhythm of our stride and in some cases cause extreme discomfort.

Our feet are not designed for hard, flat surfaces. Before shoes, humans ran through the woods on springy soil, stepping on small sticks and rocks that stimulated the reflex points. Our feet moved dynamically as they contoured to the shape of the earth, arcing and wrapping over rocks and logs, each metatarsal moving separately, the tiny muscles in between them continually being stretched and contracted. As we matured, our feet became wide and strong, solid connections to the earth and a stable balancing point for our bodies.

Today we squeeze our feet into shoes, very often quite narrow with small toe boxes and generic arch supports. However, we need shoes to help shelter us from the crushing impact of running and walking on hard pavement. Each stride on these surfaces sends shockwaves up our structure. The shock-absorbing structures of our lower leg and foot receive the main impact of each blow.

To minimize that impact on our bodies, it is essential to bring our feet back to their primordial structure, each metatarsal bone moving independently, the fluidity of our foot returning, thus restoring our balanced nature. At Barefoot Sage licensed massage therapists apply massage techniques, reflexology, Chinese meridians, and Shiatsu points to provide a simultaneously therapeutic and pampering experience. “Our clients have reported ease in knee, hip, and lower back discomfort, aggravated by painful and imbalanced feet. This massage has also been shown to be very effective in alleviating the pain associated with plantar fasciitis, a common painful inflammation of the sole of the foot,” claims Cuqui Mazal, co-owner of The Barefoot Sage.

The Barefoot Sage also provides healing spa treatments catered to your specific needs. You can relax your feet in hot water held in a large ceramic bowl, let your feet glide over Japanese river stones, or sink your feet into a healing mound of bentonite clay scented with sage. There are also detoxifying salt glows and deep heating paraffin dips. At the end of your treatment your feet are wrapped in towels and surrounded with hot stones. The heat from the stones alleviates joint pain and is grounding.

“At the Barefoot Sage we look at feet as a microcosm of the whole being,” affirms Cuqui. “Through the use of various massage techniques and our therapeutic spa treatments, we help the body to recover from the ’Fight or flight’ nervous response and enter the parasympathetic ”rest and rejuvenate’ response. This reduces physical pain, decreases edema and improves circulation, which aids and speeds the bodies natural recovery process.”

Whether your body has just experienced the extreme repetitive G forces of a marathon or just lived through a stressful day, massage
physically helps encourage your body toward its
natural healing state. As a retreat from the stresses of the day, as part of a self-care regime, or to simply soak your feet in a bath of warm healing stones after a long walk The Barefoot Sage will make your visit worth every minute.

The Barefoot Sage is located at 1844 SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR; 503-239-7116; www.thebarefootsage.com.