Foot Massage techniques using other feet (not hands)?

June 24, 2011 11:10 AM

My wife was introduced to a foot massage using one's feet (not hands). I'd like to know more. Is there a recognized technique or method that involves massaging feet *with other feet*?

My wife is a teacher and so is on her feet all day. One of her kids' parents gave her a quick foot massage by having my wife sit down on the floor and then gently stepping on her (unshod) feet (soles, instep, heel, etc.). Has anybody else ever seen this? It feels *really* good, and nobody has to get their hands stinky.

I would like to know more but googling anything about foot massage with other feet is not helpful. IIRC, the parent was from Afghanistan, I think.

posted by toomanyplugs to health & fitness (6 answers total)

A yoga teacher (in NYC) did this to me once during a class while I was in child's pose. Blew my mind.
posted by hermitosis at 11:12 AM on June 24, 2011

I haven't seen it before but as someone in massage school - a massage tool is a massage tool in my opinion. With the client on the floor that's certainly an easy way for a therapist to get a lot of pressure on the target area with minimal effort.
posted by MillMan at 11:23 AM on June 24, 2011

It could have been thai massage, also called thai yoga massage. Here's a video that demos thai massage, relevant section is 45 seconds in.
posted by blueskiesinside at 12:01 PM on June 24, 2011

I've seen it in some forms of Thai massage and Ashiatsu (shiatsu using the feet) - it's usually a smaller part of working on the legs, but I'm sure you could easily develop a full foot massage out of it.
posted by yeloson at 12:22 PM on June 24, 2011

Boko-maru?
posted by thedward at 7:33 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I practice Ayurvedic yoga massage. We have massages for the whole body (not just the feet) with our feet. One of the more spectacular ones is where you stand on the clients buttock and push the shoulder blades aside with your foot. You need good balance and precise control. It is kind on the massage therapist's body, too.
posted by Eltulipan at 4:39 AM on June 26, 2011