Michelle Remedial Therapist

🦶 YOUR BIG TOE & YOUR GLUTES — WHAT’S THE CONNECTION?
We often think of the foot and the hip as completely separate areas of the body. But when we stand and walk, they’re very much part of the same movement chain.
A well-functioning foot uses three main points of contact with the ground:
👣 The heel
👣 The base of the little toe
👣 The base of the big toe
Together these form what’s often called the “foot tripod.”
If the big toe is stiff, painful, pushed inward by footwear, or you habitually avoid loading through it, the way you distribute pressure through your foot can change. That can influence ankle and knee mechanics and potentially change how the muscles around your hip—including your glutes—are recruited during movement.
It doesn’t mean every sleepy glute is caused by a big toe! But when I’m looking at lower-body tension or movement patterns, the feet are absolutely worth including in the picture.
A simple thing to try: stand barefoot and gently feel all three points of your foot contacting the floor. Keep your toes relaxed rather than gripping. Then slowly shift your weight or perform a small squat and notice whether you feel more stable.
And have a look at your shoes. 👟 Your toes should have enough room to sit naturally rather than being squeezed together.
Sometimes where we feel the problem isn’t where the movement pattern begins. The body works as a whole. 🌿


P.S. 🦶 Bunions aren’t just hereditary.
Genetics may influence your foot shape and susceptibility, but footwear, loading patterns, big-toe movement and biomechanics can all contribute too. Your feet aren’t necessarily destined to develop bunions just because they “run in the family.”

Sore knee?
Don't forget that your knee lives between a hip and a foot.
Hip strength, quadriceps, hamstrings, calf function, ankle mobility and the way you load the foot can all influence what's happening around the knee.
That's why remedial treatment doesn't always focus exclusively on the exact spot that hurts.
Sometimes the troublemaker lives next door. 😉

PHOTOTHERAPY & ACHY JOINTS
Light isn't only something we need to see.
Photobiomodulation — often called red-light or low-level light therapy — uses specific wavelengths of light and is increasingly used as an adjunct in musculoskeletal care.
For some people with arthritic or musculoskeletal pain, it may be useful as part of a broader treatment approach.
I can incorporate phototherapy into a remedial session where appropriate alongside hands-on treatment.
More tools = more ways to tailor treatment to the person on the table. 🌿

SPRING WALKING 👟
Beautiful weather + longer days = suddenly deciding to walk twice as far as you've walked all winter.
Your feet would like to lodge a formal complaint. 😂
If you're increasing your activity this spring, give your tissues time to adapt. Build distance gradually, wear supportive footwear and pay attention to niggles before they become persistent problems.
Your body loves movement.
It just prefers a polite introduction rather than an ambush.

10 FREE WAYS TO SHIFT YOUR STATE
Simple things you can do at home to help your body feel calmer, more grounded and more connected.
You don’t always need to buy another supplement, book another treatment or download another app.
Sometimes the simplest things can help your nervous system shift gears.
1. Breathe out a little longer
Try breathing in gently for 4 counts and breathing out for 6 counts.
Continue for 2–5 minutes without forcing the breath.
2. Put on calming music
Choose music that makes your body naturally soften.
Try the 432 Hz music link I’ve sent you, gentle instrumental music, nature sounds or anything that feels peaceful to you.
3. Do 10 minutes of Yin Yoga
You don’t need a full workout.
A few slow, comfortable stretches while allowing your breathing to settle can be enough.
Use the Yin Yoga link I’ve sent you whenever you need a gentle reset.
4. Step outside
Go outside for five minutes.
Feel the air on your skin. Notice the sky, trees, birds and sounds around you.
You don't have to do anything.
5. Take a phone-free walk
Walk for 10 minutes without scrolling, talking or listening to a podcast.
Notice your feet touching the ground and what's happening around you.
6. Hum or sing
Hum gently, sing in the shower or put on a favourite song and sing along.
The combination of sound, vibration and a naturally longer exhale can feel wonderfully settling.
7. Shake off the day
Stand comfortably and gently shake your hands, arms, shoulders and legs for 30–60 seconds.
Then become still.
Notice what has changed.
8. Soften your body
Check in with your:
Jaw • Shoulders • Hands • Belly • Glutes • Feet
Are you holding tension somewhere without realising it?
You don't need to make yourself relax. Simply notice the tension and see whether your body is willing to soften it.
9. Find one moment of connection
Pat your dog. Call someone you love. Sit outside with a cup of tea. Laugh. Listen to music. Watch the sunset.
Regulation doesn't always have to look like meditation.
Sometimes it looks like enjoying being alive.
10. Notice what felt good today
Before bed, think of three small things that felt good.
Warm sunshine.
A good conversation.
A delicious meal.
A laugh.
Clean sheets.
A quiet moment.
They don't need to be profound.
The practice is simply teaching your attention to notice the good moments too.

You don't have to do all 10.
Choose one thing that feels good today.
Your body responds to breath, movement, music, nature, rest, connection and attention.
And some of the most supportive things available to us are completely free.

HYDRATION 💧
A spring reminder from your massage therapist:
Drink some water.
Yes, now. 😆
Hydration supports normal circulation, temperature regulation, digestion, joint function and countless cellular processes.
And during menopause, when temperature regulation and hot flushes may already be making life interesting, keeping fluids up becomes particularly important.
Fancy supplements can have their place.
But sometimes the body is simply asking for water.

Sometimes self-care is noticing where we’ve become the person who always helps, fixes, organises and carries the load.
Being needed can feel like being valued — but they’re not always the same thing.
A little reminder for today:
❤️ You don’t have to earn your place by being useful.
❤️ Healthy relationships include giving and receiving.
❤️ You deserve to feel chosen, not simply needed.
Save some of that beautiful caring energy for yourself, too.

PAIN & THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Sometimes persistent pain isn't simply about finding one tight muscle and releasing it.
Pain is produced by the nervous system, using information from the body together with context, stress, sleep, previous experiences and many other factors.
That's why a calming treatment can sometimes be just as important as a strong one.
Your body doesn't always need to be pushed.
Sometimes it needs to feel safe enough to stop protecting.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
If you're the person everybody relies on, there's something worth remembering:
You are also a resource.
Your energy, patience, physical strength and emotional capacity aren't infinite.
Self-care doesn't have to mean spa days and candles. Sometimes it's booking the appointment, drinking the water, going for the walk, getting enough protein, saying no, going to bed earlier or finally dealing with the shoulder that's been hurting for six months.
Looking after yourself helps you continue showing up for the people you love without continually drawing from an empty account.