Believe it or not, aching feet should not be a normal part of life. “A normal foot is pain-free, with normal muscle balance and the absence of contracture,” says Joan Forlow, who recently added foot reflexology touch therapy as part of the spa add-ons at Healing Facials in Cold Spring, NY.

As a former dancer and yoga instructor, Forlow knows the importance of caring for the feet.  “I noticed that my clients responded with a sense of overall well-being after their feet had been worked on at the end of the facial, while the mask was on,” she says. This observation led her to in-depth study with Craig Kienzle at the Swedish Institute of Massage in Manhattan, where she learned a 40-minute foot massage whose sequence of strokes, stretches and deep-release techniques are designed to create a feeling of renewal on all levels. “My feet were happy for days after my class partner worked on them,” she says. “Our feet are our very foundation. You never know how important it is to care for them until you stop and enjoy a 40-minute session geared just for them.”

A New York-licensed skin-care therapist, Forlow completed 600-hour training at the New York School of Esthetics and Day Spa and expert-level coursework at the Dermal Institute in Manhattan. She is currently studying touch therapy techniques at the Swedish Massage Institute.

Healing Facials is located at 3021 Rte. 9, Cold Spring. For appointments, including a $40, 40-minute foot massage, call 845.559.3326. For more info, visit HealingFacials.com.