Monday, March 2, 2015

Yoga For Your Feet

We spend so much time on our feet, yet ironically we don’t usually think to stretch them at all!

Here are a few simple yoga poses that can help keep your feet healthy and pain free!

ARCH STRETCH


Begin on your knees with your toes curled under.  Slowly sit back on to your heels until you feel a gentle stretch in your arches.  Hold for 3-5 breaths and then uncurl your toes. 


*It is very important in this pose to listen to your body and find the variation of this pose that works best for you – you should feel a gentle stretch, NOT pain!


ALTERNATE ARCH STRETCH


If the above stretch is too much you can start off with a less intense version.  Begin seated on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you, feet flexed.  Using your hands or a strap reach around your toes or the ball of your foot and gently pull back until you feel a stretch in your arches.



TOP OF THE FOOT STRETCH


Now that we’ve stretched the bottom of our feet, let’s not forget the top!

Begin kneeling with the tops of your feet flat on the floor.  Slowly lift your knees and rock backwards until you feel a gentle stretch on the top of your feet. 


To help alleviate arch tightness you can also roll your foot on a tennis ball or golf ball using your own body weight to control the pressure.  Make sure to roll out all parts of your foot working from your heel to the ball of your foot.

What better way to keep your feet happy than incorporating these simple stretches into your daily routine or yoga practice!

Don’t forget you can join me on the mat at Mashpee Fitness Thursday mornings at 8:30am!

Blog post by Danielle Nardi.

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