Last week I went out to dinner and decided to get all dolled up for the occasion. It's a rare event for me to wear high heels, but I got all glammed up and went for it. Fast forward to the end of the evening, after my shoes had been removed, and I'm shaking my head in dismay at toes all squished together like sardines and red indentations from the shoe straps. The pressure of all one hundred and thirty pounds of me weighing on the ball of each foot definitely can't be good. I tucked the heels away and won't be taking them out for a very long time.
We don't give our feet enough credit for all the work they do. Think about the fact that for a good part of our day they serve as our body's foundation and our connection to the earth. And as our body shifts from walking to sitting to running to jumping, our feet need to be balanced and strong to help facilitate that movement.
And we do awful things to our feet! Specifically, we wear restrictive footwear such as high heels, cleats, ski boots, ballet points, rock-climbing shoes and cowboy boots, which all significantly contribute to the weakening of our feet. Many of our foot problems can be attributed to shoes. It's understandable that three out of four people will develop a serious foot problem in their lifetime.
Five ways to keep feet happy and healthy after the jump.
The result of such blatant disregard for our precious paws are fallen arches, flat feet, bunions, hammertoes and claw toes. And problems in our feet can then manifest in our bodies and we may experience misalignment and pain in our knees, hips, back and shoulders. Then there is the tension we hold in our feet, which we will also feel in our bodies.
Just as any standing structure relies on a strong foundation, our yoga practice also cannot flourish without healthy, balanced feet. In yoga, rooting our feet into the ground is pivotal for standing poses. If our feet are wobbly, this will translate into a wobbly pose. When we don't feel rooted into the ground, the rest of our body senses that, which makes it really hard to let go and trust that we will be fully supported.
This also rings true for our day-to-day living, when we lose our connection to the earth, it is challenging for us to trust and let go. We hear people often say, "I need to get grounded", referring to their lack of stability and security. Who knew that our well-being so heavily depended on our feet. And when you look at it that way, healthy feet are crucial to our happiness.
Here are five ways to bring life back into your feet and keep them happy and healthy.
1. Tennis ball: This is a cheap and effective way of massaging the bottoms of our feet. While standing, roll the bottom of your foot on top of a tennis ball. Find a few sweet spots. You may stay in one particular area for a longer period of time working out the knots and releasing the tension. Make sure to roll the ball under the arch of your foot too; your feet will feel brand new.
2. Massage: Use oil or lotion (without parabens!) and give your feet a rubdown while watching TV. Don't forget to do the tops.
3. Toe stretchers: I can't speak highly enough about toe stretchers. They align, stretch and strengthen the foot muscles and bring awareness back to our feet. I have a pair of toe stretchers that I love to wear when I'm at home working on the computer, cooking, reading, watching a movie and I've even worn them taking a nap. When I wear my toe stretchers, instantly, I feel every part of my foot rooted into the ground.
4. Walking: Of course walking is great exercise, but have you ever considered the benefit to your feet? Probably not. Next time you decide to ditch the car or transit for a walking commute, think about your feet and give them a workout.
5. Rocking from heel to toe: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and as you bring your arms up, slowly start to come up onto the tips of your toes, hold for five seconds, and then slowly start to come down, first placing the balls of your feet on the floor and then the inner and outer heels. Repeat ten times. This helps bring awareness to all areas of your feet, and also strengthens the muscles.
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