Our feet are incredibly complex structures. Each foot has 33 joints, 26 bones, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles, and miles of blood vessels and nerves. They are used daily, and how they connect with the ground has a massive impact on how the rest of our body moves. They are the foundation of our body, literally and figuratively!
Our feet ground us, enable us to move and balance, and affect our mobility and posture. It is not until they cause us pain or are injured that we realise how important they are to our overall health.
Our feet mostly go unnoticed in our day-to-day lives, but they really need more attention. During this month, start being more aware of how your feet move and how that affects the rest of your body.
In yoga, we focus on balance, and emphasis is placed on feeling how the feet connect with the ground. To feel balanced, I suggest imagining a triangle connecting the big toe, little toe, and heel so the weight stays even throughout this triangle. Awareness of how the foot strikes and connects with the ground can really help our balance, which is vital to avoid falling, especially as we get older.
Our feet also need some TLC to reward them for all the hard work they do for us! A great way to release some of the tension that builds up in the muscles of the foot is to roll it over a golf ball or similar. It is amazing how much freer the foot feels after doing this exercise and how it seems to move more easily. I also love barefoot shoes, as they enable the feet to move as they should, without the toes being squashed, which helps with posture.
One of my favourite quotes is, “Be where your feet are”. It’s a great reminder to stay in the present, to live in the moment, and to remain grounded. Why not have that as your thought for the next month and see the difference it makes in your daily life?
