Your feet are the foundation for your yoga practice. Here are 3 yoga principles for better foot health.
When you walk, dance, or simply stand on your legs, your feet are the foundation and first point of contact with the ground. Keeping up with proper yoga practices can strengthen and bring flexibility to your feet and ankles, leading to better overall body alignment. Here are some yoga principles and poses to get you started for a strong, steady stance and healthy feet.
Aligning
Alignment in yoga is to perform any poses correctly with proper balance, flexibility, and muscle strength. Keeping a good alignment maximizes the benefits of your yoga practices, reduces injuries and prevents foot problems, such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, and shin splints.
There are many yoga poses that can relieve back pain, strengthen your core and spine, and improve posture from your feet up. A simple pose to try would be the Downward-facing Dog pose, where you stretch your body similar to the way a dog stretches. Start by aligning your feet and palms on the floor, tucking your toes under, and pushing your pelvis up to resemble the shape of a triangle. Hold your body in position, breathe slowly with a slight bend on your knees while lengthening your spine until you feel the stretch.
Strengthening
Yoga is also a strength-based practice that uses the resistance of your body weight to tone your muscles and reduce body stress, while keeping your feet strong and flexible. It is crucial to have good balancing and proper weight distribution across your feet, so practicing the Tree Pose, a standing yoga posture that requires balance and coordination, is a good way to strengthen your feet and build stability. Slowly lift and bend your right knee to rest the sole of your right foot against your left inner thigh, toes facing down. Stay in this pose and take a moment to focus on your breathing before repeating it on the other side.
Stretching
Stretching in yoga on a regular basis increases blood flow to your muscles, alleviates muscle tension, and reduces potential foot cramps. A good whole-body stretch from your upper body down to your feet is the Warrior Pose, a lunging pose with the front knee bent and the back leg stretched behind.
Simply stand with your feet hip-distance apart, turn your left heel forward to a 90-degree angle and bend your knee into a lunge. Relax your shoulders, extend your arms to the side and take deep breaths before repeating on the other side.
Yoga helps to align, strengthen, and stretch your body for better feet and overall health, but performing the same yoga poses repeatedly can cause dry and cracked heels over time. So be sure to take care of your feet inside out, and don’t forget to apply Ellgy Plus before and after every yoga session for lasting moisture and feet protection.
References
https://fordsfootandanklecare.com/2016/11/yoga-foot-health/
https://www.yogajournal.com/teach/anatomy-yoga-practice/foot-health-in-yoga/
https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/yoga-sequences/foot-notes/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-benefits-of-yoga
