Making time to specifically exercise your feet is crucial for long lasting mobility.
Your feet are your foundation and without strong, flexible feet you risk your balance and stability.
Try these exercises as part of my Mindful Monday Series to create strong and flexible feet to improve your balance and stability.
Your feet are your foundation. They give you the ability to move, to walk, and to support you each and every day. Take time every single day to give your feet some attention.
Draw one knee into the chest so that you can access your foot. If it’s more comfortable, you can hold your underneath your leg. Find any comfortable position that allows you to reach your foot.
Start to circle your foot around. Take your time to really activate all the muscles of your foot. And, of course, go in the opposite direction.
You can point and flex your foot and move it in any direction that that feels good.
Then, reach your foot with both hands and begin to massage your foot. Press on the different parts of your foot - the bottom, the top, the heel, the arch, even the space between your toes. Work your way up your leg to loosen all the muscles connected to your foot.
Gently place your foot on the floor. Then stop, close your eyes, and notice the difference between your two feel. These sensations are a clear indicator of the exercises at work and how valuable they are to do on a regular basis.
Then, bring that balance by doing the same thing with your other foot.
Make time to do these exercises with mindfulness and attention to your feet and move your feet in a way that feels good. Notice how your feet feel the next time you're standing and using your feet for support.