Yoga & Your Feet - Preventing problems before they occur

Yoga is a great way to strengthen your body while increasing your flexibility.  Strength and flexibility can help to alleviate many of the aches and pains that we attribute to ‘age’.  As creatures of habit, the same activities that make up your daily routine are the same ones that cause tightness in muscles.  Your normal tasks probably don’t require you to extend your muscles to lengths that stretch.   If your muscles are never extended they may begin to shorten or contract.  These contractions or muscle tightness can in turn exacerbate small abnormalities in your body structure.  This combination can lead to aches, pains and at the worst an inability to function. 

Some of the most common ailments seen in our office involve muscle tightness or injury that occurs from too much stress on tightened muscles and ligaments. Depending on the extent of injury or ailment a variety of treatments can be utilized.  Part of the treatment regime for many of these problems involves a stretching routine.  Typically, these foot problems require stretching the muscles and tendons of your leg to maintain long term relief.  If you think about your feet as the base of your body, the first thing to take the brunt of every step or heel strike, it is not difficult to translate those stresses into pains in your legs, knees or back. 

Yoga is a great activity to start for your general heath and prevention of the pains and strains that occur from tightened muscles.  This can especially be true for your feet.  Muscles and tendons from your knee down insert into your foot and will benefit greatly from the many yoga positions that aim to strengthen and stretch them.  Many yogis refer to your feet as the ‘roots’ of your body.  Some even offer classes that focus on your feet by strengthening and stretching the muscles that affect it.  There are many locations throughout Austin to get you started.  Give your feet a little extra attention and the rest of your body will thank you.

Until next time, use a little yoga to keep those feet happy and healthy, Austin!