We have monthly themes at our studio, and this month we are focused on the feet. Feet often get ignored until they start causing us pain. If you can keep your feet healthy and strong, you can hopefully avoid or minimize foot pain and have a more solid base of support.
Everything is Connected
Pilates has specific exercises for the feet, but many clients are surprised that while doing them, they feel it in other parts of their body, too. I love hearing clients say, “my glutes are on fire!” as we work with the toe gizmo, or they notice how much they are having to use their core as they pick up the marbles with one foot. The latter is a sneaky way of training balance and coordination while strengthening the feet. After all, your body is designed to work together as a system, much like all the parts of Pilates!
Flexible Feet
In addition to the foot exercises, there are lots of ways your feet get used in other Pilates exercises on the mat and the apparatuses. You will find yourself pointing and flexing your feet, stretching your toes, circling your ankles, and even wrapping your arches. This is all in the name of keeping your feet strong and opening them up. Feet can get very squished up and misaligned or deformed from the shoes you wear, how often you wear shoes, and the activities that you do that require stiff or tight footwear. Dance shoes, soccer cleats, high heels, etc.
Why Does This Matter?
Why bother taking care of your feet? Because they take you everywhere you go! If you can
keep your feet healthy, strong, and pain free, you are going to have a lot more options of where you can go and what you can do. Where have your feet taken you in life and where do you want to go?
My feet have taken me on many journeys and adventures. There’s my daily life and activities, and then there are the other unique activities and trips I do. I learned how to make my feet do Scottish country and highland dance. They have helped me to ski, run marathons, hike up mountains, swim, and do aerobics and Pilates.
Running down the middle of the city streets at 8am with thousands of other runners feels amazing. You get to see a city in a different way than your ever would on a normal day. It’s the same with my trail running adventures and hikes. My feet have taken me up some of the most challenging hills and I’ve been able to see some of the most beautiful mountain views. All of this is fun for me and I look forward to doing more.
Then there is travel. Twenty years ago when my husband and I went to France for a wedding, we opted to walk more than ride transit. The family that had invited us kept teasing us about how much we walked, but on the flip side, they took us for a hike one day too. We just find it interesting to see the sights by foot. I want to be able to keep travelling and walking for as many years as possible. Having strong feet and a stable footing is going to be very helpful when trying to stand up on a subway or train, as well. So keeping my feet healthy is important to me. I have had my own setbacks with painful feet, and it was not fun.
Happy, Healthy Feet
I remember the days of running after my young children, and hopefully one day I’ll be running after my grandchildren (not too soon, though!). I want to try other hobbies and keep doing the ones I love, and taking care of my feet is one way to ensure that happens. Pilates has helped me keep moving, and it can help you, too.
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