When your Feet Hurt, Try Toes Pose

This morning when I took my dog out for his walk, I felt like I was moving in slow motion. Every step was effortful. Initially, I thought it was the heat (it was nearly 90 degrees at 8am), and then I thought it was my flipflops (not the healthiest footwear). The bottom line was that my feet really hurt! So, when I got home, I decided to give them some love and stretch them by doing toes pose.

Toes pose is a simple yoga pose which is great to do daily, especially if you’re a runner or walk a lot. It opens up the arches of the feet and, over time, it can improve balance. It’s also said to help people with plantar fasciitis (which is inflammation of tissue in the foot). However, if you have knee issues, I'd recommend skipping it.

One minute in toes pose can offer huge relief, which is usually felt AFTER you're done. Actually, my favorite part of this pose is coming out of it... The pose itself can feel pretty intense (my face in the photo says it all), so don’t overdo it. Breathe through it, listen to your body, and come out of the pose if you need to.

So, here is how it goes:

Step 1: Come onto your knees

Step 2: Sit back towards your heels and tuck your toes under. Use your fingers to spread the toes

Step 3: Remain seated as closely as possible to your heels for 30-60 seconds. Breathe deeply

NOTE: If the pose feels too intense, you can place a pillow underneath your knees, or between your sit bones and your heels

Step 4: To come out of the pose, come onto all fours, untuck the toes, and tap the tops of your feet on the ground for 10-20 times

Step 5 (optional): To feel a bigger stretch in the tops of the feet, after you untuck the toes, sit back on your heels, lean back, and lift your knees slightly

That's it!

Have you ever done toes pose? If not, I invite you to try it now and share your experience. What other methods do you use to relieve foot pain? Would love to hear from you!

Now go make your feet happy!