Guest guest Posted January 22, 2004 Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 hi Paneez i have great sympathy for people with flat foot because my husband has got flat foot and whenever we do a balance in the class, he is always hoping around. for awhile, he resigned to not ever being able to blaance. however, we went to a new teacher recently and he suggested that he concentrate on turning his knees outwards when standing on one foot, and that helps loads! he can now balance for longer than he had ever imagined. The reason for this is that people with flat foot usually have their knees turned in, so concentrating on turning the knees out helps. and, u can try to create an arch by squeensing your toes inwards so that it pulls up the centre of the arch. alternatively, u can pull toes u, press on the balls of the feet and the heels. see if that works.. Good luck and let me know if it works for you. Best wishes Wen Paneez Mostafavipour <pmosta1 wrote: I have had some problems doing certain standing poses for a while now. I always figured that I wasnt fully using my bandhas/core strength and that was why I was having trouble. The other day my instructor comes over to me in utthita hasta padangusthasana. She said to ground my big toe and use the arch of my foot to gain balance. The problem is I dont have an arch. Today during my practice, I took my dansko shoes (with arch support) and tried to do the pose with one shoe on, AND IT WORKED. I was able to balance and bring my leg out to the side, look over my shoulder and not lose balance. Obviously I cant have my shoes on when doing ashtanga practice...does anyone know how to remedy this problem??? thanks Paneez ashtanga yoga Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2004 Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 I have flat feet, too, and have been working on strengthening my arches by keeping feet as active as possible even lifting toes off floor in some standing poses to 'feel' the four corners of my foot. Also, when not practicing and in bare feet around the house, it seems silly, but I suggest walking around on your toes. hope suggestions help. -Bob --- Paneez Mostafavipour <pmosta1 wrote: > > I have had some problems doing certain standing > poses for a while now. I > always figured that I wasnt fully using my > bandhas/core strength and that > was why I was having trouble. The other day my > instructor comes over to > me in utthita hasta padangusthasana. She said to > ground my big toe and > use the arch of my foot to gain balance. The > problem is I dont have an > arch. > > Today during my practice, I took my dansko shoes > (with arch support) and > tried to do the pose with one shoe on, AND IT > WORKED. I was able to > balance and bring my leg out to the side, look over > my shoulder and not > lose balance. Obviously I cant have my shoes on > when doing ashtanga > practice...does anyone know how to remedy this > problem??? > > thanks > Paneez > > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor > > Links > > > > > > ashtanga yoga > > Your > > > SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! http://webhosting./ps/sb/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2004 Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 Even if the foot doesn't arch upwards the leg and foot still have the muscles corresponding to where the arch would be. If you practice standing poses focusing on lifting in the arch area you will start to wake up those muscles. It takes a lot of focus. Warming up the feet with slow deliberate circles, lying on your back one leg up in the air at a time using the whole foot including toes will get you in touch with those muscles as well. Try circling leading with your toes then shift to your heal. 4 to 8 times. My right arch used to be more flat than my left and over the years it has changed - not exactly equal but so much better than it was. Paneez Mostafavipour <pmosta1 wrote: I have had some problems doing certain standing poses for a while now. I always figured that I wasnt fully using my bandhas/core strength and that was why I was having trouble. The other day my instructor comes over to me in utthita hasta padangusthasana. She said to ground my big toe and use the arch of my foot to gain balance. The problem is I dont have an arch. Today during my practice, I took my dansko shoes (with arch support) and tried to do the pose with one shoe on, AND IT WORKED. I was able to balance and bring my leg out to the side, look over my shoulder and not lose balance. Obviously I cant have my shoes on when doing ashtanga practice...does anyone know how to remedy this problem??? thanks Paneez ashtanga yoga SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2004 Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 I too have flat feet. It makes yoga quite a challenge. I don't practice right now but am trying to get back into it. The flat feet are discouraging for me because with Ashtanga it's just one more thing that you have to keep track of (bandhas, ujjayi, drishti) that most folks don't. In addition I have a serious balance problem because my left foot is flatter than the right which throws everything off. Nevertheless I have been told that you really have to focus on pulling up the arch of the foot and with time the strength and awareness in that area will come. Some have even told me their feet change. Remember to keep the big toe straight and grounded. From there pull up on the arch making sure that all toes have contact with the floor. At first, much like the bandhas, it is difficult to maintain this throught the entire practice but stick with it. Good luck. One more thing. I've been considering buying Dansko shoes. Have the Dansko's helped your feet? Do you wear orthotics or arch supports? >Paneez Mostafavipour <pmosta1 >ashtanga yoga >ashtanga yoga >ashtanga yoga flat feet >Wed, 21 Jan 2004 16:27:55 -0600 (CST) > > >I have had some problems doing certain standing poses for a while now. I >always figured that I wasnt fully using my bandhas/core strength and that >was why I was having trouble. The other day my instructor comes over to >me in utthita hasta padangusthasana. She said to ground my big toe and >use the arch of my foot to gain balance. The problem is I dont have an >arch. > >Today during my practice, I took my dansko shoes (with arch support) and >tried to do the pose with one shoe on, AND IT WORKED. I was able to >balance and bring my leg out to the side, look over my shoulder and not >lose balance. Obviously I cant have my shoes on when doing ashtanga >practice...does anyone know how to remedy this problem??? > >thanks >Paneez > _______________ Scope out the new MSN Plus Internet Software — optimizes dial-up to the max! http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=byoa/plus&ST=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.