Awaken your obliques muscles from toes and ankle flexion

As we continue exploring the crucial topics of toe movement and ankle bending in our practice, these overlooked aspects can significantly influence our overall body alignment and strength. Let’s explore some more.

Connection Between Feet, Hips, and Core:

Since our body is interconnected, the toes are no exception. The muscles of the little and big toes connect with the muscles of the hips and oblique core muscles through the joint fascia. Just imagine, if these muscles are tight, they can significantly impact how your body moves, particularly in side bends and rotations. This realization underscores the importance of giving your toes the love and attention they need. 

Today’s class features a powerful exercise, the Kneeling Mermaid, which I love and practice. When done consistently, this exercise can help you improve your waistline awareness. But before diving into it, let’s start by awakening your toes and ankles. At 5:41 mins in the video, I demonstrate a quick massage technique to soften the plantar fascia. Give it a try and observe how it amplifies your body awareness.

Maintain Foot mobility during your mat work to boost strength:

With every exercise, pay close attention to your feet. Feel how they are working and how the actions of your toes and ankles contribute to feeling your muscles working. 

Equipment: Reformer

Pilates Exercise: Arm circles, side are series and back bend preparation

Tips and techniques:  The tripod

Alignment: This section comes in the Intermediate level to level 5. So, if you are working towards your intermediate exercises then it’s a the right time to start paying attention. As you kneel down pay close attention to how you organize your toes on the carriage. because it will help your connect to your hips and oblique muscles.

Step 1. The key is to make sure that your press your little toe and big toe muscles on the mat  everything single time your toes are on the Mat. 

Step 2. Place your pelvis over your ankles for aligning the the spine over the legs 

For the point feet, to engage the feet fully the sole of the feet need to contract together with the toes for maximum strengt.  

One last thing;

As you prepare your body for the level 4 exercises, remember this empowering fact: your foot strength is a key pillar in supporting your spine strength. This understanding can significantly enhance your performance. Check out today’s reformer tips and tricks to help you with chest expansion, side arm series and preparation for back bend. 

Xo 

 Jeanique

Additional Resources:

• If you want to learn more about feet and why it is challenging to wake your toes, check out the images from The Body World for visual line of movement follow this link 

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