Two weeks ago I talked about feet - and how they are (or supposed to be!) extremely sensitive, not just to hold us up or carry us about.  

The soles of our feet are -  like ears or eyes -  a sensory organ.

Here is how the pressure sensors in our feet work:

When we step on something (a rock, root, or - every parents' nightmare - a Lego block) our foot changes its shape. 

The many bones and joints in our feet flex and move, and this flexing and moving creates a neurological "image" in the systems of the body that are responsible for balance. This joint movement in our feet - just like hearing, seeing, and smelling - tells our body a thing or two about our environment to help us navigate it with ease - be it rocks, roots, or Lego blocks.

Good balance relies on clear communication of correct information from feet to brain. Brain then integrates this information and commands the body to respond with the most subtle shifts of the ankle, knee, hip or pelvis - shifts that allows the body to stand or move without falling.

What happens if the joints of our feet are stuck in one position, glued together because of arthritis, because our feet spent the majority of their time in shoes with inflexible soles - or simply because we don't lift our toes once every while?

These sticky, glued together spots begin to disrupt the normally fine-tuned communication between our feet and the brain. Eventually, our body's postural correction system starts to fail, partially because our feet have lost their sensitivity, mobility, and the ability to tell the brain how to keep us balanced; and partially because our postural muscles forgot how to respond to brain commands.

When this happens, even the smallest obstacles - like a slight crack in the sidewalk, a dip in the floor, or an icy patch on the driveway - can all spell a big trouble. 

And whenever sticky spots in the feet are paired with sticky spots in the hips, knees, back and shoulders, moving - and often even standing -  can become painful. Our walk starts to resemble a series of lurches or shuffles rather than a series of steps, which can further strain our already-not-so-happy tissues.

No doubt, this can - and does! - affect not just our ability, but also our willingness to move - and so we grow less and less mobile, and more and more stiff. It is not at all uncommon to get stuck in this vicious lose - lose circle.

Lose lose is no fun.

Let's get out of it, shall we?

All November - December classes (including the Hip & Core Rehab) will have some time (I am aiming for 10 - 15 minutes in each class) dedicated to feet and balance. The overarching goal here isn't just waking our ability to sense the surface we are standing on, but also re-establishing a clear, sound communication between our feet and the rest of the body. 

A worthwhile goal, I think?!

Pain Care classes will focus on un-sticking the sticky spots, as well as the correct alignment of the feet and ankle joints for optimal stability. 

Beginner Core Restore class will add some strengthening for feet and ankles (all in correct form, of course) to the menu.

Advanced Core Restore Students will continue to challenge their stability with a variety of unstable surfaces (think balance boards, foam rollers, slider disks, rotation plates, and such). Fun will be had!

• Beginner Core Restore classes have now moved to Wednesday evenings at 6pm, and are now held at The Pilates Barre studio downtown;
   
• Advanced Core Restore classes are now held on Tuesdays at 6 pm at Satori - my home studio.