Part III - Awakening Your Toes: A Journey to Better Riding and Overall Well-being Toe Awareness for Improved Hip Function and More. - A Secret Passage In

Awakening Your Toes: A Journey to Better Riding and Overall Well-being
Toe Awareness for Improved Hip Function and More. - A Secret Passage In

In Part 1, we discovered that we often underestimate our feet, regarding them as mere body supports. But in reality, our toes and feet play a silent yet essential role in our movement. Unfortunately, modern life and footwear have led to foot atrophy, diminishing our foot potential. We've essentially forgotten how to use them.

Part II introduced us to the "Little Person" in our brain, orchestrating our movements. And we hinted at an upcoming "Toe Lesson" that would awaken our toes and feet, opening doors to better movement and balance.

Awakened feet, freed from daily "foot coffins,"(most footwear and certainly most riding boots!) offer a healthier relationship with our ankle, knee, and hip joints, creating a dynamic "Z" spring. Supple feet open pathways to improved hip function, reminding us that our body parts are interconnected.

Interested in the evolution of our feet? Over millions of years, they evolved from grasping appendages to balance and propulsion tools. Even in fetal development, our feet transform from tiny buds into intricate structures, highlighting their potential for nuanced movement from the start. Our toes, which once primarily served as grasping appendages, gradually adapted to provide balance and propulsion.

From crawling to walking, our toes play a vital role in our journey both when we consider evolution, but also development as infants. Learning to stand and walk involves trial and error, as children experiment with random movements. This viewpoint contrasts with conventional physical therapies that emphasize repetitive exercises.

Use it or Lose It
The potential to develop based on need, and usage is amazing. A personal story: About 20 years ago in Germany, our friend Julia introduced us to her friend, whom did not have arms. We all had a great dinner together, where he amazed us with his ease and grace, eating at the table with a knife and fork - using his feet!

Foot problems like hammer toes or diabetes-related issues can disrupt mobility, in a large part due to a lack of awareness. The Feldenkrais Method® emphasizes intelligent movement and awareness, promoting balance, stability, and overall health, even preventing issues that might seem unrelated.

For dressage riders, Feldenkrais offers better balance, agility, reduced pain, and enhanced athletic ability. Developing awareness of the feet reduces the risk of falls and anxiety. Supple and agile feet improve ankle, knee, hip, and lumbar function.
One rider's experience illustrates the method's effectiveness, showing how it can create new neural pathways and improve overall function, even when the lessons aren't explicitly about the feet.

“So if anyone had any doubts about whether this Feldenkrais stuff works ... I don’t always feel an immediate benefit after the class, but trust that something is happening “behind the scenes”. I’ve never been able to spread the toes of my left foot. Right foot no problem; left foot I would just stare at it and nothing would happen. But, several weeks in, it appears that new neural pathways are starting to form. I’m really excited to see what else develops on my overall weak left side!"

Liz Morton, FEI rider and Trainer, CA. 

Photo: Liz Morton 

Note, that this foot change was after lessons NOT about the feet.

In conclusion, we know that our feet are the foundation of our body's movement. Understanding their significance and potential through the Feldenkrais Method can improve balance, stability, and overall function. A supple foot can prevent and repair knee, hip, back, neck issues! Even areas that are not obviously connected.

The "Fall Wheel Alignment" series offers a holistic approach to well-being, reducing fall risks, and promoting balance. Awakening your toes and nurturing supple feet can transform your riding experience, offering better balance, fluid movements, a softer seat, and improved anxiety management. Beyond riding, an awakened awareness of your feet enhances daily life by boosting stability and reducing fall risks.

Lesson 1 is on Monday October 2. Following that lesson on our toes, we will move on to "Restoring Ideal Functional Movements of the Legs" in lesson 2, October 9. Thank you to everyone whom has already registered, here is the link if you still wish too, a few spots. remain, recordings are available: >>> https://www.davethindmethod.com/zoom