I was cruising around Facebook when I came across Leanne Carey’s yoga page. I gotta say I am so impressed with all of the cool yoga tips that she gives every day! So, I thought I would post this one to my blog!

The foot is so crucial in yoga alignment because it serves as the platform for the entire body in almost every yoga pose. (If the foot ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy so to speak..) I love the instruction she gives here on correcting your foot imbalances in standing poses. Take off your shoes and try it out!

Leeanne Carey Yoga Daily Tip: The foot! What a miraculous part of the anatomy. Just like my earlier post about the hands, the pada (foot) plays an important role in finding proper alignment of the foreleg and upper leg. And boy, does it inform other body parts. They weren’t kidding when they said the foot bone is connected to the ankle bone, and the ankle bone is connected to the shin bone. Well, you know how the rest of the song goes…There are so many things to examine about the feet, so let’s just look at one simple concept similar to the outer and inner edges of the hands in my earlier post. In simple standing (not Tadasana), notice where you naturally tend to distribute your weight; inner and outer feet. And then notice front and back. It’s one of the first things we learn on the mat, but it’s the easiest to forget. The next time you are in Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend Pose), if you stand more on the outer edges of your feet, try to stretch from the outer heels of the foot, across the sole of the foot to the big toes. And if you tend to stand more on the inner edges of your feet (or on one foot), consider stretching from the inner heels to the baby toe sides. Notice which, if any, adjustment helps to set you in your feet without scrunching the toes or hardening the ankles. And perhaps the next time you are in Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) notice if what you discovered in Uttanasana, shows up here. Apply whichever principle makes sense and allows your ankle bone to talk to an upright shin bone, balanced knee and thigh bone. It all connects, you know. It’s food for feet! Enjoy your weekend, everyone! xo leeann