YOGA FOR HAPPY HEALTHY FEET
BY MICHELLE MYHRE

"The true man breathes with is heels"
-Chuang Tzu.

With more than 150 ligaments and an intricate network of muscles, nerves and blood vessels, our feet are both a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art. Feet support our weight and move our bodies, enduring tight shoes and long periods of standing. Feet conect us to the earth, holding up, on a typical day, a cumulative force of several hundred pounds.

When our feet hurt, we hurt all over and in ways that might be hard to comprehend. Tight muscles in the feet can pull the muscles in your neck out, affecting bones at the apex of the spine. Sore feet can also develop bone spurs and common conditions like platar fasciitis.

As a yoga teacher I couldn't help but wonder why yogi's generally have healthy, happy feet. So I began investigating the cause and effect of yoga on the feet, and created a workshop which brings yoga together with reflexology and acuptessure techniques for the foot health.

More than 70% of all people in the United States will have painful foot problems during their life. In Hawaii, with miles of beach to walk and slippers encasing our tan lined feet, ours are healthier than many, but we still have our issues. Even in healthy Hawaii, people who wear closed toe shoes, and those who work standing for long periods of time, can develop sore feet. This workshop is for you.

Remember foot pain is not normal. It is not something to be passively endured until it becomes debilitating. Much foot pain is preventable and reversible.

How does yoga help feet? Standing postures teach students to connect with the earth, using muscles in the feet to "put down roots". Forward bends and other postures where the foot is flexed, stretch the connective tissue, muscless, tendons, and ligaments, bringing flexibility to the feet. Other postures have us standing on tiped toes. In a typical warm-up, students may be rolling over their toes, keeping joints of the feet open.

In this workshop students will learn and use reflexology and Acupressure massage techniques, along with gentle yoga stretches for healthy, happy feet. Handouts, China Gel, and a special stretchy tool for happy feet, will be given to participants. This is a BEGINNER level workshop. Please email or phone the yoga studio to sign up. Space is limited.

Tips for healthy feet:

Walk on the beach. Each step will stretch and lengthen the muscles of the feet, plus sand is a natural pumice stone for rough edges.

Massage your feet before bed. Use coco butter and wear socks for extra soft feet.

Get a pedicure (men too, no polish!!). Pedicures feel good physically and are psychologically uplifting, espically when massage in involved.

Practice yoga. Build good posture from the ground up.

Michelle Myhre is certified to teach Jivamukti, Ashtanga & Bikram Yoga,   owns and directs Maui Yoga Lotus Studio, is a licensed massage therapist in the state of Hawaii, #7262,   and graduated from Mauian author Michael Reed Gach's Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, 1995.

Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.
- Benjamin Franklin