Connection Matters Movement Matters Mindfulness Matters
Why do my feet hurt??
Many baby boomers come to see me
with the same complaint: excruciating heel
pain in one or both feet. I feel like it
is becoming an epidemic! I can’t say
for certain, but I believe it’s because we’re exercising more than the
generation before us; and we have greater expectations of aging gracefully.
I’m often asked, “Should I walk
less? Stretch more? Tighten my core? Get a massage? Change my shoes?” These are examples of advice given by most
professionals who treat plantar
fasciitis, (heel pain that spreads
to the underside of the foot) which seems comes on for no APPARENT reason.
They have taken
anti-inflammatories. They have eased
activity. They have been stretched,
taped and braced.
But the pain always comes back.
People ask if I treat sore feet. As Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais said, “I treat
people, not diagnoses.”
What do I do differently? I help
you figure out another way *to do* your
activity, not *stop* doing it.
First,
you must start learning how you move. Here
are some simple steps you can take right
now:
1.
How often do you
notice your feet when they aren’t hurting? Touch your feet. Play with them, the way you did when you were
a child. Meet Maddie Adorable right?
She’s
actually working as she is playing in this picture. Her job right now is to form connections in
her brain because that’s how her brain develops and learning occurs. Babies play with their feet because it’s how
they form those critical connections.
So how do we
re-connect with our feet as adults? The
same way we did when we were Maddie’s age. Take the time to get to know them again by playing with them!
We need to
explore the way babies do. We need to
let go of old patterns that no longer work for us and form new sensory and
motor pathways that will in turn improve skill and action. (And don’t worry, we can learn a lot without
sucking on our toes…unless, of course you wish to.)
2.
Think of your foot
as a triangle; the ball of your foot by your big toe, the ball of your foot by
your little toe, and your heel. Notice
the triangle as you sit with your feet on the floor, as you stand, and as you
walk. Pay attention to how each part
feels on the floor.
3.
Sit on a chair
and put a tennis ball under your foot, one foot at a time. Allow the ball to roll in different
directions under your foot as you move your leg. This is something you can do easily as you
sit and watch TV.
You are never too old.
You
need to rediscover what you already know but have forgotten: how to move with comfort and ease in order to
maintain your vitality. It’s the key to
being free from pain.
Once you do this I promise
you, you’ll never think of your foot the same way! You’ll have opened the door to
awareness…and that’s the first step toward healing. You need to rediscover what you already know
but have forgotten: how to move with
comfort and ease in order to maintain your vitality. It’s the key to being free from pain.
When
we work together, we’ll explore how your body connects to itself; and to your
brain. Remember, it’s not about muscles, it’s about movement. We’ll explore how
you move and discover what works best
for your body. I help people learn. We work together to discover the way you, as
a unique individual, move. I help lead
you to a place where you can do whatever activity you want ; not through stress
or effort, but through comfort and mindfulness.
Exploration
and awareness is thedifference that makes the difference.
Stepping into awareness,
Beth
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