Body Sense

WINTER | 2019

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TOES UP, FOOT UP RANGE OF MOTION, COORDINATION, AND FLEXIBILITY This healing move may be performed while sitting with your legs stretched out in front of you. • Begin in plantar flexion, with feet and toes pointed away from you toward the floor. Inhale and lift only your toes. Then, lift your entire foot into dorsiflexion, with your toes pointed toward the ceiling. • Exhale and press the ball of your foot away from you, but keep all the toes lifted. Then, point your toes all the way down into plantar flexion. • Repeat several times. This is a gentle way to bathe the foot and ankle in synovial fluid (which lubricates joints) while letting go of compensations, allowing the nervous system to relearn proper synergistic movement between toes, foot, ankle, and lower leg. FOOT GRABS STRENGTHENING This healing move generates strength and foot dexterity while reinforcing strength and flexibility of the foot arches. When the muscles and nerves in our feet are communicating and coordinating smoothly, we create more stability around our ankles, knees, and hips and greater support for our lower back. • Sit or stand. • Place a towel or blanket flat on the floor. • Use your toes to crumple and gather the fabric into as small of a ball as possible. • Then, use your toes to unwrap the crumpled ball back to the original flattened position. Repeat several times daily for best results. www.massagetherapy.com—your resource for all things bodywork 13

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