Top Tips to Loving Your Feet
 
We all need our feet to work well – in fact poor functioning feet often create injuries or strain further up the body in the knees, hips or spine. We ask a lot of our feet – for us to move well on our feet we need them to be both strong and supple.
 
I know you are thinking “How do I find the time to treat my feet?” Well, I have a few hacks and tips that are easy to fit in with your day-to-day life, and some of them just require making a small change to something you already do.
 
Below, you’ll find some of my top tips to better foot health.
 
1.Go barefoot whenever you can.
Going barefoot strengthens the muscles within your feet. Plus, if you learn to walk on a variety of surfaces and textures, you will wake up the sensory receptors in the sole of our foot.
 
2.Decrease (and then ditch) your heels.
When you can’t go barefoot, decrease, then completely ditch your heels (this includes shoes like runners and boots which often have a low heel). Wearing heeled shoes changes the mechanics of your whole body, and can lead to tight calves, hip flexors and lower back.
 
3.Wear shoes that allow your toes to wiggle and have a flexible sole.
Toes that can move and spread out will improve our balance and spread load through more of the foot. Shoes with a flexible sole will move and adapt with the terrain and the movement of our foot, making it stronger.
 
4.Vary the terrain you’re spending time on.
 Humans have evolved moving on uneven ground and our foot should be able to adapt to different terrain – rocky, smooth, soft, hard. The next time you go for a walk, try adding texture by walking on grass, rocks, walk up down and across slopes and notice how your body responds. This will build strength in the smaller muscles of your feet as well as providing sensory information to your brain.
​You could even make a ‘rock mat’ like the one below. I have one of these at my back door which means I walk on it multiple times every day.
 

5.Mobilise your feet.
Use a spiky ball, your hands, get someone to treat you to a foot rub whenever you can. Tip – walking on a rock mat gives your feet a little massage!
 
6.Strengthen your feet.
Add some specific foot strengthening exercises like toe lifts and towel scrunches, or even just wiggle your toes whenever you think of it (like right now!!). A set of toe spacers is also one of the easiest ways to improve toe and foot strength.
 
 
If you are after more ideas to keep your feet happy, I’ve filmed a short online class with some simple exercises you can try right now. You can access this class for free by clicking the button below.
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I’m excited to be taking pre-orders for another batch of Mountain Pilates clothing! I’ll have two super warm & cosy fleece lined hoodies to choose from, as well as the French Terry jumpers & hoodies, long sleeve top, t-shirts and singlet, with a few new colours and a slightly different design from last year.
 
As with last year, these will only be available for pre-order – I will not be holding any extra stock.
 
The fleece hoodies are super warm and cosy and the T-shirts so comfortable for Pilates and everyday wear! All these tops are from ASCOLOUR and are all excellent quality. 

You can place your order with me at the studio, or click below to email me your order.

​Top: Women's Premium Hoodie - French Terry.
Available in Rose and Navy (not pictured)
$80

Bottom: Womens' Stencil Hoodie - Fleece
Available in Berry
​$85

Men's Stencil Hoodie - Fleece
Slate Blue ​with WHITE PRINT
$85

I need to get these orders to the printers ASAP, so I can get them all out to you! 
Orders must be in by June 22nd!