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Face it! It is so heart breaking to give up on your favourite stilettos on the most happening night out of the month, and equally tormenting to cut short on the most invigorating, thrilling and refreshing morning jog or nature’s trail, just because you have the most annoying foot ache or is it a Heel pain?! Whatever! You’d rather give up running around office or chasing the kids through the day!
Heel pain, whether caused by Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spurs or other types affect 60% of individuals in the entire lifetime. Along the bottom of your foot is a thick tissue called the “Plantar Fascia”. When it becomes inflamed due to overuse or walking on uneven grounds especially in old shoes, then it becomes inflamed. This problem can keep you off the trail for days, weeks or months.
There are several ways to alleviate this pain that are offered globally, but one great way is to learn how to (create healing) for yourself by knowing what to do with your body. The historic mental discipline known as yoga has become an extremely popular form of exercise today when it comes to self-healing.
Another reason many people choose to turn to yoga for relief from their heel pain is because traditional remedies do not work for them. This is often the case with many women. In many instances, their heel pain is a result of the shoes they wear. Doing away with their fashionable footwear or using inserts in stilettos is never an option for them; hence they turn to yoga as a better option and experience relief.
Also, these yoga stretches can still be performed at a time of convenience in the comfort of your own home. Yoga foot exercises help the calf muscles and Achilles tendon to remain lose and relaxed and also help strengthen weaker muscles of the feet. The yoga asanas focus on releasing energy in the joints of the feet in an effort to release stress and toxins from the feet. They are safe and effective and can help relieve your heel pain.
Some of the Asanas that can help heal the heel are:
Adho mukha Svanasana – Downward Dog pose
Come onto your fours. Form a table such that your back forms the table top and your hands and feet form the legs of the table.
As you breathe out lift the hips up, straightening the knees and elbows, form an inverted V-shape with the body.
Hands are shoulder width apart; feet are hip width apart and parallel to each other. Toes point straight ahead.
Press your hands into the ground. Widen through the shoulder blades. Keep the neck lengthened by touching the ears to the inner arms.
Hold the downward dog pose and take long deep breaths. Look towards the navel.
Exhale. Bend the knees, return to table pose. Relax
Did you know?
The heel bone is the largest bone in the foot and absorbs the most amounts of shock and pressure. A heel spur develops as an abnormal growth of the heel bone. Heel spurs can cause extreme pain in the rear foot, especially while standing or walking.
Vajrasana – Thunderbolt pose
Kneel down with your knees touching each other.
Sit in the cavity formed by your feet. Do not sit on the heels.
Place your hands on your thighs with palms facing upwards.
Keep your spine erect and head straight.
Apart from these, Bandhakonasana (Butterfly Pose), Tadasana (Mountain Pose) and Virbhadrasana (warrior pose) are a few more poses which are beneficial in strengthening foot muscles.
You could also try the following home remedies to help you ease the pain:
Tennis Ball wonder: Roll a tennis ball under you foot daily. This stretches the fascia and can help the scar tissue line up correctly.
Stretch to a stronger you!: At the beginning and end of the day, take the time to stretch out your calf muscles. Hold stretch for about 30 seconds but don’t hold your breath. Breath is vital to the healing process.
Happy Feet: Assess your shoes to determine if you need to change your footwear. No bare feet!
Ayurveda and Yoga go hand in hand: Lastly, don’t forget that yoga exercises will benefit anyone that may be suffering from plantar fasciitis. In addition to your yoga routine, ayurveda can be a great supplement to the treatment methods Ayurveda has come a long way since its inception and off lately it you have seen ayurveda centres mushrooming all over.
Source: Shri Shri Ravi shankar Yoga. To know more visit www.yogagurusuneelsingh.com Pic by Vijay Gautam