Contemplating the Feet
(continuation of article from Harmony Newsletter, July)

Many people walk without involving their toes in the process at all, the toes becoming a mere afterthought, perhaps intended only to look nice in sandals. The jarring impact of planting most of the pressure on the heel runs up through the legs, and settles either into the knees, pelvis, or somewhere in the low back. We end up with "bad knees," hip problems, back pain, heel spurs, etc., and don’t understand why. Many shoes actually train us into this style of walking. They restrict movement in the toes or squash them together into one unit.

Feet have yet another unique design feature. Our soles contain reflex points for all of the major organs and structures of the body. This is the basis of reflexology, which is the healing tradition that makes use of special foot massage to treat conditions of imbalance throughout the system. These reflex points are wonderfully positioned, so natural walking in bare-feet or thin-soled shoes like moccasins constantly stimulates the reflex points as we walk over different textures and uneven terrain.

Many of us crave a deeper connection with our natural environment. I believe that feeling the Earth through the bare soles of our feet can re-establish and deepen this connection. To feel the real support that our Earth mother has to give us, to feel that luxurious connection through skin, damp grass on feet, soaking up the dew, and feeling the texture of the terrain through the nerves and senses of our feet can be a very healing experience. Children often know this intuitively and will resist wearing shoes, and rightly so!

In yoga, we are encouraged to learn to inhabit our bodies more fully through careful self-study. We are guided to spread the toes and feel the four points of contact with our feet, naturally enhancing our arches. We allow the strength of the feet to support all of our standing poses like Virabhadrasana (Warrior) and Trikonasa (triangle). We also work to maintain the flexibility in the feet and ankles to bend and move for poses like Virasana (hero).

So reconnect with your feet. Reconnect with the Earth. Try it! Take your shoes off as often as you can this summer. Run on the grass. Feel your whole foot; let your weight roll your foot along the ground pushing off with your strong toes as you feel the forward momentum. Feel the muscles of the feet getting stronger, as they work for perhaps the first time in years. Feel the texture and quality of different surfaces with your feet. Notice how they feel in different shoes. Notice when your feet feel connected and able to move freely and when they don’t. Feel the mud between your toes on wet days, and wash your muddy feet lovingly, giving them some extra rubbing and attention while you do, honoring them for all the wonderful work they do in supporting you, every step of the way.

-Rebekah Goldstein-Hawes