Stretches
Seven foot stretches from yoga, seated and standing
Simple foot stretches move the toes, the arch and the sole: toe spreads, toe pulls, rolling the sole over a ball, a kneeling toe squat, point and flex, a top of the foot stretch and arch lifts in Mountain Pose. Hold each for five slow breaths, or do eight to ten slow reps, once or twice a day.
The feet carry the whole body all day, usually squeezed into shoes. Each one has many small bones and joints, and a set of muscles that shape the arch and spread the toes. When the feet feel stiff or tired, short, gentle stretches that move the toes, the arch and the sole may feel good, and they pair naturally with the calves and ankles above them.
Yoga already works the feet a great deal. Standing barefoot, gripping the mat, balancing on one leg and kneeling on the toes all ask the feet to move and hold. The routine below takes about ten minutes and needs a chair, a mat and a small ball.
When should you see a doctor or physio first?
See a doctor or physiotherapist before stretching your feet if:
- you have a sharp pain under the heel, especially with the first steps in the morning, that keeps coming back;
- the foot is swollen, bruised, hot or red, or you cannot put weight on it;
- you have numbness, burning or tingling in the feet;
- you have diabetes or poor circulation, or a recent foot or ankle injury or surgery.
A foot stretch should feel like a gentle pull or a sense of the sole waking up. Sharp pain means stop.
How do you stretch your feet?
Sit on a chair for the first four, then kneel and stand for the rest. Breathe slowly through the nose throughout.
- Toe spreads. Sitting with the feet flat, lift all ten toes, spread them as wide as you can and place them down one at a time, little toes first. Ten slow rounds. If they will not spread, slide the fingers between the toes and hold for five breaths.
- Toe pull. Cross the right ankle over the left knee. Hold the toes and draw them gently back towards the shin until you feel the sole and the arch. Five breaths, then switch.
- Ball roll. Put a tennis ball or massage ball under the right foot and roll it slowly from the heel to the base of the toes and back, pressing only as much as feels good. One minute each foot.
- Point and flex. Lift one foot, point the toes away from you as you breathe out, then draw them back as you breathe in. Ten slow rounds each foot. The ankle stretches with circles and the alphabet add more ankle work here.
- Kneeling toe squat. Kneel on a padded mat, tuck the toes under and sit back slowly towards the heels. This is a version of Thunderbolt Pose with the toes tucked. Start with three to five breaths, hands on the floor to take some weight. It can feel strong.
- Top of the foot stretch. From kneeling, untuck the toes so the tops of the feet rest flat on the mat, and sit back towards the heels, a cushion between the heels and hips. Five breaths. Skip it if the knees complain.
- Arch lifts in Mountain Pose. Stand with the feet hip-width apart. Press the big toe mound, little toe mound and heel down, then gently lift the inner arch without curling the toes. Hold for five breaths, release, repeat five times. Mountain Pose, standing evenly on both feet, builds on this.
Common mistakes
- Starting with the toe squat. It is the strongest one. Warm the feet with the seated moves first.
- Pressing too hard on the ball. Firm and slow feels better than hard and fast.
- Curling the toes to lift the arch. The toes stay long and relaxed on the floor.
- Forgetting the calves. Tight calves pull on the heel and sole, so stretch them too.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: do the toe squat sitting on a cushion on the heels, or skip it and do the toe pull twice. Use a soft ball for rolling.
Harder: hold the toe squat a little longer each week. Stand on one foot for the arch lifts, near a wall, as in Tree Pose with a hand on the wall.
Which stretches pair with the feet?
The feet and calves work as one, so the calf stretch at a wall or on a step belongs in the same routine. A supported squat in Garland Pose asks the feet and ankles to bend deeply together.
Questions
Why do yoga classes go barefoot?
Bare feet grip the mat better than socks, and they let the toes spread and the arch work as you balance and stand. Many students find their feet feel stronger and more awake after a few weeks of barefoot practice, which is one reason classes skip shoes.
Is it normal for the toes to cramp in a toe stretch?
Yes, especially at first. Toes that live in shoes all day are not used to spreading or folding back, and the small muscles of the foot can cramp. Ease out, rub the sole and try again for a shorter time. Cramps that come often, or with numbness, are worth mentioning to a doctor.
Should you stretch your feet in the morning?
Many people like to. A minute of toe spreads, point and flex and ankle circles before getting out of bed warms the feet for the first steps of the day. If the first steps every morning bring a sharp pain under the heel, see a doctor or physio rather than relying on stretching.
Can you stretch your feet at a desk?
Yes. Slip off your shoes and roll each sole slowly over a tennis or massage ball under the desk, then spread and curl the toes ten times. It takes two minutes and needs nothing else.