The sole of the foot relates to the whole rest of the body. In reflexology, the top of the foot relates to the upper back between the shoulder blades. So many yoga students walk into the room and complain about how stiff and tight they are between the shoulder blades. Quite often, these exercises begin to release those tight, stiff muscles.

We can also consider the foot as our primary shock-absorber. If we step on an irregular surface, the foot absorbs the irregularity. If the foot is very stiff and rigid, it transmits that shock higher up into our system. This can cause knee strain and an unstable SI joint. Getting more pliability in the sole of the foot can be a very powerful technique to resolve both these problems.

Finally, if you start a yoga practice with the feet, getting them loosened and softened, you will maximize the benefit of the rest of the poses.

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Tags: alignment yoga, beginning yoga pose, grounding, jaw pain, knee strain, neck pain, Pain Relief, pre-yoga, Scott Anderson, shoulder tension, shoulderblades, si joint pain, yoga