Applied Yoga Anatomy. Feet and Foot Positions

Question 1

Feet position impact what?

Answer 1

The Asana. Feet position has a vast impact on the Asana that you are attempting. (it holds true for all positions not just standing positions.)

Question 2

Correct feet position will be the foundation of?

Answer 2

stable poses and pleasant yoga experience. Correct feet position will be the foundation of stable poses and pleasant yoga experience.

Question 3

For all standing poses, there should be equal weight distribution where?

Answer 3

among all four corners of the foot. For all standing poses, there should be equal weight distribution among all four corners of the foot.

Question 4

What are the four corners of the foot?

Answer 4

The mound of the big toe
The mound of the little toe
The back of the outer heel
The back of the inner heel

Question 5

Why is it important to have equal weight distribution among all four corners of the foot?

Answer 5

It ensures that the rest of your body does not have to compensate by moving out of alignment due to unequal weight distribution.

Question 6

What is a great cue for “make your feet parallel”?

Answer 6

“middle toes facing forward”.

Question 7

Most standing poses have their root in which asana?

Answer 7

tadasana

Question 8

What is tadasana?

Answer 8

Mountain pose or Samasthiti

Question 9

What are the guidelines for tadasana?

Answer 9

• Big Toes together, sides of the foot parallel with sides of the mat.
• Feet are pressing into the ground in all four corners equally.
• Ground drawn equally up through the arch of the foot into the shin bones.
• Ankle bone should extend straight down through the front of the heel.

Question 10

Externally Rotated Foot is used for what?

Answer 10

all hip openers.

Question 11

When you externally rotate your foot it will rotate what?

Answer 11

The top of your thigh. Externally rotating your foot rotates the top of your thigh.

Question 12

When you are externally rotating your foot, it rotates the top of your thigh. What does this do?

Answer 12

It sets your hips to open more.

Question 13

What is a great cue to help clients externally rotate their foot ?

Answer 13

“top of the little toes turning sideways to face the ground”.

A great cue to communicate externally rotate foot is “top of the little toes turning sideways to face the ground”.

Question 14

Flointed Foot - what is this?

Answer 14

This is a position in the middle of flex and point. Balls of the toes are the furthest point of the foot from the heel

Question 15

What is a great cue to help clients for flointed foot position?

Answer 15

“pretend you’re wearing high heels”.

Question 16

Why do we use flointed foot?

Answer 16

It is used in movements with a hamstring stretch – to protect the back of the legs from overstretching.

Question 17

When you put your foot in a flointed position what muscles does it activate?

Answer 17

It activates the muscles in the back of the leg so that there is muscular support for your hamstring stretches.

Question 18

The flointed foot is also the position for which poses?

Answer 18

for all seated poses wherein the foot is not active.

Question 19

Pointed Foot is used for what?

Answer 19

It’s used for all leg positions that remain in neutral, or where you need to engage muscles on the back leg.

Question 20

Give examples when we use pointed foot

Answer 20

prone position or kneeling.

Question 21

Don’t ignore the feet when they are not an active support of the pose. Remember that the entire body should be engaged in the pose. That means that energy should be present in the feet all the time. rpt

Answer 21

Don’t ignore the feet when they are not an active support of the pose. Remember that the entire body should be engaged in the pose. That means that energy should be present in the feet all the time.