do toe seperators help?

kidsan · 06-04-2008, 10:16 AM

This is my 1st post on here so a big hello to all!

Has anyone here used toe seperators (you know those foam things that ladies - on the whole - use for painting their toenails) to help spread the toes for yoga.

Does it actually help so that one can learn to spread the toes without them?

Any other tips gratefully received...K

InnerAthlete · 06-04-2008, 02:07 PM

Toe spreaders would spread the toes.
But I personally do not see the point in doing so for the purposes of yoga. One misses out on all the good work to find that action in their own body. Using them once in a while might be okay but I would not buy them for continual use - in fact I would not buy them at all. If you're set to spend money surely there are other yoga things (props) you could get more mileage out of, no?

kidsan · 06-04-2008, 03:22 PM

Thanks for your reply...the things i am talking about are certainly not expensive yoga props! they are a simple piece of foam and cost a few pennies. I guess what i was asking is whether this can help one to become more aware of the spreading of the toes and lead to having more control of this action?

I know that im not alone on this one...it was suggested to me by a yoga teacher and i saw someone in a yoga class only the other day using them.

InnerAthlete · 06-04-2008, 09:09 PM

By no means was I suggesting you were alone. However I do not typically carve out my yoga practice or teachings based on what others do or do not do, think or do not think.

The bottom line on this question is "buy them and see if they do what you hope in your body". We are all an experiment of one. Please report your results back to us.

Pandara · 06-04-2008, 11:44 PM

Hi Kidsan,

Excuse my ignorance here, but why on earth would you want to force your toes to spread, except if you want to apply nail polish to them? What is the purpose of this and how does it benefit your yoga practice? This is totally new to me and the first time ever I heard of this, I thought that the natural state of our toes are to huddle together in order to give us the right balance. Please explain as I couldn't find anything related to this in my yoga books and I have plenty of them.

**Mirjana** · 06-05-2008, 03:16 AM

Hello Kidsan,

welcome to the forums! I have also never heard before for spreading the toes this way for practice, but what I really like to do for my feet, including toes, is 5-10 minutes of massage before I start to practice. I use different things. Sometimes a tennis ball, sometimes a golf ball, or wooden stick etc. I roll a ball below one foot (in a standing position) and I put attention where I feel pain. I stop there for a while and I try to soften and relax that point. I do this before practicing because I have a feeling that I get more firm stick with the ground afterwards, besides general relaxation.
I learned this from my teacher. We do this very occasionally even in a class.

kidsan · 06-05-2008, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InnerAthlete

The bottom line on this question is "buy them and see if they do what you hope in your body". We are all an experiment of one. Please report your results back to us.

will do

kidsan · 06-05-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandara

Hi Kidsan,
I thought that the natural state of our toes are to huddle together in order to give us the right balance.

Hi Pandara
I'm quite surprised by this comment. Personally, i have heard the instruction to spread the toes in many yoga classes (anusara, astanga and iyengar) though it's not something that i have ever really mastered myself, so i guess i was looking for a way of helping the process.

As to why spread? well, if you think of your feet as your 'lower' hands, as your support and foundation, it makes sense that they are are spread as your 'upper' hands in, for example, dog pose. This will lead to more strength and balance in your standing poses.

Anyway, i shall let you know how i get on. Though i can already report that, after wearing them for one evening, i can already move my little toe in ways that i never could before...let's see if it lasts!

**Nichole** · 06-05-2008, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InnerAthlete

But I personally do not see the point in doing so for the purposes of yoga. One misses out on all the good work to find that action in their own body.

Yes indeed! That is the good stuff right there.

Kidsan,
This forum is a place to ask any questions you may have, now starting out and as your practice develops. In classes, talking with other students and just about everywhere you look online, you are likely to hear or to be directed toward many different (and opposing) things within the context of Yoga practice; cute little toe polish separators may just be the beginning. I want to encourage you to try the things that you have a pull towards, and at the same time, to experience all the subtle joys that Yoga asana practice has to offer to YOU, because of your unique and beautiful body. For me, it feels so good to create a strong foundation for my postures through the opening of my feet, from my toes to my heels. It is such an integral part of each posture for me and my feet have changed in the years of my practice, becoming internally stronger, my toes open wide and comfortable, my feet are awake. I believe, as a Yoga therapist, that toe separators are unnecessary for practice and I know for myself, as person with an asana practice, that it would have distracted me from really experiencing my feet during practice.

Something to maybe also consider, is the joy you are experiencing in your feet after wearing the toe separators for the evening is your feet and toes "waking up" to the attention, care and awareness that your are now offering them. Maybe the separators are secondary? Only the toes knows!

I hope this is helpful in regards to your question.
Namaste

Pandara · 06-05-2008, 11:12 PM

Namaste Kidsan,

I like to agree with Nichole on her advice. I would really like to hear your own personal experience in this regard and I hope you will report back to us in future about your experiences.

Again this is really not something I have knowledge of and the first time I encounter this aspect of yoga here on this Forum and I am curious to learn what it did for you and how it has (or will in future) benefit your yoga practice etc.

Good luck.

kidsan · 06-06-2008, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandara

Namaste Kidsan,

I like to agree with Nichole on her advice. I would really like to hear your own personal experience in this regard and I hope you will report back to us in future about your experiences.

Again this is really not something I have knowledge of and the first time I encounter this aspect of yoga here on this Forum and I am curious to learn what it did for you and how it has (or will in future) benefit your yoga practice etc.

Good luck.

These little pieces of foam seem to have led to some interesting views and questions

I promise to report back on the state of my toes.

And without wanting to get people even more worked up

i have also bought a pair of MBT shoes recently and am seeing what effect these have on the body and posture. (masai barefoot technology for those who don't know).

06-04-2008, 02:07 PM	#2
InnerAthlete Mostly Good Egg Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Certified Purna Yoga Teacher - Seattle, WA Posts: 1,021	Toe spreaders would spread the toes. But I personally do not see the point in doing so for the purposes of yoga. One misses out on all the good work to find that action in their own body. Using them once in a while might be okay but I would not buy them for continual use - in fact I would not buy them at all. If you're set to spend money surely there are other yoga things (props) you could get more mileage out of, no? __________________ ---- http://www.yogamojodojo.com http://www.teamyoga.com http://www.innerathlete.net/forum

06-04-2008, 09:09 PM	#4
InnerAthlete Mostly Good Egg Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Certified Purna Yoga Teacher - Seattle, WA Posts: 1,021	By no means was I suggesting you were alone. However I do not typically carve out my yoga practice or teachings based on what others do or do not do, think or do not think. The bottom line on this question is "buy them and see if they do what you hope in your body". We are all an experiment of one. Please report your results back to us. __________________ ---- http://www.yogamojodojo.com http://www.teamyoga.com http://www.innerathlete.net/forum

06-04-2008, 11:44 PM	#5
Pandara pañcashata Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pretoria, South Africa Posts: 590	Hi Kidsan, Excuse my ignorance here, but why on earth would you want to force your toes to spread, except if you want to apply nail polish to them? What is the purpose of this and how does it benefit your yoga practice? This is totally new to me and the first time ever I heard of this, I thought that the natural state of our toes are to huddle together in order to give us the right balance. Please explain as I couldn't find anything related to this in my yoga books and I have plenty of them. __________________ Blessings & Om's Pandara _____________________________________________ Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise. - Swami Sivanada

06-05-2008, 11:12 PM	#10
Pandara pañcashata Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pretoria, South Africa Posts: 590	Namaste Kidsan, I like to agree with Nichole on her advice. I would really like to hear your own personal experience in this regard and I hope you will report back to us in future about your experiences. Again this is really not something I have knowledge of and the first time I encounter this aspect of yoga here on this Forum and I am curious to learn what it did for you and how it has (or will in future) benefit your yoga practice etc. Good luck. __________________ Blessings & Om's Pandara _____________________________________________ Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise. - Swami Sivanada

06-04-2008, 10:16 AM	#1
kidsan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: north wales, UK Posts: 6	This is my 1st post on here so a big hello to all! Has anyone here used toe seperators (you know those foam things that ladies - on the whole - use for painting their toenails) to help spread the toes for yoga. Does it actually help so that one can learn to spread the toes without them? Any other tips gratefully received...K

06-04-2008, 03:22 PM	#3
kidsan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: north wales, UK Posts: 6	Thanks for your reply...the things i am talking about are certainly not expensive yoga props! they are a simple piece of foam and cost a few pennies. I guess what i was asking is whether this can help one to become more aware of the spreading of the toes and lead to having more control of this action? I know that im not alone on this one...it was suggested to me by a yoga teacher and i saw someone in a yoga class only the other day using them.

06-05-2008, 03:16 AM	#6
Mirjana Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 255	Hello Kidsan, welcome to the forums! I have also never heard before for spreading the toes this way for practice, but what I really like to do for my feet, including toes, is 5-10 minutes of massage before I start to practice. I use different things. Sometimes a tennis ball, sometimes a golf ball, or wooden stick etc. I roll a ball below one foot (in a standing position) and I put attention where I feel pain. I stop there for a while and I try to soften and relax that point. I do this before practicing because I have a feeling that I get more firm stick with the ground afterwards, besides general relaxation. I learned this from my teacher. We do this very occasionally even in a class.