That Ahhh…. Feeling
You know how have those little things you do, whether it’s the quick, sideways crack of the neck (that ALWAYS looks like it hurts when I see other people do it), the quick trunk rotation to get you back to crack, maybe it’s cracking your knuckles. We all have our “things.”
For me, it’s the Z-Health Toe Pull.
What is a Toe Pull?
The toe pull is one of the Z-Health high-payoff exercises. It’s one of the 6 beginning exercises (or what they call the high-payoffs) that provide awesome results for 80% of clients.
They don’t look like much – you can actually see me doing one with my right foot in the photo. Yeah, told you they don’t look like much.
But, what the toe pulls do is open up some of the joints in our feet. The hands and feet have 25% of the body’s joints in them, so keeping them mobile and moving well is super-important for keeping our system moving well overall. Conceptually, it’s really not that much different from what you might do with your neck or back or knuckles, but just with the feet.
The Proof is in the Pudding
On Tuesday I was working with a client, and we were working on her press. She has a history of ankle sprains on both ankles, so that combined with the toe pull being a high payoff and the other things I know about her, I walked her through a really good toe pull. She had been pressing the 16kg kettlbell (36 pounds) with a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of about 6-7. Then, we did the toe pull and her RPE immediately dropped to a 4-5. The second she picked up that kettlebell I knew that it was going to be a much better lift for her.
And all from this goofy thing with the foot. Because we are one complete unit the can’t be broken up into discrete parts. We perform better when all of the pieces are moving optimally.
I know for me, I feel amazing when I do a really good toe pull. When my body feels stiff and achy, I take a few minutes, go in to neutral stance, and run myself through the different toe pull positions. Instantly I can feel the tension release all the way up my back – right up to the base of my neck. For me, it’s even better than a massage!
Where to Start
Z-Health has a video, aptly named Quick Start that contains JUST the 6 high-payoff exercises. It’s a complete instructional DVD that walks you through each of the six, including all of the key points, common errors, and what you need to be focusing on. At $35 (plus shipping), honestly it’s a steal.
About Jen Waak