Feet Stretching Exercises for Anybody

Series Summary

Pilates is an exercise system developed by a German man named Joseph Pilates. It was designed to strengthen the body core (which consists of the abdominal muscles, the lower back muscles, hip flexors, and gluteus muscles) in order to prevent back pain, and help with spine alignment and breathing control. Pilates exercises can be done almost anywhere and can be learned quite easily.

In this free video series, watch as certified Pilates instructor Benna Miller teaches you how to do a Pilates workout that almost anyone can do, regardless of body type. You'll learn some basic stretches, strength-building exercises, push-ups, abs workouts, and various plank exercises. Start toning your muscles and burning some fat today with the help of these great pilates video and the experts at Expert Village.

Video Transcript

"Hi my name is Benna Miller and on behalf of Expert Village, in this clip, I'll illustrate to you the importance of having strong feet. These feet have to carry you through your life. We sometimes get pedicures, we buy nice shoes, but most of the time we pay very little attention to strengthening your feet and I'd like to start you on a new program. So if you put your heels together and your toes a little bit wider, feel free to use a chair or a pole. This isn't about balance. This is about strength of feet and ankles. So you're going to press your heels together and lift up and roll on down and you're going to raise up and roll down. So you're coming up to the ball of the feet and you're lowering your heels, coming up to the balls of the feet and lowering the heels and take two up and press those heels down as though you're pressing through mud. Take your feet now parallel and let's do the same exercise up and lower, up and lower. Well, I'd like for you to do these at least ten times, but we'll just do them four times. Now would you please take your left leg and your left foot and place it in front. You''ll raise up. Keeping the heels lifted, you'll bend the knees, raise back into a straight back and lower. Once more on the same side, raise up, bend the knees, straighten the legs and press those heels down and of course, I want to take them to the opposite side. So, you'll take your right foot in front. You'll stand up, bend the knees, straighten the legs and lower down, raise up, bend the knees, straighten the legs and lower down. Remember that you can use the couch, you can use a chair, you can use a pole, you can use a counter top. When you're talking on the phone, what a good use of time, exercise those feet."