Good Tips for loosening ankles

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[Dajo251]

Hi all, well I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for how to loosen one ankles. Mine have been stiff all week, and sitting in seza has been tourture for me the last couple of classes.

thanks
dan

[PhilMyKi]

A block of wood and a twelve pound hammer a la Kathy Bates in Misery :D

Aside form this, I will be interested to hear responses.

[James Davis]

Hi all, well I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for how to loosen one ankles. Mine have been stiff all week, and sitting in seza has been tourture for me the last couple of classes.

thanks
dan
Sadly enough, the first thing that comes to mind is to sit in seiza more. Best of luck to you. :)

[Yo-Jimbo]

I often find that my ankles need a lot of warming up. I'm interested to hear what others have to say, but will share what I do currently.
Use my hands to flex my toes several times.
Gently move the inside and outside ball of my foot in opposite directions a few times.
Rub my arch while flexing my toes. Making sure to rub the tendons in my arch.
Turn my ankle in rocking\rotating motions by grabbing my toes and rotating the foot in circles (both directions).
Shake the foot by grabbing above the ankle.
There are also various standing stretches that take the ankle through its normal range of motion now that it is warmed up a bit.
If seiza starts to hurt, switch to anza for while. When you feel like you could sit in seiza for a while again, switch back. Be nice to your body. You may need it later.

[crbateman]

Warm-ups and range-of-motion exercises help. Beyond that, the best thing is just to gut it out and give it a chance to get better.

[Dajo251]

thanks for the advice all....it was better last night, seiza was painful at the beginning of class, but got better after a while...