Look at this! Kathy touches toes!
You think I’m going to be talking about life and death again, don’t you? Cemeteries and ancestors and honoring life?
Well…yes. And no.
I am actually going to discuss Touching Our Toes.
How many of you can touch your toes?
Show of hands!
Wow! Touching toes!
Many of you know that I started yoga lessons back in March. My friend, Shanel, began teaching me Downward Dog, Cow, Sunrise Salutation, Tree pose.
Yep, it’s been seven months now.
The first five months I practiced once a week. Let’s do Warrior I! Warrior II! Reverse Warrior. Let’s do Child’s Pose. Let’s do Happy Baby. Let’s stretch. Stretch…stretch…stretch.
Starting in late August my body finally figured out how to do it without an instructor. I began doing the entire routine every week-day morning. It was a huge accomplishment to be able to do this alone.
I started out four inches from the toes. OK, maybe five inches. Flexibility has never been my strength. Except mentally! Mentally, I am so flexible that I do figure eights. Even emotionally I can bend around corners. But physically…nah.
Until now.
C'mon...you can do it...
I can touch my toes, dear reader! I am dancing around the living room just thinking about it! Heaven hath reached earth! Fingers in the sky have reached the carpeting. It’s everything I have ever wanted–and more.
(OK, maybe not everything I have ever wanted. But it is happening! Unless you stop by the house at 6 a.m. Then we’re still two inches from the toes. You have to wait until evening. Then we’re touching. We’re there. We’ve made it!)
I’m waiting to hear how you report. Can you really touch your toes? Have you been able to touch your knuckles on the ground–like someone who lives with me? Are you flexible?
If not, have faith. It’s possible to learn this skill. Give it two months of almost daily stretching. You’ll find your fingers stretching lower, lower, lower.
You, too, will reach the earth! You’re almost there…
Lake Superior Spirit 
Yep, you know it….I can touch my toes and drag my knuckles like a monkey, but I’ve been doing that as long as I can remember. I just thought the everybody could. What a surprise to find out that some people can’t! I’m so proud of you and I love the pictures and I can’t wait ’til we get together again and you can show me your new dance! Love You!
Like a monkey! I am so envious. Actually, Kiah and I are envious of all of you commenters. Sounds like most of you can do it–no problem. Kiah’s flexibility is exactly the same as mine, which leads me to suspect it’s genetic. Yes, indeed, next time we’re together you get the New Dance!
I LOVE the photos! You have really pretty feet and toes and skinny long legs! And NOW, you can touch your toes! How persistent and disciplined you’ve been, and are! All those several inches from your goal pared away through your efforts and consistency. Yes, I’m one who’s been able to touch my toes all my life, and can match Knuckle Boy, too. Lol. I never knew it was a sought-after ability. Wondering now if it’s genetic? Kudos to you and wishes for many, many toe-touching years!!!
Susan, Susan, you’re going too far! They are not really pretty feet and toes or skinny long legs. But, you know what, girlfriend? I have been very dedicated to pursuing these toes. Very dedicated. Day in and day out. Dreaming only of fingers touching toes. lol!
“Flexibility has never been my strength. Except mentally! Mentally, I am so flexible that I do figure eights. Even emotionally I can bend around corners.”
What a fantastic gift — OUT LOUD LAUGHING — this post with its supporting photos has provided for me this afternoon. I LOVE IT!
I don’t have your same mental and emotional agility, but in the morning I can touch the floor with my fingertips, and by evening I can touch the floor (almost, not quite) flat-handed. (but I’d much rather be able to do figure-eights with my mind and bend around corners with my emotions).
Laurie, perhaps I should have qualified. SOMETIMES I can do figure eights in my mind and with the emotions. Other times I fall on my butt! Glad you laughed, though!
🙂 🙂
Wonderful news, Kathy! Isn’t it great when we see how persistence pays off? I’m such an instant gratification person, especially when it comes to physical change. I tend to not stick to routines very well (unless, I blog to keep myself accountable). lol!
Marianne, sometimes I am such an instant gratification person it’s crazy. Other times I can stick to routines like a world-class stickler. I like the idea of blogging to keep us accountable…that was my incentive last year during the 365 day commitment.
I can. I just checked to make sure it’s still true. I can lie on the floor and lift my legs up in the air at a 90-degree angle, too. Can’t move ’em much beyond that, though. And you know what I can’t do anymore? Can’t do a situp to save my life. In fact, can’t get up from lying on the floor in any graceful fashion at all. The Cowboy has been watching me carefully, and he says it’s true. I have work to do.
Congratulations, Gerry! Did you read the blog I wrote about the 84 year old lady who can put her legs up in the air at the 90 degree angle and THEN put them over her head?? I am still in awe and amazement. I am also wondering if the Cowboy can do any yoga poses…?
Congratulation Kathy! Having done yoga, I remember when my hips realized they could bend another few inches without effort. Do you too know that release that happens at the hip joint when you bend over? Yes I can touch my finger tips in the morning and my knuckles at night – just! But I always wanted to do what my mother can do and that is put the palms of her hands flat on the floor – even at seventy-three. She could always do it but the last 30 years she does a series of stretches every week day morning so that she can keep doing. She amazes me. As kids we would all be bent over trying to do what she was doing. I am sure it made her smile more than once. I was too busy trying to touch my toes to notice.
Terrill, you have had me thinking and noticing all day. Wondering about what has stretched or moved or opened or released to allow for this toe-touching. Is it really the hips which have opened? Hmmm…admiring your knuckle-touching and your mom’s hand-touching. That is a feat indeed.
By the way Kathy I like the new layout… very soothing and relaxed.
I am very glad you like it, Terrill. I experimented with quite a few before settling on this. Whoever happened by Lake Superior Spirit the other day must have thought it was schizophrenic. It kept changing every few minutes.
Noooooooooooooooooooooo…
Oh wait! Ok I can touch them if I cross my legs like a pretzel! Somehow, I think this will not count.
Hoorayyyyyy for stretching–even the kind that doesn’t involve physical body bits!
I think it all counts, Elisa. Even pretzel leg crossing. Stretching of all kinds certainly feels liberating, doesn’t it?
hmmm….I don’t know…let me go check. (Hum some elevator music here please…..)..well…can just barely sort of touch my toes..and it’s evening too! 🙂 Hamstrings tight. hips tight. Did yoga for about 2 weeks last summer…perhaps should reconsider!
Dawn, it sounds like you are doing good. Even though everything is tight. (Coming from someone who took seven months of stretching to reach her toes…) Did you like your yoga last summer?
NOT
– ask myself why??
I used to be the star pitcher and the one every one followed in gym…..Well – guess it all just happened….Good and bad choices (oh now I hear Ms flat hands…”+”LOL)…I want to try, but somehow – have lost, the motivation…
I need a Yoga for Dummies class…remedial training..
Kim, you used to be a star pitcher and gym-leader? Wow. I am truly amazed…as I was the person in gym class who wanted to be invisible. You would like my yoga class. It could be called Yoga for Dummies. Shhh…Shanel would not approve of me saying that. She keeps saying how proud she is.
I, too, was a back-of-the-class kid in gym! Fun, hey? My dad always says that they should’ve named me ‘Grace.’ 🙂
Yes, I’m a toe and floor toucher too. All the women in our family have been blessed with flexibility. But will admit that I can no longer take this for granted without actually doing something about it on a fairly regular basis. The mental and emotional flexibility you are so blessed with has been (and still is) a work in progress.
You women are gifted, Colleen! Oh, truly, mine is a work in progress too. On all levels…I think I got carried away writing this blog. laughing… Guess we have to keep it up on a regular basis!
Ohh dear! sadly, i can’t do any of those you’ve mentioned! but yeah, this motivates me to get learning a bit of yoga. Perhaps, I must start with the beginners lessons! It’l be fun.. totally! 🙂
Sonali, my daughter is in a similar predicament. I am glad to have inspired you! It just takes daily stretching…daily stretching…daily stretching. It will be fun!
Hey Kathy! 🙂 I was finally able to touch my toes.. never thought i would be able to make it so soon! 🙂 but, the fact is im very thin and flexible too.. so perhaps ws’nt so tough! let me try some more stunts 😉
Way to go, Sonali! Great job… You let us know your next stunt! Especially if it’s a running cartwheel…
My family is not blessed with natural flexibility. We dance, but we must work for it. Most days I can touch my toes; some days it depends how far apart the feet are spread! I’ve been trying to get the splits for the last ten years of dance classes – my bottom is still about 3-4 inches from the floor, unfortunately. I gleefully report I am, however, closer to the floor than my 13-year-old daughter! (Oops, is that mean spirited or just proof that one is as young as one feels?)
That is quite a feat, Karma, to have gotten closer to the floor than your 13-year-old-daughter! I would say the answer is: we are as young as we feel. (Maybe you’ve worked harder than your daughter to get there.)
You have always been my most flexible friend…..
see… i love you… i am visiting your blog…
Melinda, you know I danced on the ceilling (with my toes) when seeing your blog-visit. Tis true. Sure proof that you love me. And that you are flexible too!
Beautiful toe-touching!! Congratulations. 🙂
I can put my palms down on the floor, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting to touch your toes or any other example of our bodies doing awesome stuff. 🙂 I enjoy stretching. I have not been practicing yoga lately and I’m way less flexible than I was when I did.
I guess we have to keep it up, Emma. I am now wondering what will happen after a week in Florida–if I don’t do yoga. Probably won’t be able to touch my knees! Thank you for your congratulations.
Well – I just tried to make sure that I wasn’t fibbing – yes, indeed. I CAN. Knuckles and palms, too.
My daughter and I had a conversation on the phone today, Barb. She said, “How come all the people on your blog can touch their toes?” We are befuddled how many of you are naturally blessed. And you can touch your palms to the floor! Wonderful…
I guessed yoga when I read the title to this blog post. I’m tickled to know I was right. (I am easily amused, it seems…lol!)
I am extremely flexible in some ways but I think that’s because everything got stretched in weird ways during my childhood and teenage years when I was a gymnast. I used to be able to do things no body should be able to do. I am almost grateful that I can’t do those things anymore. lol! On the other hand, I am not so flexible in other areas (having trouble with back bends, for instance, even the little ones such as boat pose) so I have to work (or relax) on those areas.
A big WELL DONE to you on having Heaven reach earth. 🙂
You guessed yoga? You are brilliant, Robin!
I am also fascinated to think you were a gymnast and able to do amazing things with your body. I admire people who have honed–or relaxed–their body into such feats of accomplishment.
Thank you!
I was able to touch my toes when I was 9 months pregnant with my first son. In the year 2000, I knew soemthing was terribly wrong when I could not touch my toes. I could not go much past my knees. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue, during that time.
I am happy to say that I can currently touch my toes.
It has been a while since I can go further.
The Celiac Disease has me a bit tight–it never was Chronic Fatigue. I jsut had to cut out those grains that made me ill.
Kim, I am so glad that you received the proper diagnosis and have been able to heal yourself through proper diet. How sad that it took so many years for that diagnosis. So glad that you can touch your toes. That is truly a wonderful accomplishment.
Me, too….can touch my toes, I mean. Not easily but this reminds me that I’ve been meaning to pull out a stretching DVD that I have. I’m going to try and do it every evening….wish me luck!
And HORRAY for you, sweetie….you’ve earned your happy dance! 🙂
Lucky you! I will wish you luck. Let us know when you can touch your hands to the floor. It certainly was a happy day in this household when the fingers finally reached the toes.