Grounded in the Feet, Guided by the Body

Most people in my world know that I am deeply interested in the inherent wisdom already blessed within our bodies from the moment we arrive in this three-dimensional existence. At Jambo Dragon School, I adapt yoga sequences to prioritise methods of awakening this wisdom, because I believe the path to ending our suffering, and to enlightenment, lives in our bodies as much as in words, teachings, and instructions.

As I continue exploring the messages my body offers, I rely on this inner compass to help create the strings that guide my heart. This journey has required a greater acceptance of my own nuances and the way my body expresses them.

If you do not know, I had two hip surgeries on my right hip during my teenage years as a result of a slipped epiphysis. This is a condition where the ball at the head of the thigh bone slips off the neck of the bone at the growth plate. It is more common in young boys, and in my case, it meant learning to make countless adaptations to enjoy the movement practices I love, whether yoga, weight training, or simply moving through the world.

Through this process, I have developed a deeper love and respect for the wisdom contained within my body and the way it reveals that wisdom to me. At Jambo Dragon School, I share these experiences to show how yoga anatomy, yoga for hip pain, and yoga for lower back pain can be adapted for everybody.

I have a fixed morning practice that I have kept for years, and it has supported me with everything from easing lower back pain, to softening teeth grinding, to feeling safe in a world that moves to its own rhythm. In more recent years, I have been exploring the uniqueness of how my hips like to move and how that influences the way I ground through my legs and my feet. I have also been doing bodywork on my own feet, focusing on foot strengthening for balance and improving how my feet affect hip alignment.

The feet hold many mechanoreceptors that provide constant feedback about how to move within our environment. When certain areas of the feet cannot press into the earth, the rest of the body receives the message that it is unsafe, ungrounded, and not ready to take up space. This directly influences hip alignment, posture, and even shoulder stability.

Through consistent practice, combining biomechanics, yoga anatomy, anatomical principles, and subtle awareness, I discovered that my right foot was grounding far less than I had realised. This imbalance created recurring issues not just in my hips and shoulders but also showed up at night: as I drifted to sleep, my left shin would tingle and vibrate. Eventually I understood that the muscles of my left lower leg were simply tired from carrying more than their share of my body weight all day.

The right foot is linked to how I move forward in the world in the ways I choose to step into new places and experiences. Over the past few years, this awareness has shaped my practice and my teaching at Jambo Dragon School. I have learned that when I honour my need for groundedness, my yoga for hip stability and yoga for shoulder alignment become a joy, a nourishment, and a way to explore where I truly want to be rooted.

I have returned to simple poses such as Tree Pose (Vṛkṣāsana), other single leg balancing postures, and grounding-focused yoga sequences for hip and back health. These have helped me reassess and redesign my practice to strengthen the anatomical chains that are most appropriate for me.

If you are here to feel grounded, wonderful. If you are here to reduce discomfort, wonderful. If you are here to root yourself deeply and draw in the nourishment that arrives when you do so, then this is the perfect journey for you to join.

Join myself and Ricky for

JDS Workshop: The Foot – Your Hidden Key to Hip, Back, and Shoulder Freedom

If your lower back, hips, or shoulders keep flaring up no matter how much you stretch or activate, your feet might be the missing link.

In this workshop, you will learn how the way you stand on your feet shapes your hips, spine, and even shoulders, and how small changes can ripple through your whole body. By the end, you will know exactly how to stand, walk, and move in a way that supports your body in yoga, workouts, and daily life - and you will know which way to prepare your own body for the movements you love.

Bring your yoga toys, a large towel, and a resistance band. If you do not have these, you will discover how to adapt with what you already have at home.

📅 13 September

🕙 10:00 UK | 17:00 Jakarta

🎥 If you cannot attend live, you will receive the full recording to keep.

💷 £28 – JDS members

💷 £35 – Non-members

📧 Register by emailing ricky@rickysaputrayoga.com