A broken toe can be a minor injury requiring little more than splinting, or it can be a serious injury requiring a full cast and even surgery. In minor cases, you can still put weight on your foot and walk. However, you may not be able to put any weight on the foot at all in severe cases. Yoga has several seated exercises that you can do at any injury level. Standing poses and handstands require adjustments to avoid putting excess weight on the foot. Also, avoid flexing and hyperextending the toes. Consult your physician before doing yoga with a broken toe.
Step 1
Tape the broken toe to the adjoining toe with first aid tape. If it is a serious break, your doctor may put your foot in a cast instead.
Step 2
Do standing exercises, such as forward bends and standing back bends, as normal if you are able to put weight on your foot. If you are not able to put weight on your foot, do these exercises from a kneeling position with your ankles resting on a rolled yoga mat or bolster.
Step 3
Do exercises that bend your toes, such as the plank, on your knees with your ankles resting on a rolled yoga mat or bolster. You can also rest your knees on the floor and lift your feet toward the ceiling. If you are strong enough, you can also do a full plank and lift your injured foot.
Step 4
Lift the affected foot off the floor when performing the downward facing dog to avoid flexing or extending the broken toe.
Step 5
For supine back bends, such as the bridge pose, lift your foot and extend your leg toward the ceiling. If you are unable to extend your leg that far, extend your leg so it is parallel to the floor. Alternately, cross your foot over the opposite knee.
Step 6
For standing lunges, such as the Warrior, do the pose as a kneeling lunge with the ankle of your affected foot resting on a rolled mat or bolster. Do not switch legs if you cannot put any weight on your broken toe.
Step 7
For standing, single-leg balance poses, such as the eagle pose, balance on your good foot and avoid switching to the other foot.
Tips and Warnings
- When in doubt, you can always do a pose that is similar to the pose the instructor is doing and achieve the same affect. If you are taking a yoga class, advise the teacher of your injury and ask for modifications.
Things You'll Need
- First aid tape
- Rolled yoga mat or bolster
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