MINIS

After working with the MINIS™ I am finding the proper balance and flexibility within my foot so that I am now able to do a proper relevé on my left foot.  I am so grateful for this small, lightweight invention, now in my dance bags and with me everywhere I go.    

— Robert Fairchild, Former Principal Dancer New York City Ballet 

ABOUT MINIS™: Improve heel and foot pain and treat plantar fasciitis

MINIS™ by Parasetter® are two small and lightweight platforms (5’ x 5” x 2.5”) made for foot stretches and to treat foot pain. Each one weighs only an ounce, but can support an adult body. Made of a special “space age” type material, the MINIS™ feel resilient and yet firm. A curved Wedge is designed to fit into the Center Channel. MINIS™ can also be used as a plantar fasciitis treatment to relieve foot and heel pain. A series of six foot exercises Stretch, Strengthen, Activate and Align all the bones and muscles and tendons in the feet so that your over-worked and often pained feet are rejuvenated. Everyone needs healthy and happy feet to support, move and balance our bodies.

FIT & USE INSTRUCTIONS VIDEO

FIT & USE INSTRUCTIONS

  • 1. Stretch

    Place the balls of the feet on the MINIS™ so the toes relax into the Center Channel. Feel the upper calf lengthen as you stand with knees straight. After a few seconds, soften the knees to release the upper calf muscles. Repeat for a minute daily and avoid low back and heel pain (plantar fascitis).

  • 2. Strengthen

    Place the backs of heels at Center Channel and forefoot on the floor. Try to “dome” the arch. Imagine your heels sliding towards your toes. This move will strengthen the toe flexors and foot intrinsics.

  • 3. Activate

    With heels on MINIS™ and forefoot on floor, lift the toes first and then lift the rest of the forefoot. This wakes up the tendons that cross your ankles. Repeat quickly and the muscles of the ankle and shin will activate.

  • 4. Align

    Turn MINIS™ so Center Channel faces the body. Insert the Wedge into Channel slightly behind the midpoint. Stand tall on Wedge so the ankle aligns with the front of the Wedge. You will experience a realignment as the proprioceptors turn on.

  • 5. Align+

    Place both Wedges in one MINI™ to support all the arches of the foot. Repeat the previous exercise with one foot to increase the intensity and challenge. Your body will vibrate. In this position, you can access the true Plumb Line that runs through the body!

  • 6. Balance

    Turn MINIS™ over so flat side is on top. Stand and practice balancing. Touch a wall or chair for support. Gradually raise arms to shoulder level and attempt to balance. Just standing on these MINIS™ you experience micro movements throughout your body as it naturally finds a balance and center.

THE RESULT

MINIS TIPS

Better posture and more graceful movement. But the best part is that the six exercises are easy to do and feel so good—Almost like getting a foot massage. When you step off the MINIS you feel lighter and more buoyant immediately.

A sample exercise with the MINIS:

Stand on the minis with the wedge underneath the mid-foot in line with the center of gravity of the foot, to support the tarsal bones; both knees straight, using micro-movements of the foot and ankle to find balance-this improves the proprioception as well as the ankle strategy necessary to maintain good alignment. Place arms out to side to help with balance and then elevate them overhead to increase the challenge. Continue breathing into the back ribs on the inhale and activate abdominals and pelvic floor on the exhale.

MINIS™ Testimonials

  • I’ve been a Pilates Teacher and studio owner for over 33 years. If you, like me, didn’t feel you needed one more prop or device to deal with feet, calves and balance, I call upon you to at least try the Minis on your own body. They are tremendous and have helped my Achilles tendinitis more than manual deep tissue work, the roller and yoga poses (like downward dog). If I were living on a deserted island, I would take my minis. That’s how useful they are. My clients concur and everyone who buys a pair of Minis actually ends up using them. They are a great invention!

    P.S. my son is an avid trail runner and used to have problems with his Achilles. He now uses the minis faithfully, ( he keeps a pair at home and at work) and as a result has much less painful feedback and has more joyful running.

    — Karen Matison

  • I had problems with arthritis in Ankle Joint due to fall breaking my Ankle 25 years ago along with a cracked Patella. I began using the MINIS™ the thing I loved the most was you noticed changes in your body immediately. I also noticed an amazing thing that happened was that I had gone out for a night on the town with friends and had done a considerable amount of dancing. I loved to dance but every other time I would pay the price and not be able to move the next day.

    I am happy say after now incorporating the MINIS™ in my routine. I did not have pain the next day after the last time we went dancing and I totally attribute this to the amazing MINIS™. Being on my feet teaching long hours these MINIS™ are a gem to have around: they don’t take up any space, they are easy to travel with there are endless ways to use them.

    — Patti Kreiner, Balanced Body Master Pilates Teacher

  • I’ve been using the Minis with my dancers and some of them are addicted! I have one dancer with diabetes and celiac disease, and she hasn’t been sick once since she started using them and its longer “cousin” Parasetter! She used it and then fall asleep right afterwards and the more we use it the better it’s gotten - now she just “gets in a good mood” from it. And her insulin is leveling out, too.

    — Jen M. Pilates Teacher

  • For the past year, I haven’t been able to do a correct pain-free relevé on my left foot. The wear and tear from ballet was made worse by doing the same steps over and over again on Broadway in An American in Paris. After working with the MINIS™ I am finding the proper balance and flexibility within my foot so that I am now able to do a proper relevé. I am so grateful for this small, lightweight invention, now in my dance bag and with me everywhere I go.

    — Robert Fairchild, Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet

  • Leonardo da Vinci described the human foot as a “masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” Of the 206 bones in our bodies, twenty-five percent are in our feet, which we rely on for movement, support and balance. The MINIS™ enable us to experience the tiny micro-movements that center and align us. This awareness stabilizes our joints so we develop stronger and healthier bodies.

    — Marika Molnar PT Lac, Physical Therapist New York City Ballet and Founder, WestSide Dance Physical Therapy

  • I have recently been introduced to the MINIS™. I believe that this device offers a great and non-complicated way to restore and increase proprioception. I can’t wait to work with it more often to uncover the other benefits it will have for my patients.

    — Dr. Louis Galli, DPM New York, NY

  • I’ve discovered the MINIS™ and so should all dancers! After hours of teaching and late night tango, it’s pleasurable to stretch with MINIS™ and realign the feet–our essential tool as dancers–and quite satisfying to feel the ankles strengthening. I’d always planned on dancing tango for life… and now I know that I shall.

    — Dante Polichetti, Professional Tango Dancer & Instructor

  • I am a huge fan of the Parasetter® device. I have serious foot issues - tendon repair surgery on my right foot years ago, and then a crushed big toe on the left that took nearly 7 months to heal, and the bone is still misshapen.Because my gait is off, I also get heel pain and plantar fasciitis.Most foot massagers and such hurt me. Plus, they really don’t address all the issues.

    These Mini’s do! They are soft enough to not hurt my feet, but still solid enough to support and give me some resistance.

    My feet feel better, and my balance is better. Simple, light, and very effective!

    — Lynda Lippin, Master Pilates Teacher

  • Minis: Such a small item that does such a big impact. Definitely helps stretch your foot and help it relax. I have been suffering from pain and it’s been helping me. I’ve been using it daily after taking a shower when I come home from work.

    — Erika Johanna Fajardo

  • I broke an ankle in 9 places with 3 dislocations and had four hours of surgery 5 years ago. It was a severe break with a difficult recovery. Mini’s were recommended to me by two foot and ankle experts. They have been extremely helpful because the break and the surgery also caused damage and numbness to the bottom of my foot. I still use them daily to maintain the flexibility and strength of my foot and ankle. They are absolutely wonderful assists. I highly recommend them.

    — Balynt

  • I had problems with arthritis in my Ankle due to fall breaking my Ankle 25 years ago my feet ache feet. I began using the Pilates MINIS™ for foot work the thing I loved the most was I noticed changes in my body immediately. Being on my feet teaching long hours these MINIS™ are a gem to have around don’t take up any space, easy to travel with and have endless ways to use them. My clients love that they can get the MINIS™ on Amazon.

    — Trebclef

  • I'm a Yoga teacher who formerly also taught Pilates. I like to incorporate exercises with Minis into my Yoga classes. They're helpful for foot stretching and strengthening exercises, and for balance exercises. I've also been able to use them as knee pads, and have used them like small Yoga blocks.

    — Amazon Review

  • These are by far one of the best at-home devices I've been able to use to not just bring pain relief but strengthen my feet. However, mine are starting to crack and split in the middle. One of my favorite things to do is wedge the lateral side of my foot into the middle and massage and stretch my ankle, which is what I assume is driving this. I may try and put some super glue in there to see if that helps but I'm disappointed as I've not had them that long.

    — Amazon Review

  • No more foot pain!! So easy to use unlike the balls that fix pain but are also a BIG pain to use!!

    — Amazon Review

MINIS ACCESSORIES

REFLEX-IT™

Our newest product, designed to be used in conjunction with the MINIS™ and MINIS™ inserts. This new product aims to relieve foot and body pain through ancient reflexology and pressure point practices.

LEAN™

LEAN is a holster for your MINIS, which can be bought separately or as a bundle with MINIS included. LEAN can be placed over your desk chair to stretch the upper back or provide lower back when sitting.