I would like some advice on how to be able to “flip my toes” from upward facing dog to downward facing dog. I can’t lift my pelvis when feet is in plantaflexion, nor toes strong enough to lift and flip into dorsiflexion in downward facing dog.
I can’t find help on the topic on the internet. Teachers kindly help ! 
The first always comes to the why of it, the intention. Alignment and effect aside, why is it important to do this movement with the toes. Why does it matter (to you)? This can be a rhetorical question and doesn’t require a reply.
Second, the ideal or idea, if you will, is to roll over the toes moving from Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) to Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (upward facing dog). As your body weight shifts forward and the bearing of that weight moves more into the upper extremities. That shift of the body toward the front of the mat allows for rolling over the toes. When the student is not able to do that, fearful of doing that, etc, then once he/she is in UFD the feet are lifted one at a time and the toes pointed back.
However it’s perfectly fine to keep your toes in the AMS position for UMS. It’s not that the toes are irrelevant its just that the other things going on are more relevant - specifically the integrity of the backbend in the spine.
If you are truly unable to lift the pelvis using the upper body strength and abdominals in going from UMS to AMS then that might be a hint as to what to attend to in your personal practice.
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;86866]The first always comes to the why of it, the intention.[/QUOTE]
I have had multiple challenges in yoga asana, it is mainly due to a loose left hip joint and everything on top and below had to compensate for the misalignment.
For the last 5 years or so, increased awareness in studying and adopting Iyengar method has helped me to not only heal my hip joint (mainly from “sucking the femur into hip socket” in standing poses), it also help me cured my chronic painful knees for 3 decades. Knees used to be inflamed with movement now I can squat straight up & down, or stay in tree pose with weak left hip.
I have learnt the placing of toes is important in aligning knees and thus the thought of strong toes would lead to stronger knees. Hence the idea / intention of learning to flip toes to strengthen them. Perhaps there is better method to achieve this ?
As to the other sound advice I need to work on them and will provide feedback later. Yes my upper body strength is weak as I have challenges in shoulders & neck, which I need to work on.
Thank you so very much for selfless service and advice!
Namaste
Super to hear you’ve used yoga to support your body’s own innate healing process.
The rolling over the toes has very little to do with strength in them. Yes they can be strengthened but the muscle tissue there isn’t meant for grasping and lifting like hands - it can be so for those who must but for most people … well they are toes.
However the flexion and extension of the toes does tend to hurt, especially for those with no previous attention to their feet and those with issues in the neck, throat, sinuses, etc.
If you PM me I’ll gladly share some of the foot and ankle series with you so that you may work on the toes. I don’t like posting teachings on a forum in perpetuity because it leaves too much room for misinterpretation. And of course yoga grows over time and needs to be altered accordingly.
If you PM me I’ll gladly share some of the foot and ankle series with you so that you may work on the toes
I want to register my sincere appreciation to InnerAthlete for providing helpful guidance to strengthen my toes & feet ! His knowledge is thoroughly thorough ! 
Thank you InnerAthelete, namaste !
You are welcome though I prefer “gordon” as my handle over my screen name:-)
Thank you Gordon !
InnerAthlete is a wonderful name, it reminds me of an athlete with great endurance, embarking on an Inner journey towards Self-reliazation, a 21st century yogi !
While working on my toes is still a work-in-process, I came across this video which I find helpful. Sharing with friends here. Namaste