I firmly believe that one of the best things you can do for your health is to go barefoot.
It doesnt take much, really. Just a general desire for plantar freedom and a willingness to earn a decent callous. Well, I guess it takes a little more than that, especially out here in Colorado. We barefooted folk have a tough time in the winter. The ground is freezing cold, but for the most part, we still want to feel it.
Before you jump to conclusions, oh skeptical ones, this is not just a weird Crunchy Colorado thing. Its not like we are just hobbiting about on our way to the dispensary, no! Barefoot is the new fitness craze. It has all the common sense of traditional outdoor activities like running and hiking, but with an almost jazzercize flair when you really look at the oh-so technicolor products out there for people that desire more exercise for their feet.
There has been a huge shift in the past decade toward minimizing footwear. For those of you who are somewhat intrigued by this concept but are somewhat put off by the thought of looking like you've walked off of the Lord of the Rings set, fear not. There are cool options out there just for you. Just about every major athletic shoe company has at least a few designs of minimalist shoe, each pair even more ergonomic than the next. There are even companies dedicated exclusively to barefoot-style footwear, that I fondly dub "the toe shoes".
The truth is, your feet get you around, and for most people, they could be treated a whole lot nicer. I'm not talking pedicures, though a good pedi is entirely acceptable in 9 cases out of 10 (and in some cases... highly recommended). Your feet are, at least 90% of the time, your sole gateway to sensory perception between your brain and the ground you walk on. And if you dont know where your feet are, how can you possibly know where you are going in your day to day life?
The health benefits of barefoot living are actually quite astounding. Did you know you have as many tiny bones and muscles, even as many touch-sensitive nerves in your feet as you do in your much more dexterous hands? Its true! But lets face it, modern athletic footwear seems to have one simple goal... to effectively splint your feet during activity.
I am sure you have heard rumors about bad knees, shin splints, neck and back aches and many other woes when you dont have proper foot support. But let me tell you, I am an advocate for barefootedness for many reasons, and most of them are because I have less pain in my knees, ankles, hips, back and neck since I have adopted a barefoot lifestyle. It seems counterintuitive at first, but when you give your feet a chance, they actually help your body function the way it is supposed to - and as your poor atrophied foot muscles become stronger and more limber, things line up properly, all the way from the ground up. And for those of you who are "on your feet all day", me too! As a surgical nurse, I used to suffer horribly from plantar fasciitis, and I tried medical professional shoes, shoe inserts, everything I could to get rid of it. Only one thing helped. A barefoot lifestyle.
Now I have worn a barefoot style shoe to work - only 2.5mm of man made materials between the soles of my feet and the floor - just about every day for the past 6 months. I have suffered from plantar fasciitis only once, when I made the mistake of wearing traditional footwear to work.
So next time your dogs are really barking, try taking them for a walk - a real walk, as nature intended - and perambulate yourself back to good health.
To your feet... two of the most hardworking parts of the human body. Salutations!
♥ Dani
P.S. When you make the barefoot leap, please be smart about it and learn how to transition properly. Otherwise... your calves will be mooing, too!!
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