Have you heard that people are starting to get into the “new” exercise of barefoot running based on the new book “Born to Run”?
I grew up when life was simple and natural. As a child, it was normal to go out and play in bare feet. I remember the feel of grass on my feet and the fun of jumping barefoot into a pool of water. I also remember bee stings, cuts and bruises that my mom or dad would always “fix” us and send us back outside. I remember putting my bare foot on the metal pedal of my bike and feeling the power of speed. We only wear shoes twice: 1) to school and 2) to church services. The children wear flip-flops or something to cover their feet now when they play outside. However, sensory perception and knowing what is happening in the ground beneath our feet is an experience that they lack.
Considering the fact that almost all of us wear the wrong shoes and injure our feet, it only stands out that we should spend time finding, buying and wearing the right shoes. And go barefoot whenever we can, safely. Running or walking barefoot encourages midfoot strike and prevents unnatural hard heel strikes and encourages natural posture and movement. In the last 30 years alone, running shoes have become loaded with cushioning, arch supports, and technical advances that countless studies and medical professionals show are doing more harm than good.People are realizing that going barefoot is really a way to go. Can this be contributed to people who are looking to get back to basics, simplicity and natural ways of living, going green, so to speak?
For most people, going barefoot is the healthiest way to be for the body. However, it’s too risky for most of us to take off our shoes and go for a barefoot walk or run (unless it’s on a sandy beach). I have read that “The VivoBarefoot shoe has an exceptionally thin, puncture resistant sole (a proprietary technology) that provides all the protection of normal shoes and the health benefits of walking barefoot.” At the very least, it is recommended that you walk barefoot around your home, inside and out, to see if walking barefoot is the “new” activity for you.