The Benefits of Barefoot

Today is Tommy Housworth's birthday. For those of you who do not know, Tommy suggested a number of really great blog posts over the past few months. He has a blog called Barefoot Zen and is an avid barefoot runner. Therefore it's no surprise that he wants to spread the gospel of the naked foot. So, Happy Birthday, Tommy and this post is for you!

The Benefits of Barefoot

While it's difficult to be out and about without shoes in New York City, they're the first thing that I remove when I walk through my apartment door. First, I don't want to track the dirt and grime from the street in my home, but without shoes I am more comfortable. It's less formal and I can stretch my feet out from long days standing or walking on unforgiving pavement.

While I love a nice shoe, I cannot wait for the warmer months so I can be barefoot more often. Luckily there are a plethora of parks close by so I can doff the shoes and walk in the grass. I also had the opportunity to visit Coney Island twice last year and dig my toes in the sand and allow the tide to come up over my feet. As a yoga teacher I talk lots about the connection of the feet to the floor, but it's truly a connection with the Earth. Finding the groundedness and stability from the Earth and bringing it in to the body. Pushing into the Earth to find length upwards as we stand or balance on one leg in vrksasana or garudasana. And I firmly believe we cannot find this connection with our shoes on.

I've had major foot and ankle injuries over the years. I first sprained my ankle in these cute red clogs when I was 5, but I broke my foot twice and sprained the ankle at least 6 times. It wasn't until I was in physical therapy from the last injury in 2009 that I was told I don't walk evenly. In fact, I put little weight on my left foot and my right foot had to make up the difference. I finally knew why people kept asking me if I was limping! It's no surprise that I kept re-injuring since I did not use my feet efficiently. You can tell how you do by the way your shoes wear. Mine tended to wear out on the lateral or outside first, because I used to put my weight there. Due to physical therapy and my yoga practice, I'm more conscious when i walk, and make sure I'm giving each full foot it's due. My balance is certainly better and I know it's because of my barefoot focus.

Last year I did work study at the Yoga Journal Conference here in NY. During the 3-day conference, I had the good fortune to take 2 of Leslie Kaminoff's classes. With my years of foot and ankle injuries, I was excited to focus on the feet from a yoga standpoint. The feet and ankles have an amazing amount of bones, muscles and ligaments holding them all together. This gives us an unbelievable range of motion in the foot. Much of it we don't use because our feet are always in shoes. 

I could say a lot more, but I do think that Yoga Anatomy guru, Leslie says it better. Take off your shoes, roll your feet around on a tennis ball or ask your partner for a foot massage and watch these two videos. You can also check out one of his websites here.

Go.


I suggest starting with this one. And then go here.

Have questions, comments or suggestions? Please add them in the comment section below!