HWN Suggests

Why go barefoot?

Walking barefoot on natural surfaces such as grass, sand, or soil is known as earthing or grounding. The practice is based on the idea that direct physical contact with the Earth’s surface can promote psychological and physiological health. Research suggests that the Earth’s surface possesses a negative electric charge. When our bodies make direct contact with the ground, electrons from the Earth may help reduce chronic inflammation, potentially lowering levels of stress hormones.

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Featured

 Is Barefoot Running Really Better?

The science is mixed on whether running shoes or bare feet are the way to go

 Is exercising barefoot good for my feet?

Being barefoot can feel liberating, and there’s nothing like walking barefoot on grass or a sandy beach. Being barefoot also improves something called proprioception, which is our body’s ability to sense its position in space. That said, exercising sans shoes can pose hazards both obvious and unseen. It also depends what kind of exercise you’re doing. It’s fine — and even encouraged — to do yoga or tai chi barefoot, and walking on a grassy field or the beach can help to gently stretch ligaments in the feet. Even pedaling a bike barefoot is usually fine, though it might hurt if the pedals are rough or spiky.

 Stand Outside Barefoot for Better Health? ‘I Feel Like an Oddball, But if It Works, It Works.’

Pilots, pro athletes and others try ’grounding’—though don’t step on a bee. ‘I said a couple of bad words to myself.’

Articles of Interest

Barefoot Running: Paleo-Fact Or Paleo-Fad?

I tend toward skepticism when health advice is based on what our ancestors did, without regard to variation in past behavior. So I'm wondering, if shoes are as old in some early-human populations as Stringer claims, is the barefoot-running phenomenon just another paleo-fad?

Born to Walk Barefoot

Shoes protect our feet, but they also alter our strides and could increase the wear on our leg joints.

Despite the Wall Street Journal - Barefoot Running isn't Dead, Nor Heading Into the Sunset

I'm here to report, contrary to what you may have read in the Wall Street Journal, barefoot Running is not dead. If it were, our children would all be born with Nikes on their feet. But they're not, and there's a reason for it. Marketing, and dollars, always trumps what's real, what's natural, and what's hard to profit from. And yet, thousands of runners have experienced greater health, better running careers, and improved overall wellbeing by shedding their shoes.

Going Barefoot? Beware!

Millions of Americans will go barefoot this summer, and thousands will suffer injuries, such as cuts and puncture wounds. Some will develop nasty infections that may require surgery. The best way to protect feet and toes from injury is to wear shoes. But if your summer just wouldn't be the same without the sand between your toes or walking in your backyard barefoot, doctors with the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) say you can make it a safer season by following these tips...

Grounding: Five Reasons to be Outside and Barefooted

Being barefooted and outside has many health benefits. My entire life, I have always gone barefooted as much as possible. It makes me feel good, and now that there is a growing body of research on grounding or earthing, I can justify my desired shoeless existence. And yes, I find it comical that we have to have research to tell us to be barefooted.

How Bad Is Walking Barefoot Around Your House, Really?

There are some benefits to going without shoes—and a few solid reasons to slip a pair on.

How Gross Is It to Go Barefoot? Doctors Explain.

The reason for the aversion to bare feet: People tend to think they’re gross. And there’s plenty of truth to that. You probably don’t wash your feet very carefully very often, and they can come in contact with all sorts of germs.

I tried grounding therapy for two weeks - and it worked wonders for my stress and productivity levels

Remember that scene towards the end of Pretty Woman where Richard Gere abandons a million-dollar business deal, kicks off his shoes and randomly starts walking barefoot in the park to let off some steam? I had a similar experience recently. Like the uptight business tycoon, I had hit an inbox-related burnout and was craving a form of stress relief that didn’t involve staring at more screens. So when I heard that an outdoor practice called "grounding" was trending on TikTok, naturally, my curiosity was piqued.

Is Barefoot Better?

While exercising without shoes may sound painful, the idea is that your feet need a workout, too. Proponents believe running barefoot changes a runner's form and body mechanics to prevent some common athletic injuries.

Is Barefoot Training Ever a Good Idea?

Learn the pros and cons of ditching your sneakers.

Is It Just Me, Or Is There a Barefoot Fitness & Walking Trend Happening Right Now

I did a double take the other day, when I spotted a couple running on a paved trail near my home. Here's the thing: they were both barefoot. Then, I spotted another barefoot incident: a beautifully dressed woman out shopping--with no shoes on. We've been hearing about the so-called health benefits of barefoot running for years, but really--is this catching on?

No, you shouldn’t be going barefoot in public

It’s time to de-feet the trend of going shoeless. Though the barefoot lifestyle is not new – as evidenced by various types of barefoot or minimalist shoes and other products – the movement is resurfacing thanks to TikTok. Users on the popular social media app are ditching their shoes in public, with some even finding discreet ways to get around the rules in their favorite places by chopping off the soles on their shoes. They boast that walking barefoot is more natural, and thus more beneficial to the feet.

Put Your Shoes Back On. Here’s the Problem With Going Barefoot

Apologies to the dudes who packed away their Allbirds and Crocs in order to parade around town with nothing but sweet air between their feet and the ground. “Barefoot boy summer” has been canceled.

Should You Be Going Barefoot More Often?

Get-Fit Guy spent some time chatting with Vivobarefoot CEO Galahad Clark about the importance of going barefoot and the health science presented the new documentary Shoespiracy

Should you start wearing shoes indoors? How being barefoot affects your health

“I think the biggest thing is just having a balance,” Desjardins said. “We’re human beings, we can’t just wear shoes all the time. But I definitely think there’s a time and place, and specific injuries require a certain treatment.”

The Barefoot Professor: Running without shoes may mean fewer injuries

Harvard professor Daniel Lieberman has ditched his trainers and started running barefoot. His research shows that running barefoot generates less impact shock than running in trainers. This makes barefoot running more comfortable and could minimise running-related injuries

The Barefoot Running Debate

In his bestselling book Born to Run, McDougall writes about the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon who run extraordinary distances (we’re talking up to hundreds of miles) in simple sandals without experiencing the injuries that plague most runners. He uses the Tarahumara to prove that, as humans, we are built for this type of running. Running barefoot, people have a more upright body position and shorter strides, landing first on the middle or ball of the foot, rather than the heel, as is often the case when wearing cushy shoes.

The benefits of barefoot shoes: A beginner’s guide

If you think you need over-cushioned, over-supportive, and over-engineered footwear for everything from running errands to running trails, think again. Research has shown many healthful and practical advantages to wearing barefoot or minimalist shoes instead, whether you’re walking, running, hiking, or chasing the kids around the backyard.

Walking barefoot is the new wellness trend experts swear by. Here's why...

We lust after the latest Gucci loafers and have all been saving for a pair of The Row biker boots, but according to the latest research, we should think about ditching shoes altogether in favour of going barefoot. The study, published in world-renowned medical and science journal Nature, found that wearing shoes changes our sensitivity to the ground, affecting balance and the force put on our joints, and notes that there could be potential future consequences for our whole bodies.

What Happens if You Wear Barefoot Shoes for 30 Days?

The rage around minimalism doesn't just start and stop with makeup and tiny house living. The less is more ethos is bleeding over into people’s shoe choices, too. Minimalist shoes—sometimes known as barefoot shoes—are having a moment among runners, hikers, and other people passionate about holistic health. But that leaves us wondering: are barefoot shoes good for you?

Who is and isn’t suited to barefoot running? And if I want to try, how do I start?

We identified two features that were present in runners who failed to transition to barefoot running. Contacting the ground first with the heel while running was one, and the other was very mobile feet (which means the arch is more flexible when the foot is bearing weight). Why? It’s too early to say for sure, but we do know barefoot running tends to increase stress in the tissues of the foot and calf.

Why barefoot is best for children

Most parents would balk at the idea of toddlers in high heels, but what about sandals or trainers? Some experts now believe that all shoes are best avoided in childhood...

Why walking barefoot can actually help your feet

Recent studies highlight the advantages of going barefoot and minimalist footwear, but experts advise a gradual transition to avoid injuries.

Resources

4 unexpected benefits of walking around barefoot — and how to do it safely

Shoes off, dogs out — barefoot walking might just be the natural remedy you’ve been missing. While most of us are used to ditching our shoes at the beach, experts say there are unexpected health benefits to doing the same in our daily routines.

5 Things You Need to Know Before You Try 'Barefoot' Running

Remember the good old days of running barefoot, the tickle of grass and the feeling of warm cement under your little feet? You might have been on to something when you left your shoes in the house! But, if you've been...

RunBare

In the summer of 2009, Co-Founders Jessica Lee and Michael Sandler launched the Barefoot Running Club in Boulder, CO. The club's huge success inspired Jessica and Michael to launch RunBare, a barefoot wellness school to help people heal injuries, get active again, reconnect with Mother Earth, and discover a healthier lifestyle.

Barefoot Health

Barefoot Health is inspired by my love of nature and natural therapies. Through my services, I aim to bring you – and your feet – the best of natural and modern health care, supporting your wellbeing from the ground up.