I am in the beginning stage. How do we deal with callouses? They are painful. My doctor wants to take them out. or apply this cream: www.amazon.com/PurSources-Urea-40-Foot-Cream/dp/B01N7ULJSD/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=callus&qid=1588356487&sr=8-3
i adore your work Rob. Thanks for being you and sharing so much. i've been barefoot for a year or so. And I had been sleeping on my yoga mat for the past seven years or so. And I work on my - laptop on a cofee table and me crosslegged on yoga mat.
Great story Rob you couldn't have said it any better I'm generally barefoot myself but because of shoes I've had to wear through out the years I've developed heel problems. As a result of modern day shoes now I'm currently I'm under going physical therapy at the direction of my podiatrist thankfully I can go barefoot to my podiatrist appointments and my physical therapy appointments but I love your testimony though I wish there were more podiatrist on board for the health health benefits of barefooting my podiatrist recommends it but have been an avid barefooter since I was a kid and went barefoot in high school but I've found that it's about half that do recommend Barefooting and half that don't recommend being barefoot . Do you know why that is ?
As a kid, my mom would get so mad at me for walking barefoot around the house, while veryone else had sandals on. Nowadays i'm the only person in the household who has never had any problems regarding my feet
Jojangles A I’ve walked barefoot through construction sites with no problem. You become much more aware of what you are walking on when barefoot. Been doing it now for the past 6 years. If something feels uncomfortable you can move off of the object much more quickly.
@@douglaslawlor622 lol nice, hiking through the mountains barefoot isnt much better than a construction site. also construction workers could clean a bit more cause some boots wont protect u either
@@douglaslawlor622 Nature is cruel. Not a paradise. Shoes protect the feet. Walking barefoot on a construction site increases risk of injury and gains nothing else what so ever. Walking with no shoes on a work site is Negligence with a capital N. You don't meet ro many hippie types in construction, and certainly not any that would go as far as to walk barefoot around a hazardous enviroment. No super would let that happen for one, and no employer would hire someone that would do that kinda shit. This all leads me to believe your a fucking liar. And that statement is founded.
Same. I walk in my house barefoot, my family has done that ever since I was born. Honestly I find it weird that some people walk with shoes in the house.
Very well understand Conrad, barefoot for 9 months. In my early morning walks still giggle when someone is crossing me and their eyes turn big after they scan my feet .. hahaha
I have been doing it for a while. What I found was I start to become very aware of whats on the ground. In town there are lots of small bits of glass for example. But you know what, even if I stand on these bits it does nothing. So far I found the most barefoot-unfriendly thing about the world are people, half of them they just get offended if you have barefoot, you get kicked out of the gym and other places for "health and safety" reasons etc. Honestly my feet are way healthier this way so I keep going, and only wear minimalist (vivos) shoe now.
Agreed. I used to go on walks everyday to a park near my workplace at lunch hour. I used to love walking barefoot not only on the grass but also on the concrete walkway until one day I saw a discarded syringe ( probably used for drugs) on the grass. That was it. It was the last time I walked barefoot outside.
I had plantar fasciitis for a year before my elderly neighbour said throw away those arch supports and walk barefoot! Fasciitis gone in a month. I walk barefoot as much as I can and I love walking on the cold moss in the mornings.
the morning moss is my favourite.. i wear shoes to work (im a teacher) but im entirely bare foot at home all day. my toe span is really broad, even though my feet are small. shoes make me feel suffocated and i over heat when I've them on. when i feel anxious, the first thing ill do is put my bare feet on a cold surface.
I got plantar fasciitis in high school and my mom blamed it on me walking barefoot all the time, so I went barefoot as much as possible to stick it to her. Glad I did haha.
Yeah, opposite for me. Tried going "barefoot" because I decided to listen to the hippies. Now I have Plantar Fasciitis. I should have stayed with my perfectly supported running shoes and I wouldn't be in pain for the last month. Humans are not designed to run/walk on concrete.
I'm fortunate to have callused feet, so walking barefoot in the city isn't bad. I just need to get over the "what if people will make fun of me" feelings. My boyfriend has been running barefoot for over a year or so to help get arches from his flat feet--we notice a difference! He used to have back pain for over a decade, but with new arches and improved lifestyle (we bike, no car, etc) his back problems are no more! I will pickup his habits of barefoot lifestyle as it really is a way of healthy living.
Angelica Barrick Im no expert but i think with slowly using the muscles more and more, they will build up and get stronger. Some other guy on youtube said he destroyed his feet in the military from carrying heavy packs and such, but started running barefoot after and his arches came back. Ive never had that experience, but im sure with time theyd build back up to how they should be. There may be some cases where the feet are just naturally weak, but im sure even the most genetically ungifted could build them up to some point at least
Angelica Barrick A lot of the times people are flat footed because as babies they always had shoes and their muscles were compromised and weakened because of that at such a young age, so correcting that should be in a realm of possibility
Tara Connelly To deal with the social aspect of walking barefoot try making some barefoot sandals. If people can see something at all on your feet you won’t usually be bothered.
So glad to hear someone that agrees with me about being barefoot! Been barefoot as much of my life as possible. It's so natural being connected to mother earth. I feel much safer barefoot, being able to feel what's under me. Being retired now allows me to go barefoot most all the time. People think it's weird, but they just don't know the freedom! Thanks for the video!
I've gone barefoot most of my life, one thing I've noticed is how much more spread out my toes are than most people's. Like how most people's big toe points in, but mine just points straight forward. So I think people should definitely let their kids go barefoot.
I began running barefoot in a local park and my toes began spreading out and my hammer toes began pointing straight. I forget why I stopped running in that park, but I'll start again soon. My wife was even shocked at the difference in my feet, only after a few weeks of running.
I'll have to try going barefoot more often then! My big toes are slowly turning inwards and the rest of them look cramped, almost pointing inwards too. Not sure if I'll walk in snow without shoes, but I can at least try it during the warmer months.
I love barefoot walking. The ground is soft and cool on your feet and when it gets a bit rough with some stones and pebbles, it feels like your’re getting a foot massage. After you’re done with the walk, your feet feel warm because they were doing their job. Feeling the ground as it changes from dirt to sand to rock to gravel is the best!
Right on Rob. I am still getting used to being barefoot after years of obsessing over having soft feet and wearing high heels. I recently found that when I have back or menstrual cramps, they go away instantly when I stand on grass barefoot. It is crazy how well and fast it works. I also noticed that when I wear sandals, Ants sting me within seconds of walking near their nests but when I'm barefoot, they simply walk over my feet as if I am just a log. I really do believe in the healing power of "Grounding" or "Earthing". You literally become one with the Earth. Thank you for your encouragement & explanation of this.
Thank you for this. I was barefoot in Liverpool, England for seven years ... and then I moved to Spain and I found it really difficult to remain barefoot. Your video has inspired me to try again! Peace.
I'm barefoot 90% of the time my family thinks it's weird whenever I have to go somewhere I just put on sandals if I'm going into a restaurant or market but I'm barefoot everywhere else lol
I’m the same way, even in winter. I do have a good comfy pair of flipflops for going to the store etc but I’m at home 90% of the time. I was outside barefoot all the time as a kid.
I live in a small coastal town in Australia and being barefoot is just a way of life. Walking through the bush, rock hopping through rockpools and even doing the weekly grocery shop, it's normal to be barefoot. I always thought it was weird that other people wore shoes even inside their own house. Free the foot haha
I live in a Melbourne suburb and have been going barefoot of and on for years, I've run & bush walked barefoot even in the Melbourne winter season, I still walk the dog and grocery shopping barefoot, Most people I see don't take much notice now, I'm now 70 and really enjoy it.
@TheMissileHappy yes most of my relatives live in New Zealand. My male cousin went to primary school barefoot, and on going to secondary school, his parents tried to get him to wear shoes, I told him to wear them out of the house and then take them off, which he did. Don't know what he did when he went to university, he now owns and runs a language school in Auckland.
i've been going on with my life barefoot since i can remember. i am 19 now and still barefoot to this day. i can sympathize and connect with everything you have said in this video. thank you for keeping us grounded and keep on making earthly,inspiring content.
You forgot the most important part! Foot shape. Well, you did mention arch support, which has been shown to be bad for feet (cushions inside shoes, that kind of things), but you didn't mention toes. My feet have been permanently ruined by shoes. I figured that I wore shoes that were "too small" when I was little, since my feet have been this way as long as I can remember. I looked into it more, lots of people have feet like mine. The toes are "scrunched up", with toe 3-5 leaning so much, I'm literally walking on the sides of the toes, not the bottom. I've seen toe correction devices that can work, though it can take months or even longer to reach your goal. The toes are supposed to be the widest part of the foot. The way shoes are shaped, the knuckles are the widest part, with the toes scrunched up into a triangular shape. This is simply fashion, perhaps a relic from the medieval age, where shoes were supposed to be narrow and pointy. It's very hard to find modern shoes that don't have this narrowing at the toes. Also, shoes change the way we walk. I saw this in a video here on RUclips regarding how people in the middle ages walked. Their shoes were thin, like just an extra piece of skin on their feet. So, we see in their depictions of themselves, that they walked toes or toepads first. We walk heel first, because it saves energy, and our thick, firm, unnatural shoes allow this. As a result, all the force as we hit the ground is absorbed by our bones instead of our muscles. I cringe so hard when I'm at a shoe store and I see the tiny shoes for toddlers, and they're thick, rigid and completely unflexible. Tiny, growing feet wearing those will not get to flex and develop normally. It's bad enough for adults. I won't go so far as to go barefoot, except for part time during summer, but I am definitely throwing out all my rigid, tight-toed shoes with soles, in favor of flimsy pieces of leather, like moccasins. They protect your skin from weather, wind and the worst dangers (like glass), but don't restrict your feet otherwise. And I will do the same for my future children.
I knew all of this because I’ve been barefoot as much as possible for my entire adult life. I totally agree with everything you said! I skateboard barefoot with my husky because I feel more in control and know what her feet are feeling as well. So many people are shocked or offended at my barefootedness. Amazing! Thank you for preaching to the choir!
@@bohakkennes1288 I don’t have a longboard. I have a Carver. But yeah, I don’t do tricks at skate parks barefoot. As far as cruising, it’s a little different because my feet are on the ground more often as my husky doesn’t like to pull me. It’s really just a way for her to get to top speeds on a leash. But if you needed to feel better about your own skills by correcting a random girl on YT, shoots!🤙
I've started walking barefoot for a bit each day when outside since watching your video Rob. Thank you for inspiring!! I grew up barefoot on a farm in Zimbabwe... So I know the benefit. Can't wait to get back to being barefoot more, with a stronger sole. Thanks for your content Rob!!! Keep going.
Indonesian lifestyle, barefoot. I'm living in Spain right now, and i just oftenly forgot where are my shoes. I was stress living in apartment for about an half year and finally i moved back to my habbitat lol, campo.
Personally, I wear flip-flops all year round and am barefoot for a good majority of the time. Totally identify with Rob's advice and I've definitely found my posture is good and I've not experienced any adverse issues.. 👍
I love the idea of going barefoot, and I'm really pleased with how thorough you were in this video. A lot of the questions I had were answered almost immediately after I thought of them (eg. what about for going into stores that require shoes). I love the idea of going barefoot not only for the connection to nature but also as a hindrance to going to places that are strict about this sort of thing; it gives a moment to pause and really think about why you were planning on going there in the first place
Do it! It is so worth it. but start slowly you don't want to stress them to much to early. And in most stores they might give you a funny look but they won't day anything most of the time.
I'm always barefoot at home and in my gardens. I prefer to never really wear them and I'm taking them off as soon as I can . My neighbors are always doing a double take. I am always like, if they only knew what I knew.
Rob, you are life-changing. After I stumbled upon your blog, so much has changed. I am grateful for your being and consider you a dear friend, even though we don't know each other. My heart is with yours. Be immersed in love, because love is what you are.
Thank you so much for this, Rob! I always loved going barefoot. But I struggled more and more with pain because of Hallux rigidus in my right foot. I have given up on it years ago. I never wanted surgery. I found some special shoes that help me a lot, but still, I strongly regretted not being able to walk barefoot without strong pain. Watching this video at first made me sad, but then it made me want to try again. In a different way, using/practicing the strength of the muscles in my foot. I never thought this would be possible. This is great. It also works with shoes on. Thanks for helping me trust my body!!!! Best regards from the south of Germany
I was told I had cancer last year. I gave up on life started walking around without shoes. I did not care. I spent a few months on a camping trip with no shoes. I went back to the doctor 6 months later expecting to have just months left to live. after all the tests I had no cancer. my doc was shocked asked if I when out of the country for treatment. I said no just camping. he asked lots of questions till the only thing he said was don't put the shoes back on. I don't know if that is the reason I am cancer-free today I don't know but it's the only thing I did differently.
our body is an acdc battery, we absorb electricity in our feet from the earth, it goes through our meridians and out through the other foot, so I've read in some books. blocked meridians can lead to cancer, so I was told by a natural doctor who used to live in a buddhist monastery where they had to walk barefoot no matter the weather as soon as they woke up. i'm not sure how scientific this is, it may sound silly, but it is just something I picked up over years of living.
Your logic is impeccable,as usual, Rob! Thanks so much for sharing your insight and wisdom! You make my world so much nicer! You make me realize that I'm not the only one that questions why we as a society do the things with do.
I love this! I really enjoy being and walking barefoot, but I don't go barefoot walking as often as I would like to. The idea of building up gradually sounds like the way forward for me. You thoughts on injuries and the footwear industry really resonate with me. I also like how barefootedness discourages you from visiting establishments such as bars and shops. Thank you for sharing! Peace : )
I think he means 10K as in 10,000 steps, not 10km. I try to walk 10, 000 steps a day on my walks and it equates to approximately 6km when measured out on google maps
Genius ! Rob, I have followed you for a long time now and I consider you as a role model, I really feel that we think very similar but the difference is what you have done, and seeing all this inspires me a lot! I am sure that you also inspire many people, never stop doing what you do! Greetings from Chile, if you are ever here you are welcome in my house.
You know, maybe I need to try this. I can't remember a time I walked barefoot. Everynight I have issues with burning feet. Could be because they are caged in shoes all day everyday. My feet (or mind) are slaves to nice looking shoes, but that changes now, for I will try this barefoot thing and see what's up.
Hold has it been? For me, I mostly just do in house for my whole life and backyard sometimes cuz I run after my dogs and sometimes step in chicken poop a lot, I have a lot of pets...
You know, I can't say it got rid of my burning feet, but sincerely it has helped a lot. Especially walking on cool tiles or walking around the yard in cool evenings. I have definitely been walking with out shoes a lot more, but I would be lying if I said that my love for nice looking shoe is gone. Lol
My thinking about the need for shoes took a turn when I read "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. He tells the story of the Tarahumara Indians in the Copper Canyon of Mexico who run 100 mile races barefoot or in sandals without arch support. But that comes from growing up with strong attuned feet that haven't undergone the muscle atrophy we shoe-folk think of as normal.
I use to run every other day from 4 to 13 miles with my 20lb backpack and I did it barefoot. My neighbors thought I was crazy because it would be 100 degrees outside. I miss being able to run
Hi I am 85 and still walk barefoot only problem I have is scrubbing my soles as I just can't get to there.I still run my garden and nursery by myself. Another problem is finding my shoes when a client calls, from CapeTown
You inspired me to start going barefoot when I can Now even friends of mine are going barefoot with me, thank you, I would have never known my friends preferred being barefoot if I hadn’t started doing it
I love walking but suffered foot pain in recent years so i started walking bare foot on grass and now my feet are pain free. It proves to me that natural is best and i intend to build up to walking bare foot on more surface types.
Right on Rob! Dealt with chronic pain for over 25 years as soon as I got outside barefoot with feet in the soil the pain is gone! Also my sleep is awesome. Keep going with your message.
When I clicked on this video, I thought it would be about "earthing" and how the earth is magnetic while the atmosphere is electric...our bodies are both, thus connecting all 3. This was an excellent video showing further advantages of going barefoot.
Him: *walks barefoot for a decade* Me and you, the people that don’t walk barefoot: *steps on a pebble barefoot* .......... *high pitch demonic screeching*
Shoes protect us from pointy debris on the ground, venomous snakes insects plants Heat of the sand, hyperthermia from snow so on and so forth. Necessity is the mother of all invention. I understand being bare foot has its benefits. At the same time The creativity and ingenuity of the human mind is forever building and exploring. So never say 'we were never meant to' Its discrediting to the ancient inventors and craftsman.
G Rose Kittok you bring up an interesting point. Broken glass is one aspect of modern life that poses a risk we haven't quite evolved to deal with. I find glass in obscure places in the woods all the time.
Knowing where u live can be someting to bewere of. Me I know my place has lot glass so well i don't walk barefoot without looking. But slowly knowing the place that you living can save you from it. Not only cut but lot others. Like if I saw person with gun. I know where to go to avoid it. Because i know the place that I live it so much
I live in colorado. There are stickers, goatheads, cacti, prickly stemmed plants, etc. even before you add in glass from humans. Also its freezing in winter and you will definitely get frostbite. I try to build up my calluses every year but they never get thick enough to not have to worry about the goatheads and cacti
Hi, Ron. You are an wise person. I started barefoot walking a month ago and am very glad that I found your video and someone with same idea of going back to who we are.
I love being barefoot!! I feel so connected to the earth and love digging my feet into the dirt. Especially on psychedelics, you can feel the power from mother earth.
P. S. I rarely in my life have so wanted to touch someone else's feet. Yours intrigue me. Your soles look so soft yet you walk over all sorts of surfaces that'd make me cry. And those bike pedals!
Great video!!! I grew up running around the neighborhood and creek beds barefoot , my brother didn’t. Then my two younger children ran around barefoot but my oldest son didn’t. My brother and oldest son have terrible allergies and get sick easily, but my other children and I don’t. I don’t think it’s just coincidence. Even now if I’m starting to feel bad a little bit, just going barefoot for a little while can fix me right up. I guess I need to do it more regularly to heal and possibly even prevent sickness.
Hi Rob, I'm in the process of rewilding my feet and overall body mobility, after years of inadequate footwear and steel toe capped boots for work on top of a far to much sitting around in my free time , my entire posterior chain is out of wack, my hip mobility is poor, I have tight calves and my glutes certainly don't perform their function, not to mention limited shoulder mobility. I lived in Australia for two years and felt free because I also never wore shoes only "Thongs" as the Aussies call them and my feet got stronger. I've purchased a lacrosse ball and toe spacers, I'm also in the process of making a balance beam but the biggest thing im trying to do is walk barefoot around the Cornish country estate i work at, I have hundreds of acres of forest/land to walk around. Currently this is quite the challenge but a rather enjoyable and important one.
Going barefoot is so healthy for your body & health! If you just go barefoot then your feet will support your body naturally...I was a cheerleader & thats why we go barefoot in cheerleading
Never a truer word written or spoken Rob, well done to you. I have been a keen barefooter for around 40 years, latterly almost exclusively so. In fact when I was younger I thought I was alone until the internet came along Now there are many more people like you who put in effort and time to evangelise about barefoot living! I go barefoot shopping, cycling, hiking, and also play badminton in bare feet as well as in the gym. In years past I would get comments and stares but you learn to shrug them off and ignore them because I knew I was right and I just enjoyed the feeling. These days less people comment, maybe because it is because society is becoming more accepting of what people wear or how they look or maybe because people like yourself are promoting the clear and obvious benefits. My feet have long since adapted to walking barefoot over nearly any surface which sometimes amazes people, particularly after a 10k hike, whereas some people I meet or talk to can't even go barefoot in their own home! Keep up the good work.
As much as i wanted to watch this through the talk about support at about 5:30 stopped me. I have had terrible pain in my feet throughout life, as soon as i had been standing for more than an hour my feet were aching and it felt a bit like standing on hot coals. Then i FINALLY got new specialiced soles for my shoes. It hurt the first few days but eventually it helped me to the point i am today, where i can stand up for at least 3 hours before any major pain. According to screenings, because of my foots shape, i only use about a 3rd of my sole. So yes, wearing shoes might give you support but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. If you, like me, have feet that cause pain because how they're built, shoes can be a godsend. Just so you know i watched the rest of the video after writing this. But i just wanted to inform people that you also need to think of your personal health/situation.
@@DymaTiizeD And anyone else needing shoes would die because they can't escape from predators. Natural selection doesn't apply to humans, as we make things to fix our physical weaknesses.
Worth noting that the human foot evolved rapidly (on an evolutionary timescale) and is mechanically a piece of garbage. Same with our hips and knees, we went from quadrapedal to bipedal fairly quick. Our joints adapted, but we're not originally designed for the modern human gait.
I can’t even tell you, Rob, how much your video and the comments helped me. Life changing simply. I had a major operation on my leg and they cut the bone and long story short I am majorly flat footed and NEVER walk barefoot, not even in my house because it hurts! So I am going about this all wrong. My operation was 7 yrs ago and the pain only gets worse. I am ditching the shoes when Spring finally comes. We have long winters where I live and I will buy a grounding mat for sleeping and go barefoot in the summer and at home. You should see my crammed in ugly, funky gnarled toes that never see love, light or love. I learned so much!! Thank you and Peace and love from Latvia🤗❤️🌻🌞
When he talks about the arch support I thought about the deep pain that used to come from wearing high heels. Of course, being barefoot in the garden makes less opportunity to wear high heels, but all of my sore memories are from my soft foot days. In girl scouts they taught us its better to walk on the trail, always, but it's better to walk on the plants if you're barefoot, it's not as damaging to the plants as it is to stomp with a shoe.
Excellent talk Rob. It's my second viewing, the first started me on a barefoot journey a month ago.. Horribly painful at first, but am now gradually getting used to it and my feet do feel and look healthier. There's so many areas in life that we just do because everyone else is doing so, and hose influences are often reinforced by commercial interests. It's amazing how little we really need once we begin to free ourselves from the various trances we all live in.
I use to walk barefoot on summers when walking the dogs. So when I walked across a short-grown, green field, I got dandelions caught between my toes. I looked like the biggest hippie ever, flowers stuck between my naked toes an' shit.
"I use to walk barefoot on summers" Where I live, cacti, scorpions, and fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk heat: . G̬̩̦͇̞͚͑͗̌̈́͋O̵͎͙̤̥͖̯̒̓̃͗̍͑̓̉Ȏ̷̬̮̭̭̩̐́̅͂̒̓͞D͕̗̟̥͉͈͚͖̺̓̎͗̔̇͒͋̕ Ĺ̶̨̬̝̼̩̹̠̥̉͐́̇͘͟͝Ụ͔͕̘̙̙͆̅̇̃̉͞Ç̸̜̭̘̝̼͇̒͆͛̂͋̅̿̂͢͠͞ͅK̴͈͉̫̮̭͈̯̺̮͋͐̆̾͐͌̀͞ .
Love your video. The representation of our feet on our sensory cortex (homunculus) is almost as big as our hands and face. Wearing shoes is sensory deprivation.
I really enjoyed this video and have already decided once the weather warmed I would start going barefoot on my property! Glad you mentioned about the thorns too because I have an overgrown area full of blackberries and multi floral rose! One thing that I couldn’t stop thinking about though was you mentioned how our feet are designed but also mention how they evolved. Design requires a designer! You explain it so well how intricately the foot is designed and how it is intertwined with the rest of the body! Could something so wonderfully designed just happen? Just wanted to give you something to ponder! Great video!
I love walking barefoot and have been doing it for over a decade. I see a lot of these videos and most of them seem like they don't actually walk barefoot themselves. I can tell by your subject matter and the way you talk about it that yours is honest and I believe you are an actual barefoot walker. Thanks for the video!
What he said about athletes foot and fungal problems is very true! My friend who almost barely goes barefoot has had tons of problems with foot diseases and bad arches, whereas I grew up going barefoot, have good arches and never had any foot problems whatsoever,
Thank you very much for a other inspiring video! In my experience, if I walk barefoot the feeds getting not so fast tired as in shoes. It also raises the energy level in the whole boddy for me. I also think that the evolution has not designed my feet to walk a lot on concrete and asphalt, because they are artificial grounds. I go barefoot as much as I can, but not everywhere. But if the feets are tired they can be regarged by walking or even just standing barfoot on natural ground or gras.
Being barefoot reduces anxiety, it grounds you psychologically, your body is receiving the sensory stimulation as you make contact with the ground beneath which brings you more into your body instead of being too much 'in your head.' A lifetime of wearing shoes causes problems in the feet, walking barefoot is like getting a constant foot massage. Another really big benefit of being barefoot is that it grounds you electrically. I'm not sure of the exact explanation but I think basically static electricity builds up in your body, (which you pick up especially from nearby electrical devices, WiFi and mobile phone signals) this is discharged; when you have rubber soled shoes on it stops the bad electrical build-up from being discharged and this messes with the body's natural electrical fields causing illness and psychological problems. I garden barefoot but I don't yet have the courage to do it around where I live!!
I love going bare food most of the time, I used to watch Cody Lundin on dual survival go barefoot and trying to survive, Cody said at first his feet hurt when he walked but after a while his skin got stronger and the only time he didn't go bare foot is when they were in deep snow and he put on socks, also I've heard there are 38 muscles in your feet and when your wearing shoes many of the muscles don't get exercised or stretched causing you to walk flat footed
I always walked barefoot when I was younger. I’ve been asked to leave places because of it... “We use push pins in this building and we therefore ask all people to wear footwear” “The dress code of this building requires footwear” “You must wear shoes as there is an infection risk with bare feet” So I started to wear cloth ballet shoes ‘when required’ (they roll up really small to fit in your pocket) and cloth jazz dance boots in winter. I don’t get why it upsets people so much, it’s my feet. The worst injury I ever had was because I wore walking boots to do a long distance backpacking trip, after walking barefoot for so long I had grown calloused feet. I got a blister on the ball of my foot and because it couldn’t burst it grew to the size of the ball, and then burst between my toes and in the arch of my foot! (I once accidentally opened a door over the top of my toes and it ripped off my big toe nail, and it’s never grown back... but that not being on the sole of my foot, it didn’t impact me at all!)
I've been wanting to try barefoot ever since I watched your video, and I am so happy that I finally tested it today. Travelled from downtown Shanghai to my apartment in suburbs barefoot, it felt a bit weird but also very freeing (hurts a bit though). I will definitely do it more in the future. Thank you!
I'm on a binge with your videos, i was kinda uninspired due to the quarantine (I live in Italy) and now that things are starting to come back to "normal" I'm noticing how many things I used to do that aren't useful and don't make me happy. Now i'm feeling refreshed and full of "improving myself" energy, thanks Rob, the world needs more positive people like you and i hope maybe someday i could become one as well! Have a great one :)
I can’t since I have this massive cut on my foot I cannot wali barefoot cuz dust I’ll get in my cut and I could get a terrible infection but I would love to walk barefoot
We wear house slippers or in my case, walking barefoot around the house. It's so funny to see the reaction on our guests' faces when we ask them to take their shoes off (they can go in with their socks or barefoot) before entering the house. 😂
Because it's a show of respect to the people in the house. . like why would you bring dirt inside a clean house (where they took time and energy to maintain). It doesn't take a lot of time to remove a footwear anyway. I agree, it's surprising to know that it's different there in America (no hate here, it's amusing for me).
Rob, I love your videos so much! I discovered you through this video, since I am transitioning to being able to walk barefoot more - starting to gradually toughen up my feet. How long did it take you to really toughen up your feet? Do you get cracks on your skin/heels? Did you start a barefoot life pretty suddenly, or did you ease into it over a long span of time? Admittedly, I haven't read your blog post on being barefoot yet, so I will check that out. On a broader note, I think you're so pleasant to listen to, and your videos are mellow and positive, so it makes me want to watch all your videos and learn all the things! I didn't have much motivation to watch videos on all your topics before (but I have always cared a lot about the environment), but because I like you, I watch lots of your videos, and I'm super inspired to make changes in my life! I'm "dipping my toes into" reducing my use of soap/cosmetics and am curious to try dumpster diving!
I walked home barefoot once and it was nice. Feeling the concrete on my feet was so nice but rocks are a pain. I’m gonna start going out barefoot when I leave the house.
Thanks Rob, my body craves being barefoot, especially grounding. I look for shoes with no support when I must wear shoes, like moccasins with only a thin leather sole..
Ive been working in my front garden almost exclusively barefoot its so nice to feel the soft grass under my feet and i can literally tell then the ground is completely waterlogged (very clay-ey dirt and also someone was having a helluva time paying Jumanji for the last two weeks with the Monsoon card) Its just really nice and connecting
Walking barefoot is really of great help. After reading the book "Born to Run", my impression towards the multi billion shoe industry got changed. @Rob, the books which you mentioned in your website are filled with vast information. Thank you for sharing them. I have finished two books from the list: 1. Moneyless Manifesto 2. Born to Run. Next i will pick "The Art of Happiness" ☮️
You get used to minor annoyances like ant bites, etc. Feet are very strong that way. Keep some urine in your bladder if you plan on being feety out in Texas bush. Get a bite or sting...just pee on it.
I'm a firm believer of giving things up for a period of time in order to realise what you truly appreciate and what you can do without. This month I have given up socks and I can firmly say I definitely appreciate them a whole lot more!
I love this content Rob. I go barefoot as much as possible for grounding. I recently landed a painful plantar fasciitis pain in my foot so I took 4 days in “supportive shoes”, icing and reduced walking and it feels much better today. Is there a better, more barefoot approach I can take with plantar pain?
I had this same issue before. but the more barefoot time i go, the more it went away. also, there is a foot exercise for this. search ofr it. no more plantar fascitis for me for 8 months now
I would do all the movements you can do with your feet and toes that don't increase your pain. I have posted a few on my channel. Be patient and gentle with yourself. The transition to barefoot walking takes time. It can be helpful to start with just a few minutes on soft ground (grass or sand).
Doing arch excercises and excercises for the sides of your calves (the muscles that hold up your arch) can help. Also stretching. To recover feel free to take a few days with arch support though. I would imagine the internet has tutorials for these kinds of exercises. Work on the muscles, but be gentle, take it slow when getting back into it!
When I was a kid we had a long driveway made of loose stones. I was barefoot all of the time and I could run full speed up and down that driveway no problem.
I like how you added the photo of the thorns in your feet! Where I live in Illinois I have locust trees that grow really long, strong, thorns. Im sitting here imagining walking barefoot in the woods and stepping on a "thorn". Clusters of these things fall off the tree and just chill on the ground. Strong enough to puncture tires! Shoes dont even protect my feet, gotta have work boots on. Even then, the thorn will go straight through the leather side like butter. Good video! Thanks for posting!
I love this! I grew up in a medium-size town in Iowa, and we were allowed to go barefoot when the temperature first hit 70. From then on it didn’t matter, it could be 50 the next day but I would basically be barefoot until school came in September. :-) Putting shoes on in the fall was pure torture and I would take them off as soon as I got out of school. I literally went all over town barefoot, and could walk on the sharpest gravel with no problem at all. When I finished high school, I went and lived in Greece, and you just don’t go barefoot there. It’s considered a symbol of poverty, and in rural areas there are just so many things to puncture your feet. So I got out of that habit, although I did use flat sandals a lot. But at home, I’m still always barefoot, and not being a driver, I walk a lot, every day, and quickly. Now I am a lot older. When I was 55, I started running. I couldn’t even run a mile. But it was not long before I was running five and 6 miles. Unfortunately my knees did not like it one bit, and I ended up giving it up. Barefoot running was not on my radar at all. Living in Seattle, it’s also not a great place to go barefoot all the time, although I realize a lot of it it has to do with how I think people would see me.😜Recently I found out about “barefoot shoes,” and bought some. I hear about people having a slow adjustment, but they felt completely normal to me within a day. I don’t think I ever want to go back to shoes with raised heels. Recently I’ve started running short distances as well. I used to run all the time barefoot when I was a kid of course, and I was amazed/ shocked that I had to relearn it. The first time I tried, I was striking my heels a little much, and paid for that the next day. Then I overcompensated in the other direction and had burning calves for a day. I wasn’t getting the smooth landing that people go for till I saw a coaching video advising to lead with the hips. I realized that even though I thought I was maintaining good posture (and it HAD improved), I’d been bending forward at the waist unawares when I ran, undoubtedly a relic of running in “good” running shoes. I corrected that, and immediately remembered how I used to walk on trails in flat Keds when I was in Junior high, a relaxed stance with the hips forward. With the years of walking in raised heel shoes, I had actually forgotten what it meant to walk naturally! And when I applied that to running, I suddenly found that smooth, nearly impact lless landing. I recently watched a video that suggested that before learning to run in minimalist shoes, it’s best to learn to run barefoot, because even the thinnest shoes still block a lot of your feeling from the ground. Unfortunately it’s December, so that’s not really on the table, but as soon as we get one of those freak warm winter days, I’m definitely going to do it! And I’ve already decided I’m going to start going barefoot again come summer, and let ‘em stare. I usually have a little pack with me so I can always keep a pair of thin sandals that will let me get into the grocery store. :-)
Doubtful you'll get hookworm by walking barefoot, unless you live in a place where people do 'number two' out in the open. Hookworm comes from the human intestine, and in most modern western countries people don't defecate outdoors. www.barefooters.org/top-ten-barefoot-myths/
Read the story of my barefoot life and the benefits I gain from being barefoot:
www.robgreenfield.org/barefoot
Hi Rob , I m a french barefooter like you. It s a great and free sensation
I am in the beginning stage. How do we deal with callouses? They are painful. My doctor wants to take them out. or apply this cream: www.amazon.com/PurSources-Urea-40-Foot-Cream/dp/B01N7ULJSD/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=callus&qid=1588356487&sr=8-3
i adore your work Rob. Thanks for being you and sharing so much. i've been barefoot for a year or so. And I had been sleeping on my yoga mat for the past seven years or so. And I work on my - laptop on a cofee table and me crosslegged on yoga mat.
Didn't we evolve to walk on our feet toes first? What is your barefoot technique?
Great story Rob you couldn't have said it any better I'm generally barefoot myself but because of shoes I've had to wear through out the years I've developed heel problems. As a result of modern day shoes now I'm currently I'm under going physical therapy at the direction of my podiatrist thankfully I can go barefoot to my podiatrist appointments and my physical therapy appointments but I love your testimony though I wish there were more podiatrist on board for the health health benefits of barefooting my podiatrist recommends it but have been an avid barefooter since I was a kid and went barefoot in high school but I've found that it's about half that do recommend Barefooting and half that don't recommend being barefoot . Do you know why that is ?
As a kid, my mom would get so mad at me for walking barefoot around the house, while veryone else had sandals on. Nowadays i'm the only person in the household who has never had any problems regarding my feet
My mom would get mad too! I hate shoes so much, it’s the first thing I take off when I come home.
What about socks?
In my country, it is common to be barefoot in the house or at the beach. People just don't care unless your feet isn't stinky
I used to walk everywhere barefoot when I was younger and my mother was always on my case
Kazuki ichika your feet don't get stinky without shoes, shoes make the smelly bacteria grow 😉
Rob, Rob, Rob... you don’t give the feet pics for free. There’s money in that.
Haha
😂
🤣🤣
Wikifeet.com
hahahha! true!
PSA: wear shoes on construction sites, calluses do not protect against nails
Jojangles A I’ve walked barefoot through construction sites with no problem. You become much more aware of what you are walking on when barefoot. Been doing it now for the past 6 years. If something feels uncomfortable you can move off of the object much more quickly.
@@douglaslawlor622 lol nice, hiking through the mountains barefoot isnt much better than a construction site. also construction workers could clean a bit more cause some boots wont protect u either
@@reeferbeleafer9912 forget that just a basic adjustable wrench or hammer dropped from the chest could make quick work of bare feet
I work on a construction site and will say shoes are very much needed on the job, I have worked without them and thats when accidents happen
@@douglaslawlor622 Nature is cruel. Not a paradise. Shoes protect the feet. Walking barefoot on a construction site increases risk of injury and gains nothing else what so ever. Walking with no shoes on a work site is Negligence with a capital N. You don't meet ro many hippie types in construction, and certainly not any that would go as far as to walk barefoot around a hazardous enviroment. No super would let that happen for one, and no employer would hire someone that would do that kinda shit. This all leads me to believe your a fucking liar. And that statement is founded.
Rob, "Being barefoot is great!"
Me, sitting in my chair barefoot, " Doing my part"
Omg same 😂
brother :)) same here
Same. I walk in my house barefoot, my family has done that ever since I was born. Honestly I find it weird that some people walk with shoes in the house.
You remind me of L from Death Note.
My first barefoot day. Wish me luck guys 🥾🥾
I have been transitioning over but I find the problem is that the world isn’t very barefoot friendly. But ya barefoot is awesome!
Adventures with Conrad no it’s not awesome
@@PussInBootsTheLastWishFan2003 Why do you say that? Not trying to be rude, just curious.
Very well understand Conrad, barefoot for 9 months. In my early morning walks still giggle when someone is crossing me and their eyes turn big after they scan my feet .. hahaha
I have been doing it for a while. What I found was I start to become very aware of whats on the ground. In town there are lots of small bits of glass for example. But you know what, even if I stand on these bits it does nothing. So far I found the most barefoot-unfriendly thing about the world are people, half of them they just get offended if you have barefoot, you get kicked out of the gym and other places for "health and safety" reasons etc. Honestly my feet are way healthier this way so I keep going, and only wear minimalist (vivos) shoe now.
Agreed. I used to go on walks everyday to a park near my workplace at lunch hour. I used to love walking barefoot not only on the grass but also on the concrete walkway until one day I saw a discarded syringe ( probably used for drugs) on the grass. That was it. It was the last time I walked barefoot outside.
I had plantar fasciitis for a year before my elderly neighbour said throw away those arch supports and walk barefoot! Fasciitis gone in a month. I walk barefoot as much as I can and I love walking on the cold moss in the mornings.
I had the same, hurt bad. Fungus too. Doc said try bare foot. Pain gone fungus gone. Work's well. I'm always barefoot now.
the morning moss is my favourite.. i wear shoes to work (im a teacher) but im entirely bare foot at home all day. my toe span is really broad, even though my feet are small. shoes make me feel suffocated and i over heat when I've them on. when i feel anxious, the first thing ill do is put my bare feet on a cold surface.
Yep, also just made this discovery after 3 years of pain
I got plantar fasciitis in high school and my mom blamed it on me walking barefoot all the time, so I went barefoot as much as possible to stick it to her. Glad I did haha.
Yeah, opposite for me. Tried going "barefoot" because I decided to listen to the hippies. Now I have Plantar Fasciitis. I should have stayed with my perfectly supported running shoes and I wouldn't be in pain for the last month.
Humans are not designed to run/walk on concrete.
I'm fortunate to have callused feet, so walking barefoot in the city isn't bad. I just need to get over the "what if people will make fun of me" feelings.
My boyfriend has been running barefoot for over a year or so to help get arches from his flat feet--we notice a difference! He used to have back pain for over a decade, but with new arches and improved lifestyle (we bike, no car, etc) his back problems are no more! I will pickup his habits of barefoot lifestyle as it really is a way of healthy living.
Angelica Barrick Im no expert but i think with slowly using the muscles more and more, they will build up and get stronger. Some other guy on youtube said he destroyed his feet in the military from carrying heavy packs and such, but started running barefoot after and his arches came back. Ive never had that experience, but im sure with time theyd build back up to how they should be. There may be some cases where the feet are just naturally weak, but im sure even the most genetically ungifted could build them up to some point at least
Angelica Barrick A lot of the times people are flat footed because as babies they always had shoes and their muscles were compromised and weakened because of that at such a young age, so correcting that should be in a realm of possibility
Tara Connelly To deal with the social aspect of walking barefoot try making some barefoot sandals. If people can see something at all on your feet you won’t usually be bothered.
If its working for you keep doing it, don't care about what others will say. People don't think much about others anyway.
So he had back problems before but now his back pain is greatly reduced from all this?? Just asking cause i suffer greatly from back pain everyday.
So glad to hear someone that agrees with me about being barefoot! Been barefoot as much of my life as possible. It's so natural being connected to mother earth. I feel much safer barefoot, being able to feel what's under me. Being retired now allows me to go barefoot most all the time. People think it's weird, but they just don't know the freedom! Thanks for the video!
I've gone barefoot most of my life, one thing I've noticed is how much more spread out my toes are than most people's. Like how most people's big toe points in, but mine just points straight forward. So I think people should definitely let their kids go barefoot.
I began running barefoot in a local park and my toes began spreading out and my hammer toes began pointing straight. I forget why I stopped running in that park, but I'll start again soon. My wife was even shocked at the difference in my feet, only after a few weeks of running.
I'll have to try going barefoot more often then! My big toes are slowly turning inwards and the rest of them look cramped, almost pointing inwards too. Not sure if I'll walk in snow without shoes, but I can at least try it during the warmer months.
Even the tiniest baby toes unfurl and show their true self?????
My toes and feet get strong and got a natural look...
Interesting. May I ask how old are you? I'm really curious about this toes splay thing. I just hope I'm not too old to fix my toes.
I love barefoot walking. The ground is soft and cool on your feet and when it gets a bit rough with some stones and pebbles, it feels like your’re getting a foot massage. After you’re done with the walk, your feet feel warm because they were doing their job. Feeling the ground as it changes from dirt to sand to rock to gravel is the best!
Right on Rob. I am still getting used to being barefoot after years of obsessing over having soft feet and wearing high heels. I recently found that when I have back or menstrual cramps, they go away instantly when I stand on grass barefoot. It is crazy how well and fast it works. I also noticed that when I wear sandals, Ants sting me within seconds of walking near their nests but when I'm barefoot, they simply walk over my feet as if I am just a log. I really do believe in the healing power of "Grounding" or "Earthing". You literally become one with the Earth. Thank you for your encouragement & explanation of this.
Thank you for this. I was barefoot in Liverpool, England for seven years ... and then I moved to Spain and I found it really difficult to remain barefoot. Your video has inspired me to try again!
Peace.
I'm barefoot 90% of the time my family thinks it's weird whenever I have to go somewhere I just put on sandals if I'm going into a restaurant or market but I'm barefoot everywhere else lol
I’m the same way, even in winter. I do have a good comfy pair of flipflops for going to the store etc but I’m at home 90% of the time. I was outside barefoot all the time as a kid.
I question why people wear shoes to sleep? Pls tell me, cuz I thought it is normal to not wear shoes in the house at all?
wait, I'm completely surprised to hear that people sleeps with shoes on. Wearing socks is understandable especially when it's cold, etc. .
Petsforlife119 hahaha he was just joking. No one sleeps with shoes on.
Doesn't your family think it's weird that you're obese?
I live in a small coastal town in Australia and being barefoot is just a way of life. Walking through the bush, rock hopping through rockpools and even doing the weekly grocery shop, it's normal to be barefoot. I always thought it was weird that other people wore shoes even inside their own house. Free the foot haha
I noticed that in New Zealand, too! Nobody looked at you weird when you walk barefoot, whereas here in Germany I definitely get weird looks.
What is the area I come and visit 🙂 I wore barefoot type shoes since 2017 and go barefoot when hiking. Most pleasurable walks ever😁
I live in a Melbourne suburb and have been going barefoot of and on for years, I've run & bush walked barefoot even in the Melbourne winter season, I still walk the dog and grocery shopping barefoot, Most people I see don't take much notice now, I'm now 70 and really enjoy it.
kudos to you sir!!🙏🌹
@TheMissileHappy yes most of my relatives live in New Zealand. My male cousin went to primary school barefoot, and on going to secondary school, his parents tried to get him to wear shoes, I told him to wear them out of the house and then take them off, which he did. Don't know what he did when he went to university, he now owns and runs a language school in Auckland.
i've been going on with my life barefoot since i can remember. i am 19 now and still barefoot to this day. i can sympathize and connect with everything you have said in this video. thank you for keeping us grounded and keep on making earthly,inspiring content.
You forgot the most important part! Foot shape. Well, you did mention arch support, which has been shown to be bad for feet (cushions inside shoes, that kind of things), but you didn't mention toes.
My feet have been permanently ruined by shoes. I figured that I wore shoes that were "too small" when I was little, since my feet have been this way as long as I can remember. I looked into it more, lots of people have feet like mine. The toes are "scrunched up", with toe 3-5 leaning so much, I'm literally walking on the sides of the toes, not the bottom.
I've seen toe correction devices that can work, though it can take months or even longer to reach your goal.
The toes are supposed to be the widest part of the foot. The way shoes are shaped, the knuckles are the widest part, with the toes scrunched up into a triangular shape. This is simply fashion, perhaps a relic from the medieval age, where shoes were supposed to be narrow and pointy. It's very hard to find modern shoes that don't have this narrowing at the toes.
Also, shoes change the way we walk. I saw this in a video here on RUclips regarding how people in the middle ages walked. Their shoes were thin, like just an extra piece of skin on their feet. So, we see in their depictions of themselves, that they walked toes or toepads first. We walk heel first, because it saves energy, and our thick, firm, unnatural shoes allow this. As a result, all the force as we hit the ground is absorbed by our bones instead of our muscles.
I cringe so hard when I'm at a shoe store and I see the tiny shoes for toddlers, and they're thick, rigid and completely unflexible. Tiny, growing feet wearing those will not get to flex and develop normally. It's bad enough for adults.
I won't go so far as to go barefoot, except for part time during summer, but I am definitely throwing out all my rigid, tight-toed shoes with soles, in favor of flimsy pieces of leather, like moccasins. They protect your skin from weather, wind and the worst dangers (like glass), but don't restrict your feet otherwise. And I will do the same for my future children.
Yes! The toddler shoes bother me so much. It's like trying to walk with your feet in tissue boxes, which I wil admit I did a few times as a kid.
Can you recommend me some such shoes please?
I knew all of this because I’ve been barefoot as much as possible for my entire adult life. I totally agree with everything you said! I skateboard barefoot with my husky because I feel more in control and know what her feet are feeling as well. So many people are shocked or offended at my barefootedness. Amazing! Thank you for preaching to the choir!
You mean you Longboard/cruise. I skate fr. And doing tricks barefoot is impossible without literally ripping your skin off
@@bohakkennes1288 I don’t have a longboard. I have a Carver. But yeah, I don’t do tricks at skate parks barefoot. As far as cruising, it’s a little different because my feet are on the ground more often as my husky doesn’t like to pull me. It’s really just a way for her to get to top speeds on a leash. But if you needed to feel better about your own skills by correcting a random girl on YT, shoots!🤙
@@bohakkennes1288 ok, bart, thats entirely irrelevant and very gatekeepy for no reason...
I've started walking barefoot for a bit each day when outside since watching your video Rob. Thank you for inspiring!! I grew up barefoot on a farm in Zimbabwe... So I know the benefit. Can't wait to get back to being barefoot more, with a stronger sole. Thanks for your content Rob!!! Keep going.
Indonesian lifestyle, barefoot. I'm living in Spain right now, and i just oftenly forgot where are my shoes. I was stress living in apartment for about an half year and finally i moved back to my habbitat lol, campo.
Gokil
Kayak suku badui... kemana aja... banten jakarta jalan kaki...
Heiii gimana karatina di spanyol? Kamu balik lagi ke indonesia nggak?
En el campo es lindo andar sin zapatos 👟 pero en la ciudad no. la gente tiran fluidos del cuerpo en las calles
God bless
Personally, I wear flip-flops all year round and am barefoot for a good majority of the time. Totally identify with Rob's advice and I've definitely found my posture is good and I've not experienced any adverse issues.. 👍
I always walk barefoot
I’m a chicken
Hahahahah omg love this joke
Eshfx Beatboxer
its not a joke, its a simple fact
@@cl4655 if its not a funny joke to you then
Why don't you make shoes that feeds the chicken.
i ate your relatives
@Connor Wotton don't worry I'm vegan
never thought a discussion about being barefoot shed me so much light
I love the idea of going barefoot, and I'm really pleased with how thorough you were in this video. A lot of the questions I had were answered almost immediately after I thought of them (eg. what about for going into stores that require shoes). I love the idea of going barefoot not only for the connection to nature but also as a hindrance to going to places that are strict about this sort of thing; it gives a moment to pause and really think about why you were planning on going there in the first place
Do it! It is so worth it. but start slowly you don't want to stress them to much to early. And in most stores they might give you a funny look but they won't day anything most of the time.
I'm always barefoot at home and in my gardens. I prefer to never really wear them and I'm taking them off as soon as I can . My neighbors are always doing a double take. I am always like, if they only knew what I knew.
Rob, you are life-changing. After I stumbled upon your blog, so much has changed. I am grateful for your being and consider you a dear friend, even though we don't know each other. My heart is with yours. Be immersed in love, because love is what you are.
Thank you so much for this, Rob!
I always loved going barefoot. But I struggled more and more with pain because of Hallux rigidus in my right foot. I have given up on it years ago. I never wanted surgery. I found some special shoes that help me a lot, but still, I strongly regretted not being able to walk barefoot without strong pain.
Watching this video at first made me sad, but then it made me want to try again. In a different way, using/practicing the strength of the muscles in my foot. I never thought this would be possible. This is great. It also works with shoes on. Thanks for helping me trust my body!!!!
Best regards from the south of Germany
Makes me feel better about my barefoot life and that I past it down to my three kids.
I was told I had cancer last year. I gave up on life started walking around without shoes. I did not care. I spent a few months on a camping trip with no shoes. I went back to the doctor 6 months later expecting to have just months left to live. after all the tests I had no cancer. my doc was shocked asked if I when out of the country for treatment. I said no just camping. he asked lots of questions till the only thing he said was don't put the shoes back on. I don't know if that is the reason I am cancer-free today I don't know but it's the only thing I did differently.
This is a way toxins are removed from the body by the feet .
@@dannyhay2497-_- kidneys do that bit.
our body is an acdc battery, we absorb electricity in our feet from the earth, it goes through our meridians and out through the other foot, so I've read in some books.
blocked meridians can lead to cancer, so I was told by a natural doctor who used to live in a buddhist monastery where they had to walk barefoot no matter the weather as soon as they woke up.
i'm not sure how scientific this is, it may sound silly, but it is just something I picked up over years of living.
Thanks for sharing
Your logic is impeccable,as usual, Rob! Thanks so much for sharing your insight and wisdom! You make my world so much nicer! You make me realize that I'm not the only one that questions why we as a society do the things with do.
"I wanna live a more calm and slow life"
Me watching you in 2.0x speed:
OMG I TOOOOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!
😂😂😂💜
I love this! I really enjoy being and walking barefoot, but I don't go barefoot walking as often as I would like to. The idea of building up gradually sounds like the way forward for me. You thoughts on injuries and the footwear industry really resonate with me. I also like how barefootedness discourages you from visiting establishments such as bars and shops. Thank you for sharing! Peace : )
My mom was a hippy..we always ran around barefooted..I especially like it in my garden..I love the beach ⛱️..it connects you to nature
2:31, not intending to be mean, I know you meant miles, but when you said a 10k is 6 kilometres I got a good laugh, thank you for that!
I think he means 10K as in 10,000 steps, not 10km. I try to walk 10, 000 steps a day on my walks and it equates to approximately 6km when measured out on google maps
Thank you!
I get so much slack for never wearing shoes around the property because I hate them. Now I can show my family this!
Genius ! Rob, I have followed you for a long time now and I consider you as a role model, I really feel that we think very similar but the difference is what you have done, and seeing all this inspires me a lot! I am sure that you also inspire many people, never stop doing what you do! Greetings from Chile, if you are ever here you are welcome in my house.
Sending you love Santiago!
You know, maybe I need to try this. I can't remember a time I walked barefoot. Everynight I have issues with burning feet. Could be because they are caged in shoes all day everyday.
My feet (or mind) are slaves to nice looking shoes, but that changes now, for I will try this barefoot thing and see what's up.
Hold has it been? For me, I mostly just do in house for my whole life and backyard sometimes cuz I run after my dogs and sometimes step in chicken poop a lot, I have a lot of pets...
report back and tell us how it went :D
How did it go?
You know, I can't say it got rid of my burning feet, but sincerely it has helped a lot. Especially walking on cool tiles or walking around the yard in cool evenings. I have definitely been walking with out shoes a lot more, but I would be lying if I said that my love for nice looking shoe is gone. Lol
@@petsforlife1195 I hear you on the pet thing. I too have a lot of pets, mostly rescues, but I designate areas in the garden to free my feet.
My thinking about the need for shoes took a turn when I read "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. He tells the story of the Tarahumara Indians in the Copper Canyon of Mexico who run 100 mile races barefoot or in sandals without arch support. But that comes from growing up with strong attuned feet that haven't undergone the muscle atrophy we shoe-folk think of as normal.
Born to run is a great book!
I use to run every other day from 4 to 13 miles with my 20lb backpack and I did it barefoot. My neighbors thought I was crazy because it would be 100 degrees outside. I miss being able to run
Hi I am 85 and still walk barefoot only problem I have is scrubbing my soles as I just can't get to there.I still run my garden and nursery by myself.
Another problem is finding my shoes when a client calls, from CapeTown
“Shoe-folk” 👍🤣. Nice word use
You inspired me to start going barefoot when I can
Now even friends of mine are going barefoot with me, thank you, I would have never known my friends preferred being barefoot if I hadn’t started doing it
I love walking but suffered foot pain in recent years so i started walking bare foot on grass and now my feet are pain free. It proves to me that natural is best and i intend to build up to walking bare foot on more surface types.
Right on Rob! Dealt with chronic pain for over 25 years as soon as I got outside barefoot with feet in the soil the pain is gone! Also my sleep is awesome. Keep going with your message.
You seen the grounding earthing stuff with Mr Ober?
When I clicked on this video, I thought it would be about "earthing" and how the earth is magnetic while the atmosphere is electric...our bodies are both, thus connecting all 3. This was an excellent video showing further advantages of going barefoot.
Him: *walks barefoot for a decade*
Me and you, the people that don’t walk barefoot: *steps on a pebble barefoot* .......... *high pitch demonic screeching*
It did hurt the first few times I walk barefoot on concrete roads, but now I can walk on almost anything with no problems or pain.
@@brenthaymon280 awesome. you truely are superior at walking barefoot
I been walking barefoot All my life Pebbles dont phase me lol
@@theprodigy9617 this was posted 10 months ago. Why reply now? and holy hell, I was cringy.
@@souldipper you were not cringe it was just a comment your fine
i always wondered why us humans wore shoes unlike other animals, we were never meant to, you really opened my eyes dude
Shoes protect us from pointy debris on the ground, venomous snakes insects plants
Heat of the sand, hyperthermia from snow so on and so forth.
Necessity is the mother of all invention.
I understand being bare foot has its benefits.
At the same time The creativity and ingenuity of the human mind is forever building and exploring.
So never say 'we were never meant to'
Its discrediting to the ancient inventors and craftsman.
We aren't animals.
I love going barefoot and when I stepped a piece of glass during the first week of spring I was devastated that I couldn't go outside barefoot.
G Rose Kittok you bring up an interesting point. Broken glass is one aspect of modern life that poses a risk we haven't quite evolved to deal with. I find glass in obscure places in the woods all the time.
Sorry to hear that. Toughen them up and the glass is less likely to make it through. Also, you've got to watch your step when your barefoot!
Knowing where u live can be someting to bewere of.
Me I know my place has lot glass so well i don't walk barefoot without looking.
But slowly knowing the place that you living can save you from it.
Not only cut but lot others. Like if I saw person with gun. I know where to go to avoid it. Because i know the place that I live it so much
I don't know why kids/people in modern life break glass without second thoughts
I live in colorado. There are stickers, goatheads, cacti, prickly stemmed plants, etc. even before you add in glass from humans. Also its freezing in winter and you will definitely get frostbite. I try to build up my calluses every year but they never get thick enough to not have to worry about the goatheads and cacti
Hi, Ron. You are an wise person. I started barefoot walking a month ago and am very glad that I found your video and someone with same idea of going back to who we are.
I love being barefoot!! I feel so connected to the earth and love digging my feet into the dirt. Especially on psychedelics, you can feel the power from mother earth.
Yes i so agree!
Love the emphasis on how our feet have been designed. Our feet are designed so well. Evidence of a great Creator!
Evidence of a great Creator!
Hey Rob! That's passion towards our natural self, looking forward for more videos, thank you.
P. S. I rarely in my life have so wanted to touch someone else's feet. Yours intrigue me. Your soles look so soft yet you walk over all sorts of surfaces that'd make me cry. And those bike pedals!
Ok. I'm in. Will include this as much as I can. I work 15 hours a day, though, so I'm a bit limited. But you won me over to trying, anyway.
Great video!!!
I grew up running around the neighborhood and creek beds barefoot , my brother didn’t. Then my two younger children ran around barefoot but my oldest son didn’t. My brother and oldest son have terrible allergies and get sick easily, but my other children and I don’t. I don’t think it’s just coincidence. Even now if I’m starting to feel bad a little bit, just going barefoot for a little while can fix me right up. I guess I need to do it more regularly to heal and possibly even prevent sickness.
i always liked being barefoot. primarily out of laziness.
other people have a problem with it more than i do.
Hi Rob,
I'm in the process of rewilding my feet and overall body mobility, after years of inadequate footwear and steel toe capped boots for work on top of a far to much sitting around in my free time , my entire posterior chain is out of wack, my hip mobility is poor, I have tight calves and my glutes certainly don't perform their function, not to mention limited shoulder mobility.
I lived in Australia for two years and felt free because I also never wore shoes only "Thongs" as the Aussies call them and my feet got stronger.
I've purchased a lacrosse ball and toe spacers, I'm also in the process of making a balance beam but the biggest thing im trying to do is walk barefoot around the Cornish country estate i work at, I have hundreds of acres of forest/land to walk around. Currently this is quite the challenge but a rather enjoyable and important one.
Going barefoot is so healthy for your body & health! If you just go barefoot then your feet will support your body naturally...I was a cheerleader & thats why we go barefoot in cheerleading
Never a truer word written or spoken Rob, well done to you. I have been a keen barefooter for around 40 years, latterly almost exclusively so. In fact when I was younger I thought I was alone until the internet came along Now there are many more people like you who put in effort and time to evangelise about barefoot living! I go barefoot shopping, cycling, hiking, and also play badminton in bare feet as well as in the gym. In years past I would get comments and stares but you learn to shrug them off and ignore them because I knew I was right and I just enjoyed the feeling. These days less people comment, maybe because it is because society is becoming more accepting of what people wear or how they look or maybe because people like yourself are promoting the clear and obvious benefits. My feet have long since adapted to walking barefoot over nearly any surface which sometimes amazes people, particularly after a 10k hike, whereas some people I meet or talk to can't even go barefoot in their own home! Keep up the good work.
As much as i wanted to watch this through the talk about support at about 5:30 stopped me. I have had terrible pain in my feet throughout life, as soon as i had been standing for more than an hour my feet were aching and it felt a bit like standing on hot coals. Then i FINALLY got new specialiced soles for my shoes. It hurt the first few days but eventually it helped me to the point i am today, where i can stand up for at least 3 hours before any major pain. According to screenings, because of my foots shape, i only use about a 3rd of my sole. So yes, wearing shoes might give you support but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. If you, like me, have feet that cause pain because how they're built, shoes can be a godsend.
Just so you know i watched the rest of the video after writing this. But i just wanted to inform people that you also need to think of your personal health/situation.
Johnny Elmér if we were designed to have shoes or something over our feet we would have been born with it.
@@DymaTiizeD And anyone else needing shoes would die because they can't escape from predators. Natural selection doesn't apply to humans, as we make things to fix our physical weaknesses.
Worth noting that the human foot evolved rapidly (on an evolutionary timescale) and is mechanically a piece of garbage. Same with our hips and knees, we went from quadrapedal to bipedal fairly quick. Our joints adapted, but we're not originally designed for the modern human gait.
@@StrungOutStarline On what scientific evidence was that statement based?
@@judylloyd7901 I don't know it sounds pretty logical to me though we did jump the evolutionary gap pretty fast
I can’t even tell you, Rob, how much your video and the comments helped me. Life changing simply. I had a major operation on my leg and they cut the bone and long story short I am majorly flat footed and NEVER walk barefoot, not even in my house because it hurts! So I am going about this all wrong. My operation was 7 yrs ago and the pain only gets worse. I am ditching the shoes when Spring finally comes. We have long winters where I live and I will buy a grounding mat for sleeping and go barefoot in the summer and at home. You should see my crammed in ugly, funky gnarled toes that never see love, light or love. I learned so much!! Thank you and Peace and love from Latvia🤗❤️🌻🌞
When he talks about the arch support I thought about the deep pain that used to come from wearing high heels. Of course, being barefoot in the garden makes less opportunity to wear high heels, but all of my sore memories are from my soft foot days. In girl scouts they taught us its better to walk on the trail, always, but it's better to walk on the plants if you're barefoot, it's not as damaging to the plants as it is to stomp with a shoe.
Excellent talk Rob. It's my second viewing, the first started me on a barefoot journey a month ago.. Horribly painful at first, but am now gradually getting used to it and my feet do feel and look healthier. There's so many areas in life that we just do because everyone else is doing so, and hose influences are often reinforced by commercial interests. It's amazing how little we really need once we begin to free ourselves from the various trances we all live in.
I use to walk barefoot on summers when walking the dogs. So when I walked across a short-grown, green field, I got dandelions caught between my toes. I looked like the biggest hippie ever, flowers stuck between my naked toes an' shit.
I actually like that feeling when weeds get stuck while walking I did it on purpose just because how it felt. God bless
I end up gathering a few clover flowers Betwixt mine toes quite often
"I use to walk barefoot on summers"
Where I live, cacti, scorpions, and fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk heat:
.
G̬̩̦͇̞͚͑͗̌̈́͋O̵͎͙̤̥͖̯̒̓̃͗̍͑̓̉Ȏ̷̬̮̭̭̩̐́̅͂̒̓͞D͕̗̟̥͉͈͚͖̺̓̎͗̔̇͒͋̕ Ĺ̶̨̬̝̼̩̹̠̥̉͐́̇͘͟͝Ụ͔͕̘̙̙͆̅̇̃̉͞Ç̸̜̭̘̝̼͇̒͆͛̂͋̅̿̂͢͠͞ͅK̴͈͉̫̮̭͈̯̺̮͋͐̆̾͐͌̀͞
.
Love your video. The representation of our feet on our sensory cortex (homunculus) is almost as big as our hands and face. Wearing shoes is sensory deprivation.
I really enjoyed this video and have already decided once the weather warmed I would start going barefoot on my property! Glad you mentioned about the thorns too because I have an overgrown area full of blackberries and multi floral rose! One thing that I couldn’t stop thinking about though was you mentioned how our feet are designed but also mention how they evolved. Design requires a designer! You explain it so well how intricately the foot is designed and how it is intertwined with the rest of the body! Could something so wonderfully designed just happen? Just wanted to give you something to ponder! Great video!
Imagine correcting someone for using the word "evolved"
The sensibility of this is hard to ignore. Very well presented. Thanks Rob =)
When I was young I tried to go barefoot but mum always yelled at me when I went outside without shoes
I love walking barefoot and have been doing it for over a decade. I see a lot of these videos and most of them seem like they don't actually walk barefoot themselves. I can tell by your subject matter and the way you talk about it that yours is honest and I believe you are an actual barefoot walker. Thanks for the video!
I LOVE being barefoot..dont wear sneakers much in the summer.. its all bout grounding💯🌱
What he said about athletes foot and fungal problems is very true! My friend who almost barely goes barefoot has had tons of problems with foot diseases and bad arches, whereas I grew up going barefoot, have good arches and never had any foot problems whatsoever,
Thank you very much for a other inspiring video!
In my experience, if I walk barefoot the feeds getting not so fast tired as in shoes.
It also raises the energy level in the whole boddy for me.
I also think that the evolution has not designed my feet to walk a lot on concrete and asphalt, because they are artificial grounds.
I go barefoot as much as I can, but not everywhere.
But if the feets are tired they can be regarged by walking or even just standing barfoot on natural ground or gras.
Being barefoot reduces anxiety, it grounds you psychologically, your body is receiving the sensory stimulation as you make contact with the ground beneath which brings you more into your body instead of being too much 'in your head.' A lifetime of wearing shoes causes problems in the feet, walking barefoot is like getting a constant foot massage. Another really big benefit of being barefoot is that it grounds you electrically. I'm not sure of the exact explanation but I think basically static electricity builds up in your body, (which you pick up especially from nearby electrical devices, WiFi and mobile phone signals) this is discharged; when you have rubber soled shoes on it stops the bad electrical build-up from being discharged and this messes with the body's natural electrical fields causing illness and psychological problems. I garden barefoot but I don't yet have the courage to do it around where I live!!
I love going bare food most of the time, I used to watch Cody Lundin on dual survival go barefoot and trying to survive, Cody said at first his feet hurt when he walked but after a while his skin got stronger and the only time he didn't go bare foot is when they were in deep snow and he put on socks, also I've heard there are 38 muscles in your feet and when your wearing shoes many of the muscles don't get exercised or stretched causing you to walk flat footed
Whoa that makes sense...38 muscles not used when using shoes/sneakers? This explains a lot. Thank you.
You are my inspiration Rob Greenfield. I love when you said one should spend as less as possible. I will do exactly that from now on too.
I always walked barefoot when I was younger.
I’ve been asked to leave places because of it...
“We use push pins in this building and we therefore ask all people to wear footwear”
“The dress code of this building requires footwear”
“You must wear shoes as there is an infection risk with bare feet”
So I started to wear cloth ballet shoes ‘when required’ (they roll up really small to fit in your pocket) and cloth jazz dance boots in winter.
I don’t get why it upsets people so much, it’s my feet.
The worst injury I ever had was because I wore walking boots to do a long distance backpacking trip, after walking barefoot for so long I had grown calloused feet. I got a blister on the ball of my foot and because it couldn’t burst it grew to the size of the ball, and then burst between my toes and in the arch of my foot!
(I once accidentally opened a door over the top of my toes and it ripped off my big toe nail, and it’s never grown back... but that not being on the sole of my foot, it didn’t impact me at all!)
I've been wanting to try barefoot ever since I watched your video, and I am so happy that I finally tested it today. Travelled from downtown Shanghai to my apartment in suburbs barefoot, it felt a bit weird but also very freeing (hurts a bit though). I will definitely do it more in the future. Thank you!
I really appreciate you and you have already influenced/inspired/motivated me in unquantifiable ways.
I'm on a binge with your videos, i was kinda uninspired due to the quarantine (I live in Italy) and now that things are starting to come back to "normal" I'm noticing how many things I used to do that aren't useful and don't make me happy. Now i'm feeling refreshed and full of "improving myself" energy, thanks Rob, the world needs more positive people like you and i hope maybe someday i could become one as well! Have a great one :)
The dirtier the feet,the happier the soul❤️💛💚
I can’t since I have this massive cut on my foot I cannot wali barefoot cuz dust I’ll get in my cut and I could get a terrible infection but I would love to walk barefoot
As long as you wash your feet before getting in bed!!!
So true!
Even if cut, just keeping using disinfectant and making sure it doesn't actively bleed much, it's fine
The lord Thor Singh Clean out the cut and seal it with clear nail polish,several coats works for me.
What makes me sad is that if I want to go somewhere like school or most public places they will force you to put shoes on or will kick you out
You can buy barefoot shoes to still have some of the benefits
We wear house slippers or in my case, walking barefoot around the house. It's so funny to see the reaction on our guests' faces when we ask them to take their shoes off (they can go in with their socks or barefoot) before entering the house. 😂
I love how this sounds absolutely ridicolous to Americans, but for us in europe it is a completely normal thing
@@alexbarcovsky4319 and certainly in Asia.
I'm not East Asian (it's the rule, there), but I never, ever wear shoes at home. That's gross!
Because it's a show of respect to the people in the house. . like why would you bring dirt inside a clean house (where they took time and energy to maintain).
It doesn't take a lot of time to remove a footwear anyway.
I agree, it's surprising to know that it's different there in America (no hate here, it's amusing for me).
Rob, I love your videos so much! I discovered you through this video, since I am transitioning to being able to walk barefoot more - starting to gradually toughen up my feet. How long did it take you to really toughen up your feet? Do you get cracks on your skin/heels? Did you start a barefoot life pretty suddenly, or did you ease into it over a long span of time? Admittedly, I haven't read your blog post on being barefoot yet, so I will check that out. On a broader note, I think you're so pleasant to listen to, and your videos are mellow and positive, so it makes me want to watch all your videos and learn all the things! I didn't have much motivation to watch videos on all your topics before (but I have always cared a lot about the environment), but because I like you, I watch lots of your videos, and I'm super inspired to make changes in my life! I'm "dipping my toes into" reducing my use of soap/cosmetics and am curious to try dumpster diving!
I walked home barefoot once and it was nice. Feeling the concrete on my feet was so nice but rocks are a pain. I’m gonna start going out barefoot when I leave the house.
cold ground, snow, ice water is so refreshing
I walk barefoot outside in any weather. I have even walked barefoot in the snow.❄🌨🌩💧
@@brenthaymon280 yep me too never wear shoes
Thanks Rob, my body craves being barefoot, especially grounding. I look for shoes with no support when I must wear shoes, like moccasins with only a thin leather sole..
What a beautiful video! friendly person, trees, birds chirping... beautiful!
Ive been working in my front garden almost exclusively barefoot its so nice to feel the soft grass under my feet and i can literally tell then the ground is completely waterlogged (very clay-ey dirt and also someone was having a helluva time paying Jumanji for the last two weeks with the Monsoon card)
Its just really nice and connecting
What about ants?? I would love to do this but I hate getting bitten by ants on my feet in my yard.
Beautiful video Rob! Thank you for educating people. I am barefoot 95% of the time ✨
Walking barefoot is really of great help. After reading the book "Born to Run", my impression towards the multi billion shoe industry got changed.
@Rob, the books which you mentioned in your website are filled with vast information. Thank you for sharing them.
I have finished two books from the list:
1. Moneyless Manifesto
2. Born to Run.
Next i will pick "The Art of Happiness" ☮️
Great to hear my friend!
One of the best videos I've seen on being barefoot yet. Thorough, and you hit a lot of great points. Great content!
me: this is awesome! I'm gonna do it
the entire Texas countryside, teeming with snakes, scorpions, and fire ants: yeah that's a great idea
Kate exactly this👆🏻👏👏👏
You get used to minor annoyances like ant bites, etc. Feet are very strong that way. Keep some urine in your bladder if you plan on being feety out in Texas bush. Get a bite or sting...just pee on it.
I’m from Texas and I walk barefoot outside a lot
@@coffeekats7760 Being from Texas myself, I know that going barefoot is very common there.
@@nativetexanful im gonna have to transition slowly spring is still hell
But would being with socks ok?
I'm a firm believer of giving things up for a period of time in order to realise what you truly appreciate and what you can do without. This month I have given up socks and I can firmly say I definitely appreciate them a whole lot more!
I love this content Rob. I go barefoot as much as possible for grounding. I recently landed a painful plantar fasciitis pain in my foot so I took 4 days in “supportive shoes”, icing and reduced walking and it feels much better today. Is there a better, more barefoot approach I can take with plantar pain?
Following this as I am flat footed and have pain barefoot.
I don't have experience with this and don't have any advice. Sending love!
I had this same issue before. but the more barefoot time i go, the more it went away. also, there is a foot exercise for this. search ofr it. no more plantar fascitis for me for 8 months now
I would do all the movements you can do with your feet and toes that don't increase your pain. I have posted a few on my channel. Be patient and gentle with yourself. The transition to barefoot walking takes time. It can be helpful to start with just a few minutes on soft ground (grass or sand).
Doing arch excercises and excercises for the sides of your calves (the muscles that hold up your arch) can help. Also stretching. To recover feel free to take a few days with arch support though. I would imagine the internet has tutorials for these kinds of exercises. Work on the muscles, but be gentle, take it slow when getting back into it!
Very interesting video. The idea of grounding daily is what brought me here. I like your concept.
I’ve felt called to go barefoot as often as possible. ❤️
Hi Rob, thanks for this video. I'm living barefoot too. It's best for health and a happy life.
When I was a kid we had a long driveway made of loose stones. I was barefoot all of the time and I could run full speed up and down that driveway no problem.
Bonnie Rabold yea😂I do that still
Same! Still can
Driveway is in the process of becoming gravel, my feet are fine. Others aren't though when they see me walk on it
i’ve run cross-country races where part was on gravel. the looks i got were priceless!
other surfaces were grass, pasture, woods, and creeks.
I like how you added the photo of the thorns in your feet! Where I live in Illinois I have locust trees that grow really long, strong, thorns. Im sitting here imagining walking barefoot in the woods and stepping on a "thorn". Clusters of these things fall off the tree and just chill on the ground. Strong enough to puncture tires! Shoes dont even protect my feet, gotta have work boots on. Even then, the thorn will go straight through the leather side like butter. Good video! Thanks for posting!
Barefootin in 🌞 FL, Divine Rob!
"Experience everything...
Need nothing!" Much 🙏😌
People think I’m crazy and I love it ❤️ barefoot revolution baby
I love this! I grew up in a medium-size town in Iowa, and we were allowed to go barefoot when the temperature first hit 70. From then on it didn’t matter, it could be 50 the next day but I would basically be barefoot until school came in September. :-) Putting shoes on in the fall was pure torture and I would take them off as soon as I got out of school. I literally went all over town barefoot, and could walk on the sharpest gravel with no problem at all.
When I finished high school, I went and lived in Greece, and you just don’t go barefoot there. It’s considered a symbol of poverty, and in rural areas there are just so many things to puncture your feet. So I got out of that habit, although I did use flat sandals a lot. But at home, I’m still always barefoot, and not being a driver, I walk a lot, every day, and quickly.
Now I am a lot older. When I was 55, I started running. I couldn’t even run a mile. But it was not long before I was running five and 6 miles. Unfortunately my knees did not like it one bit, and I ended up giving it up. Barefoot running was not on my radar at all.
Living in Seattle, it’s also not a great place to go barefoot all the time, although I realize a lot of it it has to do with how I think people would see me.😜Recently I found out about “barefoot shoes,” and bought some. I hear about people having a slow adjustment, but they felt completely normal to me within a day. I don’t think I ever want to go back to shoes with raised heels. Recently I’ve started running short distances as well. I used to run all the time barefoot when I was a kid of course, and I was amazed/
shocked that I had to relearn it. The first time I tried, I was striking my heels a little much, and paid for that the next day. Then I overcompensated in the other direction and had burning calves for a day. I wasn’t getting the smooth landing that people go for till I saw a coaching video advising to lead with the hips. I realized that even though I thought I was maintaining good posture (and it HAD improved), I’d been bending forward at the waist unawares when I ran, undoubtedly a relic of running in “good” running shoes. I corrected that, and immediately remembered how I used to walk on trails in flat Keds when I was in Junior high, a relaxed stance with the hips forward. With the years of walking in raised heel shoes, I had actually forgotten what it meant to walk naturally! And when I applied that to running, I suddenly found that smooth, nearly impact lless landing.
I recently watched a video that suggested that before learning to run in minimalist shoes, it’s best to learn to run barefoot, because even the thinnest shoes still block a lot of your feeling from the ground. Unfortunately it’s December, so that’s not really on the table, but as soon as we get one of those freak warm winter days, I’m definitely going to do it! And I’ve already decided I’m going to start going barefoot again come summer, and let ‘em stare. I usually have a little pack with me so I can always keep a pair of thin sandals that will let me get into the grocery store. :-)
I also love being barefoot but that’s how you get hookworm, which will destroy you. 😥
Doubtful you'll get hookworm by walking barefoot, unless you live in a place where people do 'number two' out in the open. Hookworm comes from the human intestine, and in most modern western countries people don't defecate outdoors.
www.barefooters.org/top-ten-barefoot-myths/