7 Times You’re Better Off Going Barefoot Than Wearing Shoes

Did you know that the architecture of your feet is similar to that of your hands? Your feet actually have the ability to grip, bend and reach quite a bit! Or, should we say, had the ability, because wearing shoes all the time causes your feet to lose their ability to support themselves, making them dependent on artificial support. 

Imagine wearing a pair of thick gloves on your hands all the time – wouldn’t that be uncomfortable and annoying? You wouldn’t get anything done! Wearing shoes also leads to a number of foot problems, since your feet are stuffed into unnatural restrictive bindings. Bunions, corns, hammer toes, Achilles tendonitis, pronation, degenerative arthritis, hip problems and back pain are just a few of the problems that are caused by wearing shoes. 

Here are 7 times you should take off your shoes and go barefoot!

1. When you’re at home.

If you tend to wear slippers or shoes at home, it’s time to stop! Your feet have around 72,000 nerve endings, but they start to die when you wear shoes for too long. Take off your shoes at home and let your feet reconnect with the floor. When you’re standing, your feet are your only connection with the ground. This connection is very important for your posture, balance and alignment. If it’s cold, wear socks, but avoid wearing shoes. It’s a good idea to leave all shoes outside the house, or at the entrance, since shoes also tend to have a lot of mud, dirt and germs caked on to the bottom, so you’re better off not bringing them into the house.

2. When you’re at work.

Some companies don’t mind if their employees come to work and take off their shoes, while others are very particular about dress codes. However, thanks to greater awareness of the benefits of going barefoot, many professionals in the West have also started going barefoot at work. It’s a lot more relaxing (British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said so as well – after he kicked off his shoes in office), and studies show that being relaxed can increase your productivity considerably. Most of us tend to have really bad posture at work anyway, so going barefoot is one thing we can do to improve it.

3. When you’re at the park.

Try this: Go to the park and walk on the grass for five minutes with your shoes on, and then walk on the grass barefoot for five minutes. You’ll be amazed at the difference! You’ll feel much closer to nature, a lot more relaxed and a lot happier. Several studies have shown that contact with nature does wonders for our physical and mental health, so this is an easy way to get a dose of Vitamin N. Your feet also have points for your eyes, ears, lungs, face, stomach, spleen, brain, kidneys and many other organs. Unlike hard flooring, grass is a soft surface that moulds to your feet, so walking on grass gently stimulates these points, keeping your body in equilibrium and improving your overall health. 

4. When you’re at the beach.

Sand shifts and therefore provides resistance, making it a much more challenging surface to walk on than concrete. With every step you take, your feet sink into the sand, causing your leg muscles to work that much harder to lift your feet up again. Walking on the beach qualifies as perioreceptive exercise, and burns a lot more calories than walking on the treadmill. Your legs and feet will get a lot stronger over time. Sand also happens to be a natural exfoliant, so it will leave your feet softer, smoother and more supple. As a bonus, being on the beach is very relaxing, and is sure to improve your mood.   

5. When you go for a walk or run. 

Sneakers compress your feet and force them into an unnatural position. When you go for a walk or a run, you are putting that much more pressure on your feet, making the whole thing worse. Your feet are covered with perioreceptors, which communicate with your brain and give it feedback about your body’s position and alignment. Wearing shoes hampers these receptors, and restricts the movement of the muscles and joints in your feet and legs as well. Instead, find a clean, sandy beach or a nice, grassy park, and walk barefoot there. If you run or jog, start by going barefoot for 10 minutes at a time, until your feet get used to it. 

6. When you do body weight exercises at the gym.

You should keep your shoes on when you use machines like the treadmill, cycle or elliptical, but go barefoot when you do other exercises like push-ups, lunges, dead-lifts, crunches, etc. These are body weight exercises, and allowing your feet to come in contact with the floor will improve your stability, increase your range of motion, and ensure that you get better gains from your workout.

7. When you do yoga.

If you do yoga, you probably already know this one, since all yoga classes insist that people go barefoot. This helps with balance, stretches and strengthens the feet, and allows energy to flow through your body.