How often do your bare feet touch the ground?

How long has it been since you took your shoes off and walked on a beach, across some grass or squished your toes in a mud puddle?

I’m guessing for most it may have been a while…

Often it’s the simple things that can make the biggest difference in life.

I spend pretty much all of my time at home barefoot.

If I can get away with not wearing shoes I won’t.

Even if I’m running a workshop or attending a course you can guarantee the shoes will be gone by lunchtime.. 🙂

If I am stressed the first thing I do is to get my feet on the earth and “ground” myself.

I once read about a Swedish study that found those who took their shoes off under their desks at work lived an average of 3 years longer than their shoe-wearing office counterparts.

(I actually can’t find that study on Google so perhaps I made it up- it sounds good anyway…)

So, why should we get our shoes off?

It keeps our feet supple and healthy. It keeps muscles toned and flexible. Most foot problems come from wearing shoes.

Feet need to breathe! Fungus loves dark, damp places. Get some fresh air between those toes!

Feet are crucial for our balance and posture- shoes impact on how we walk. Bare feet keep those hips and knees flexible and strong.

Ever experienced the healing benefits of reflexology? Walking barefoot gives us a natural healing session. It stimulates pressure points and nerve endings.

Walking barefoot also lowers blood pressure and decreases stress levels by activating the parasympathetic nervous system.

But for me the best thing is the childlike sense of freedom that going barefoot brings. Stepping out of the constriction of shoes, enjoying that full sensory experience of feeling connected to the earth.

A simple thing that makes such a big difference.

So, next time you get the opportunity ditch the shoes and immerse yourself in the freedom of going barefoot…and notice how it feels. 🙂