Who knew something as simple as a barefoot walk
could be so good for you – mind, body and soul.
CLEAR
YOUR MIND: It’s
hard not to pay attention to every step when you’re walking barefoot. You have
to be on the lookout for sharp rocks and thorns. Awareness of what’s in front
of you in this moment quiets your inner chatter and clears your mind and helps
you focus on the here and now.
IT’S
FREE FOOT YOGA: Walking
barefoot strengthens and stretches the muscles, tendons and ligaments in your
feet, ankles and calves. This helps prevent injury, knee strain and back
problems. Not only that, but because it works muscles not used when you’re
wearing shoes, it strengthens and stretches your core, helping keep your
posture upright, and your balance spot on.
IT’S A FREE REFLEXOLOGY SESSION: There
are reflex points to every part of your body in your feet. Every little bump and
rock in the road helps to stimulate all these little reflex points. If it hurts
at first – especially in specific areas, this means your feet need the
stimulation they’re getting by being barefoot. Over time, these sensitivities
will go away, and the areas the tenderness corresponds to will be rejuvenated,
helping decrease the symptoms of whatever it is that ails you.
DECREASE
ANXIETY & DEPRESSION: Walking barefoot in the grass can help decrease
anxiety and depression by 62 percent, and increases the levels of those feel
good endorphins. Awesome!
GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP: The
ancients believed that walking barefoot in the grass was the best cure for
insomnia, and many people still swear by it today.
IT’S
GROUNDING. LITERALLY: Our
bodies are made up of about 60 percent water, which is great for conducting
electricity. The earth has a negative ionic charge. Going barefoot grounds our
bodies to that charge. Negative Ions have been proven to detoxify, calm, reduce
inflammation, synchronize your internal clocks, hormonal cycles and
physiological rhythms. The best places to get some negative ions through your
feet are by the water. Everyone knows how good it feels to be barefoot on the
beach – now we know why!
GET BACK TO WHAT MATTERS: To be barefoot
outside doesn’t just involve your feet – the rest of you has to be outside too.
You get to connect with Mother Nature all around. Feel the sunshine on your
face; hear the wind in the trees. It’s easier to connect to a higher power when
you’re in touch with Nature; it’s easier to put things into perspective.
Who knew something as simple as a barefoot walk
could be so good for you – mind, body and soul.
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