No one needs to tell you how great shoes are. They keep our feet safe from the cold, dirt, and disease. They finish off an outfit, and for a lot of people, they’re fun to shop for!
But let’s face it. After a long day, there’s nothing you want to do more than kick off your shoes at the door and let your piggies wiggle freely.
There’s something so perfectly relaxing about taking off your shoes… but in reality, there’s much more going on than just getting out of some clammy shoes.
It turns out that walking around barefoot — in your house, the backyard, or on the beach — is actually incredible for your health in a lot of surprising ways!
Your feet do a lot for you, and while we sometimes forget about them way down there at the other end of our bodies, they deserve care, too.
There are a lot of simple ways to care for various foot ailments, but simply letting them stretch free of the confines of shoes can do amazing things for not just your feet, but even your body and mind.
However, when going barefoot, it’s important to do so only in a safe, comfortable area. And if you have any serious back or foot issues, be sure to consult with your doctor first!
Check out some of the ways free feet can make a difference in your life, and why you should try going barefoot today!
Why Should I Go Barefoot?
According to the tradition of reflexology, different places on your feet correspond to various areas of the body, including major organs and muscles.
Stimulating those areas on your feet is believed to be beneficial to the corresponding areas on other parts of your body, and likewise, restricting or ignoring them can have negative effects on them.
And walking barefoot on safe and familiar terrain — like your backyard, a sandy beach, or in fresh soil — can effectively stimulate your reflexology points!
Barefoot Benefit #1: Lessens Aches And Pains
After a day in shoes, your feet can be hot, sore, and cramped. And as you probably know all too well, sore feet make your whole body feel uncomfortable!
Simply stepping out of shoes lets our feet stretch and readjust, and you’ll find that any aches your feet might have felt seem to melt away as they come in contact with the ground.
Barefoot Benefit #2: Strengthens Joints, Muscles, And Tendons
And once the aches are gone, your feet can start moving in a natural way.
That means that the muscles and tendons in your feet, which often don’t get enough attention, are being used to their fullest potential.
Walking barefoot has been shown to give people stronger, more flexible feet that are less prone to damage, and can also improve balance.
