When I walk by our neighborhood park in the morning, I often see a man walking barefoot through the grass. From one side of the park to the other and back again. Slowly. Deliberately. Thoughtfully. He repeats this walk three or four times before he slides his shoes back on to make his journey back home on the sidewalks.
After running into one another frequently and noticing our overlapping walking patterns, we stopped to chat. This man shared his South Asian culture and how walking barefoot, also known as earthing or grounding, is a way of connecting with and showing respect to the earth. He explained how the earth gives off energy and generative powers, and how the feet can connect the earth to the body.
Why is this connection to the earth valuable? A study in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health found that grounding helped improve sleep, reduce chronic pain, lower cortisol levels and lessen inflammation, among other benefits. In fact, another study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that grounding reduces blood viscosity and clumping, reducing cardiovascular risks.
In addition, barefoot walking helps to strengthen small intrinsic muscles that most of us never train. Holistic Health Practitioner and Foot & Movement Specialist, Kennedy Lodato, explains that these muscles provide our feet stability, mobility, flexibility and strength, and help to keep the "ears" or receptors under our feet responsive. “Imagine if you lose the ability to sense the ground you walk on,” Lodato says. “As we age, we lose the responsiveness of the receptors in our feet.”
Dr. Emily Splichal, functional podiatrist and human movement specialist at Center for Functional & Regenerative Podiatry agrees. “Walking without shoes on is a great way to reconnect to the ground and natural mobility of the feet,” she explains. “Shoes create a barrier between the nerves and the feet and all the sensory stimulation the ground provides our nervous system. The restriction of most footwear can also prevent the natural movement and mobility our foot and body needs to move well.”
Wanna give it a try, but aren’t sure where to start? Well, you might try tossing your shoes aside and walking indoors to strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments of your feet. Dr. Splichal recommends preparing your feet for barefoot walking with the Neuro Ball foot release. This simple technique is a great way to wake up the muscles and nerves of the feet while also improving foot circulation.
When you’re ready to move outside, Dr. Splichal reminds you to be smart about surfaces on which you walk barefoot and consider the surface’s hardness, irregular edges, and bacteria. She recommends frequent foot checks after barefoot walking as a good way to ensure that you didn't puncture the foot. “Also, with no shoes, the muscles of the feet now have to dissipate all impact forces, so be mindful in how you are walking and do ensure you incorporate regular foot recovery,” says Dr. Splichal.
It’s always good to take proper care of your feet after coming back from a barefoot walking outing. This is a great time to give them a nice cleanse followed by the 5-minute foot release technique.
So, what can you expect from feeling the blades of grass tickle your toes? Though the experience may be different for everyone, Lodato says most people feel calm, a sense of relaxation, and “grounded.” When done consistently, people just feel better, he says.
The next time your tootsies are craving some fresh air, give grounding a try. Just make sure you clear the way of any obstacles, sharp objects or squishy pressies from your pup.
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