CHAPTER 24. BENEFITS OF BAREFOOT WALKING

from our upcoming book Our Secret Book of Benefits

Whenever I feel any kind of negativity like anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, frustration, guilt, shame, disappointment, disgust, boredom, loneliness, jealousy, resentment, despair, hopelessness, and regret - I remove my footwear and continue the work. I instantly start feeling normal.

Children like barefoot walking! Shoes and chappals prevent grounding of our body with mother earth. Feet connect us to mother earth. Unfortunately, as a species, humans have found many ways to disconnect from nature. Footwear is one of them.

As a family, we move around barefoot as much as possible. Barefoot walking provides many benefits:

Improved Foot Strength and Flexibility: Walking barefoot engages and strengthens the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in our feet. This improved our foot flexibility, range of motion, and overall foot health.
Enhanced Balance and Posture: Walking barefoot activates sensory receptors in our feet, which improved balance, coordination, and proprioception (awareness of our body's position in space). This lead to better posture and reduced risk of falls.
Reduced Foot Pain: Walking barefoot reduces foot pain, such as plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel), by strengthening the foot muscles and improving foot mechanics.
Improved Circulation: Walking barefoot stimulates blood flow to the feet and improves circulation throughout the body.
"Earthing" Connection: Walking barefoot on the earth connects us with the Earth's natural energy, potentially offering health benefits such as reduced inflammation, improved sleep, and reduced stress. This concept is known as "earthing" or "grounding."
Sensory Stimulation: Walking barefoot provides sensory input from the ground, which is stimulating and grounding. It allows us to feel the textures and temperatures of different surfaces, enhancing our connection to the natural environment.
Reduced Stress: Spending time outdoors in nature, including walking barefoot, is calming on the mind and body, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
Improved Mood: The combination of physical activity, sensory stimulation, and connection with nature improves mood and increases feelings of well-being.
Negative charge potential: The Earth naturally carries a negative electrical charge, which is beneficial for the body when we come into contact with it. If you have a jet-lag after a long flight, walking barefoot quickly eliminates your lag.
Inflammation reduction: Earthing significantly reduce inflammation in the body by neutralizing free radicals.
Improved sleep: Regular earthing practices lead to better sleep quality and reduced insomnia.
Pain relief: We experienced relief from chronic pain conditions like arthritis through earthing.
Immune system support: The anti-inflammatory effects of earthing contribute to a healthier immune system function.
Wound healing: Earthing accelerate wound healing.
Stress reduction: Grounding reduces stress and anxiety symptoms.

Simple practice: To practice earthing, simply walk barefoot on grass, sand, or soil, or sit outside with direct skin contact with the ground.
Conductive materials: You can also use special earthing mats or socks made from conductive materials to achieve the same effect while indoors.

Important Note:

Safety: Always prioritize safety when walking barefoot. Avoid walking on uneven surfaces, sharp objects, or hot surfaces.
Gradual Introduction: If you're new to barefoot walking, start gradually and increase the duration over time.
Foot Health: People with certain foot conditions may not be suitable for barefoot walking.

Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

We are born barefoot - ready to walk barefoot.

****