Barefoot running has become very popular. Do you have clients that have tried it? Do you recommend barefoot running? While I believe in the importance of strengthening our feet and letting our toes spread out like they were designed to do…we have to be careful when recommending that our clients start running “barefoot.”
The bottom line is that our feet need to be strengthened just like any other part of our body, but running barefoot should be approached carefully and bit by bit.
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Here is what I like to tell my clients when they ask me about this topic:
Exercises for your FEET:
Since most of us wear shoes all day long and many women wear shoes that keep their feet in a very tight, constricted position all day long, our feet become very rigid. But our feet are designed with multiple joints and have the ability to articulate like our hands – just look at someone who has lost the use of their hands and they quickly adapt the ability to use their feet to write, eat, and perform various other daily tasks usually done by the hands. So the message is, we need to make an effort to increase the movement and functionality of our feet.
- Feet Movement: While you are watching TV or working at your desk, just move your feet. Separate your toes wide, flex and bend and extend your toes, point and extend your feet, rotate your ankles, tap your toes….just move your feet and get some blood flowing to the muscles, tissues and joints. Do it at least a minute at a time whenever you think about it every day.
- Towel Crunches: Lay a towel flat on the floor in front of you. Place your bare feet on the towel edge closest to you and then curl your toes pulling the towel closer and closer to you. Continue this exercise for a couple minutes. It’s an easy one to do while you’re watching TV or reading.
- Ball Curls: Take a small soft ball like a Hacky Sac and squeeze your toes around the ball. Continue for 1-2 minutes.
- Barefoot Heel Raises: Lift your heels quickly pressing up onto your toes. Continue for 1-2 minutes.
- Golf Ball Releasing: When you are working at your desk or watching TV, roll your feet over a golf ball with the intent of kneading away any tight tissue. When you finns a tight area, you can hold for a few seconds until it releases and/or gently roll back and forth over the area.
Perform the above exercises at least 2-3x/week.
I will give your even more foot strengthening exercises next week….so come on back!
Yours in health, fitness & business,
Sherri McMillan
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