Do you care about your feet? I hope so! This may be news to you, courtesy of ABC News:
High Heels May Be at the Root of Certain Foot Ills, New Research Reveals
You can read their story here. The research, though modest in its claims, does provide a service if you’re not sure where that foot pain is coming from. Even if you’re a guy who doesn’t wear high heels, the truth is for all of us, if you’re wearing shoes, you will likely find some pain sooner or later throughout not only your feet, but your whole body!
The question, however, is not which shoe is best, but which shoe does the least damage? Dancers, yogis, martial artists and any new baby know that feet rule! They train in their feet as much as possible, and for them, shoes ONLY get in the way. (in the case that shoes are used for a structural advantage over feet, there is a consequence).
Shoes do too much good. They keep feet from really having to do the work. Imagine how good you’d be at your career if someone else insisted on doing half your work. No matter which way you cut it, a shoe is a at best a crutch and at worst a coffin.
Of course, shoes do provide protection from above (falling objects!) and below (tacks! ack!) So if were not going to live 24-7 in an environment free from constraint, in a situation that stimulates growth and learning of our incredible foot muscles and nervous system, then we must take special care of our favorite piggies. Here are five ways to maintain, and even train, those stubs of yours:
1. Rub them! Sit yourself down with your favorite evening beverage and go to town with your thumbs along every part of the bottom of the foot. Then the top of the foot. If you have time and extra love, go at those calves too.
2. Balance! So simple – stand on one foot. That’s right. When you get too good for your own good, wave that free foot around. Then your arms. Look left and right. Still balancing? Close one eye. Then the other.
3. Foot Circles! This will activate every muscle in, and attached t0, your foot. Lay on your back, lift one leg up at 90 degrees at the knee. Now circle that foot to its FULL degree slowly. Don’t miss any part of that cone you’re crafting in the air. Do 10 in each direction. When you get good, go all the way up to 30.
4. Side Raises! Now stand with your hands touching a wall or couch for balance. Do ten of each with a pause at the lift, at the highest height you can reach:
- Balance on heel and lift foot (dorsiflexion)
- Balance on toes and lift heel (plantarflexion)
- Balance on the outside edge, lift inside edge (inversion)
- Balance on the inside edge, lifting the outside edge (eversion)
5. Rub them some more!
Of course, there’s still yoga postures, running, walking, and more training to be done if you intend to use those feet for anything more looking great. These five keys will give you a standing chance against the evil power of the shoe.
6. BONUS: Sand. There’s nearly nothing better for your feet than mmm mmm warm sand.
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