#barefoot World: A Complete Guide for Beginners

Since the beginning of human history, our ancestors walked or ran barefoot to hunt or forage for food.

They lived naturally, enjoying the benefits that their feet provide, gaining more strength and balance in their movements.

Nowadays, wearing shoes has become a “part of us”, being essential for anyone.

However, in recent years, with the creation of #barefoot shoes , their benefits have been gaining ground, as they allow us to live our normal lives with protected feet.

If you want to be part of this #barefootmovement , whether for health reasons, sports practice or even to help the environment, it is important to keep in mind that there is a process for this.

It’s not just about buying your sneakers and walking around. With this beginner’s guide to barefoot walking, you’ll learn how to train your body to live normally again.

And that can take a while.

The benefits of “going barefoot”

When we talk about the benefits of barefoot, we find several characteristics that support this style of footwear.

The benefits that this footwear brings to your feet go beyond that, also benefiting your joints and the body in general.

By running barefoot, you can stimulate important parts of your foot, such as the midfoot and forefoot, as well as strengthening your muscles and improving your balance and stability.

Accordingly with the orthopedist  Ana Paula Simões, applying forces or pressure to the soles of the feet can benefit the entire body, such as stimulating blood circulation, relieving pain, providing a feeling of well-being, among others.

“ As we grow, we cram our feet into shoes and lose the benefits of going barefoot because we think of it as protection from punctures and germs. That’s why proponents of running in minimalist shoes and walking barefoot talk so much about re-training the intrinsic muscles of the foot, which we call the foot core, and encourage us all to let our feet be free to do this. ”

When comparing barefoot with conventional sneakers, we can see that “barefoot” sneakers allow our feet and legs to have a more natural movement.

Furthermore, they also allow for a greater range of movement and provide more mobility.

And finally, when we feel the sensation of touching the ground with our feet, we create an immediate contact with the natural energy of the earth, increasing our feeling of tranquility and well-being.

Start your change calmly

Even if you've made the decision to stop wearing your regular sneakers, take it easy!

Your feet need time to gradually improve their mobility and strength. To make this transition in a healthy way, we have put together some super important tips to help you get started on the right foot.

1)  Take it easy!

The time to complete the transition correctly varies from person to person.

As feet have many joints and muscles, after years of being squeezed into tight shoes they undergo a process of deformation, preventing them from developing correctly and weakening their muscles.

It is also important to take into consideration each person's physical condition, age, whether they have the habit of walking barefoot, whether they have worn too many tight shoes, etc. An example of someone who suffers a lot from altered feet are women, who wear heels and shoes with very tight toes.

So start slowly. Every day, stand with your feet on the floor without shoes and increase it a little each day.

Observe how your body responds to these stimuli. Just 30 minutes a day with your feet on the ground will help you feel the difference, both in terms of touch and footsteps.

The transition takes, on average, 2 to 3 months to complete. During this process, you will notice that your feet are wider and your toes have more space, which is completely normal, as they are returning to their natural shape.

If you feel pain (heels, hips, knees, etc.), reduce the amount of time you spend wearing barefoot shoes. It is not normal to feel pain, even at first.

Start exercising when your foot muscles feel stronger. In addition, dedicating time to body exercises is essential to restore mobility in your feet. Practicing them plays a crucial role in restoring strength, flexibility and balance throughout the body.

2) Analyze your walk

When choosing conventional footwear, we always opt for those that offer us more comfort.

And what makes these shoes comfortable are the soles, which are often very thick. And that's where the big problem lies!

With these shoes, our feet lose the ability to feel the ground and the force with which they are touching the ground.

At the same time, we lose mobility in our feet and the structure of a correct step. As a result, our body makes a series of compensations that allow us to walk, even if incorrectly.

And from there begins the development of injuries, chronic pain, incorrect walking, misaligned posture, among others.

Therefore, when using barefoot, it is necessary to relearn the correct way to walk.

We start slowly thinking about how we walk, our step should be soft and gentle. The heel is the first to touch the ground, but this contact should be soft and the full load on the foot should only be applied when the entire foot is on the ground.

When we become aware of the sensation in our feet, we no longer hit the ground as hard.

An excellent indicator of your gait pattern is the sole of your shoes.

3)  Live healthy

The use of chairs and the amount of time we spend sitting, or in a forced posture at the computer and in front of the phone, has a profound effect on the mobility of our hips, posture, strength and alignment of the entire body.

In this barefoot guide for beginners, you will learn that every part of our body needs to be taken care of in order for the body to function properly .

Our feet are the only surface of the body that is in daily contact with the ground, and any imbalance in this area affects the balance of the entire body.

Your barefoot is here

FOT is a brand passionate about movement and freedom of the feet.

The sneakers seek to redefine the way we relate our feet to the world around us, connecting our nature to what is natural.

Our range of sneakers ranges from more casual models to models designed for adventurers.

Barefoot tennis reconnects you with nature and teaches you to live freely.

Every day, you will feel freedom in every movement of your feet, knowing that they will be protected.

Finally, a super important tip:

Just like any other change, joining the #barefootmovement needs to be done consciously, slowly and gradually.

Respect your time, observe your changes and live in the best way possible: your natural self!