A guide to getting started with barefoot walking.

"Man cannot remake himself without suffering, as he is both the marble and the sculptor!"

What To Expect When Getting Started Walking Barefoot

September 27, 2023 by Coach Peggy

Introduction

As a result of wearing stiff soled shoes, most Westerners have lost the ability to support themelves on their feet. For most Westerners, the small muscles of the ankle and foot have never been used or loaded. This article will be a guide for what you can expect when first starting a barefoot journey. Everyone is different so these time frames should be taken as very rough estimates.

Phase 1: Getting Started: (0-3 months)

Some orthopedists caution against walking barefoot because of the high instances of injuries. For most people who grew up in a city and spent minimal time barefoot, the injury rate will be near 100%. You will have inflammation of the metatarsal bones, severe sharp pains, shooting pains, flexion intolerance, blistering, as well as many other ailments.

These injuries are actually your foot bones and muscles shifting INTO place. While you can certainly lessen the discomfort by avoiding doing too much too soon, your body needs to learn on a neuromuscular level what movements and feelings make sense and which do not. This requires experimentation and some form of stimulus which could feel like injury.

At first you can expect overwhelming sensation in your feet that could feel like pain. Your feet have 200,000 nerve endings in them which are neccesary to feel the ground and maintain balance.

You can expect blistering on the soles of your feet. The location of these blisters will help your body master the technique of a soft but stable plant of the foot on the ground without "pulling the ground."

Phase 2: Immersion (6 months to 1 year)

You will start to get some space between your toes which will improve balance and knee stability. You can expect a temporary but significant decrease in your walking stability as you begin to acheive new range of motion. Keep in mind, at this rate you will have been walking with the experience level of a human infant.

You might even get outer ankle swelling and swelling around the metatarsal bones. You could get stress fractures. Try not to overdo it but absolutely do not quit at this stage. Every step you are learning new lessons and building neural synapses which are connections in your brain the solidify a movement pattern.

Phase 3: Confidence (1 year to 2 years)

After 1 year you will have taken enough steps to understand the barefoot walking form and have the experience to start walking much more smoothly. Your outer ankles will have strengthened and your feet will be completely relaxed through the walking and running gait. You will be able to feel your achilles tendon stretching and releasing energy an feel strong in your plantar fascia and forefoot region. Your heels will no longer touch the ground when you walk and run.

So how long will it take me to become a good barefoot walker?

Just like learning anything from the piano, to weightlifitng technique, to U.S. Consistitution recitation, it can take a lifetime to master.

How do You Walk Barefoot?

September 29, 2023 by Coach Molly

How do you walk barefoot? Take a deep dive into barefoot walking technique.

From touchdown to toe off, humans are fantastic walkers. While humans are unimpressive in the animal kingdom in the sprints, the fastest human beings can run 14 miles per hour over 26 miles which is a feat unmatched by any other animal.

Human beings are the best long distance runners on the planet. This is aided by our large glute muscles, our uncanny ability to sweat as opposed to pant, and our large lung capacity. So what happened? We adopted an unnatural walking technique which hindered our ability to move naturally. This article describes how to restore natural movement and walk with barefoot technique.

How Can I Get Started With a Barefoot Lifestyle?

September 21, 2023 by Coach Clifford

What Westerners call 'old age' is the consequences of a walking gait and footwear that are crippling to natural movement.

When Westerners first made contact with Indigenous Tribes of the Americas, they noticed that the natives tended to walk on the balls of their feet while European settlers would land on their heel and roll forward on their toe.

Having spent most of our lives in stiff soled shoes, Westerners have lost their ability to walk with a natural gait.

This article shows you practical steps to get started walking barefoot.

What Can I Expect When I Start Going Barefoot?

September 26, 2023 by Coach Louis

Getting started going barefoot can be an intimidating experience. From injuries to new sensations and even the occasional odd look from a passerby, embarking on a barefoot journey can seem like alot.

Read our guide on what to expect from your barefoot journey from the honeymoon period, to the pain cave, to stronger feet and a pain free life.

Get the best tips from those who have done it before in this article

How can I Find the Right Shoe?

September 26, 2023 by Coach Peggy

How do you get started with a barefoot lifestyle? The first step is to take off your shoes. But what about when the situation calls for footwear? Then following these rules can keep you moving naturally with barefoot inspired footwear!

Western stiff soled footwear restricts our toes and acts as a coffin for our feet. Unable to flex and bend and move, our feet get weak and we eventually lose the ability to walk "unasissted" by cushioned running shoes.

Whether you are a sandals on the beach, or boots in the forest person, these guidelines can help you crush your barefoot goals and look great doing it!