You need to be barefoot in order to start going barefoot, so remove your shoes and socks; it feels especially good if you have had a rough day at either work or school. Play with or wiggle your toes. This helps loosen any tense muscles inside your feet and help get the blood flowing, enabling you to relax more easily. Either give your toes gentle tugs or try massaging them. Like any other form of physical activity, going barefoot may result in injury if you try to do too much too quickly. Go barefoot for short periods of time in comfortable environments. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/0/0a/Go-Barefoot-Safely-Step-1. jpg/v4-460px-Go-Barefoot-Safely-Step-1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/0/0a/Go-Barefoot-Safely-Step-1. jpg/aid10372071-v4-728px-Go-Barefoot-Safely-Step-1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Remember that the muscles of your feet have most likely atrophied from being supported by your shoes, and it will take time to build them up again.
See if there is a park or trail near you specifically for going barefoot. These often have paths specifically designed for walking over different types of surfaces, and may have places to store shoes and wash your feet after a walk. These places are also called barefoot reflexology parks.
You can strengthen the many muscles and tendons in your foot and get them all working together by doing exercises that require a lot of posture changes, such as pilates, yoga, martial arts, and dance. [1] X Research source “Rolling” your calf muscles and your plantar fascia – the web of connective tissue in the arch of your foot – can help them loosen up and relieve pain. Grab a tennis or lacrosse ball and put it under your arch or your calf. Put as much weight as possible on it, and roll it around the area for about five minutes while flexing your foot or ankle. Do this once or twice a day. [2] X Research source
It’s important to keep it natural and do what feels right to you. If you force a forefoot strike, your calves and Achilles tendon will pay the price. Some people touch the ground lightly with their heel and place their weight on the balls of their feet. Run on a smooth but abrasive surface like a sidewalk. If you get blisters on your feet, it is a telltale sign your form needs work.
Be aware that working out with bare feet on gym equipment that is not properly cleaned can lead to bacterial or fungal infections. Also, take care to avoid surfaces that may cause scratches or rug burn on your feet.
If there are any open wounds, wait for it to heal, and do not expose it to dirt or grit, like you would every wound. Hookworm can be contracted while going barefoot in developing countries in areas containing fecal matter, so wear shoes in these environments. Make sure they are effective against hookworm, as hookworm can pass through regular shoes. Bare feet are surprisingly dirt-resistant and easier to clean than your shoes. Enjoy getting your feet as dirty as you can, but remember to wash them with soap and water afterwards. Another benefit of being a barefooter is not getting athlete’s foot nor foot odor (feet get smelly in shoes if you do not wear socks or if you are on them all day, and that sweat has nowhere to go).
