Don’t Forget Your Feet!

Today we want to spend a little more time on the feet and how to keep them happy.

Have you ever heard of reflexology? WedMD tells us that Reflexology is a type of therapy that uses gentle pressure on specific points along your feet to help you feel better. Though not 100% backed by science (yet), it is believed that this type of massage works because trigger points in your feet are connected to all your organs.

Don’t believe us? Well, think about how crappy you feel when your feet hurt. Everything else about your day could be amazing and you will still be in a pretty lousy mood because your feet hurt. That alone should convince you about the importance of taking care of your feet.

One of the best ways to care for your feet is by choosing proper footwear, particularly the footwear you choose for working out. All sneakers are not created equal.

Everyone’s feet are different so we are not going to recommend one specific shoe to improve your foot happiness and by extension, your life. But we are going to tell you what sort of shoes you should wear when strength training.

We’ll start with a Priest-ism: Running shoes suck for everything but running. 

So, no running shoes for strength training. Check. What you do want are sturdy, firm shoes with a flat or wedge sole. So look for crosstrainer or trainer shoes. High tops, or shoes that tie around the ankles, are helpful for ankle support.

Lifting weights barefoot occasionally pops up as a popular trend. While lifting barefoot can offer extra stability as well as strengthen your feet, don’t just run over to the gym and kick off your shoes. You need to get your feet used to just - existing - barefoot, which you can do by walking around your house. You always want to make sure your workout area is completely flat and safe, with nothing to step on. If not done carefully and correctly, lifting barefoot can just lead to extra injuries. Also be extra careful you don’t drop that kettlebell on your foot.