Is there any benefit to walking barefoot? Is it good to walk barefoot on the grass? Good physical activity

One of the typical arguments is that when a person takes off his shoes and stands on the ground, he gets a feeling of lightness and release, because in this way he discharges a negative static charge. Believe it or not, everyone's personal business. Nevertheless, professionals, orthopedic specialists and osteopaths believe that walking barefoot is still a sensible activity.

It is important to get rid of the "excessive expectations" of a miracle," says our expert, osteopath Boris Protasov. - The most useful thing in walking barefoot for a modern person is the prevention and treatment of flat feet.

When should you take off your shoes?

There are more than enough myths in the answer to this simple question. Some are sure that it is better to walk in the morning, on freshly cut grass. Yes, so that the feet get wet from the dew. Others find it more beneficial to walk on sand. Still others - only on pebbles.

Yes, in Russian villages in the summer they constantly walked barefoot. And only a few suffered from flat feet. Why? On an uneven surface, the muscular arch of the foot is trained. And on a completely flat one, on the contrary, it does not work.

Paradox! says our expert. - In America, to which the civilized world is indebted to the fashion of walking barefoot, there is a huge number of cases of flat feet. We have the same today. The origins of the "tramp" fashion are clear: modern man has practically ceased to walk. Especially barefoot. Let him make up at least at home ... But on the floor - "carpet", linoleum and other even artificial surfaces. Therefore, the result of the prevention of flat feet is negative.

The advice to walk barefoot in the morning on dewy grass can also be attributed to unhelpful idealization. Perhaps a hardened person will not be harmed by walking in the dew. But today there are only a few of them among us. For the rest, it is enough to imagine the average office city dweller who spent the working week at the table without getting out, and on the weekend decided to “run through the dew”. After that, for many, a sick leave becomes a logical outcome.

Grass, sand or rocks?

Doctors believe that walking on pebbles is in all respects more beneficial than walking on grass. With flat feet, they even recommend a specific exercise. The patient gets up every day in a box filled with pebbles and tramples on the pebbles for 10-15 minutes.

In natural conditions, walking on any uneven surface is useful. Sand for the prevention of flat feet is also a good “cover”. But pebbles also give an additional effect. There are certain points on the human foot that are used in acupuncture, in Japanese shiatsu massage therapy.

Sand, tightly fitting the foot, does not give such an effect. But the grass, especially the mowed one, always works as a “cushion”, smoothing out uneven terrain. And one more thing: be sure to remember about hygiene. Is it worth it, for example, to take off your shoes in city parks? Hardly…

By the way, lovers of walking barefoot especially should not forget about the prevention of fungal diseases and about elementary foot hygiene in general.

About prevention and misconceptions

It is believed that walking barefoot is useful for the prevention of herniated discs of the lumbosacral spine. Doctors consider it a delusion: "barefoot procedures" have a beneficial effect on the general condition of the spine, but no more.

Even more ridiculous is the advice to go barefoot for women who constantly wear stilettos in everyday life, ”says our expert. - Allegedly, this is necessary in order to "unload the spine more often." Such "advisers" incorrectly formulate goals and objectives. Are hairpins harmful to the spine? Without a doubt! And the way out is not to walk barefoot, but in comfortable shoes with a small heel!

A high heel is bad for the calf muscle, for the thigh muscle. But there is only one "cure" - normal shoes. By the way, in terms of benefits for the spine, high-quality sneakers with a comfortable shoe are even better than walking barefoot.

The development of flat feet, deformity of the big toe and the formation of a bump on the bone on the inside of the foot is a common pathology of the musculoskeletal system that worsens the lives of many people. Orthopedists prescribe various therapies to their patients to combat it and give useful recommendations. Experienced doctors often advise doing this for the treatment and prevention of flat feet, and under what conditions, we will tell you in detail.

What do doctors say about walking barefoot?

In general, the prevention of flat feet is facilitated by walking barefoot on different surfaces, while the muscles will work more actively and the condition of the feet as a whole will improve slightly.

Orthopedists especially recommend foot massage with pebbles, on which you need to walk barefoot. Walking on grass, sand and other uneven surfaces is also useful. Walking on an ordinary flat floor does not create such a powerful therapeutic effect.

Walking on different surfaces to treat flat feet

As it was said, for the prevention of flat feet, it is better to walk barefoot on pebbles than on soft grass. Some clinics even use one effective exercise: the patient stands in a special box with pebbles and stomps on the spot for 10-15 minutes.

In natural conditions, you can walk on any bumps. Even walking barefoot on ordinary sand helps in preventing flat feet, but pebbles or other pebbles are more effective in this regard. The therapeutic effect is explained by the location of special ones, which during walking not only returns the bones of the foot to their normal position, but also heals the entire body. They are also affected by Japanese therapeutic massage and acupuncture. When we walk barefoot, these points are stimulated and normalize the condition of a person with flat feet.

As for the sand, when walking barefoot on it, it hugs the feet and does not create such a powerful effect, and evenly cut grass works like a pillow, smoothing out the unevenness of the base. But for the prevention of flat feet, you need to walk barefoot at least on grass or sand - this is better than nothing.

Barefoot on a massage mat - prevention of flat feet

As a preventive measure for flat feet, walking barefoot on a massage mat helps. You can buy it in a sports store or a regular hypermarket and walk around it at any time of the year. Rugs are different and differ in the type of relief surface. Choose the most rigid and convex so that these bumps better massage deformed feet. On such a rug for the prevention of flat feet, it is necessary to stomp daily for 10-20 minutes or more.

The phrase about barefoot childhood is familiar to most of us. Walking barefoot in many people is associated with poverty, asociality, discomfort, and the possibility of injury. Therefore, even during summer outdoor recreation, we do not take off our shoes, depriving ourselves of the pleasure of feeling the coolness of thick grass, the softness and warmth of sand heated by the sun, the tingling of twigs that have fallen from trees. It is necessary to gradually abandon the stereotypes imposed on us in order to spend a vacation with benefits for the body and get new pleasant sensations.

Let's talk first about the benefits of walking without shoes. As you know, on the surface of the feet there are many biologically active points and zones. Stimulation of certain areas of the feet helps to improve the functioning of internal organs, increase immunity, normalize mental status, etc. There are special methods of massage and stimulation of these biologically active points. Walking barefoot allows you to activate all the mentioned zones, that is, it has a beneficial effect on our entire body.

Walking barefoot on sand or loose ground helps to get rid of flat feet (of course, if this activity is done regularly), reduces the load on the sole and arch of the foot, and reduces pain associated with muscle strain with an irregular foot shape.

In addition, walking without shoes is a great hardening option for adults and children. Stimulation of biologically active points by exposure to cold can increase the tone of all tissues, increase the body's resistance to viral and bacterial diseases.

Some people hesitate to take off their shoes because they are afraid of pain. Indeed, most city dwellers have soft and delicate feet skin, accustomed to comfortable shoes, regular pedicure and care. And if you accidentally step on a dry branch or a stone with sharp edges, you are provided with at least severe discomfort. But walking on soft grass or sand, on the contrary, will do you good. Your feet will quickly get used to new stimuli, and walking barefoot will become very pleasant. Look carefully under your feet so as not to step on a sharp object.


Modern medicine recognizes the fact that walking barefoot is very good for health. Regular walks without shoes on grass, earth, sand help prevent the development of serious diseases - stroke, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, hypertension, etc. In addition, the risk of developing acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections is significantly reduced due to the hardening effect of this procedure.

With the help of the experiment, a very interesting result was obtained: when lowering the feet into cold water (with a temperature of about 12 degrees Celsius), a reflex decrease in the temperature of the inner surface of the nose is observed. But if the water temperature is about 4 degrees Celsius, the subject quickly develops the first signs of a cold (runny nose, sore throat, feeling unwell). The experiment didn't end there. Further, it was found that if every day at about the same time to carry out water procedures - immerse the feet in water with a temperature of 12 to 14 degrees Celsius for 10 - 15 minutes, after 3 weeks the temperature of the inner nasal mucosa ceases to decrease! And with a decrease in water temperature, the “experimental” does not experience discomfort in the nasopharynx and does not get sick with a cold.

What causes the hardening effect? The fact is that our life activity largely depends on innate and acquired reflexes. Repeated exposure to a certain stimulus on skin receptors (in this case, cool water) contributes to the formation of a conditioned reflex, leading to the rapid production of heat by the body. A similar effect is observed if you walk barefoot on grass covered with morning dew every day (at optimal air temperature, of course). At the same time, the hardening effect is more pronounced, since the effect of low temperature is combined with mechanical irritation of sensitive nerve endings and reflexogenic zones located on the feet.

If you regularly walk barefoot, the horny layer of the skin on your feet will gradually thicken. No, these are not corns and corns that are familiar to most of us, but an increase in the layer of horny cells. The feet will remain flexible and attractive looking. Thickening of the skin is an additional way to avoid hypothermia and reduce the impact of external stimuli on the body. Very soon, you will practically lose your sensitivity to cold and will be able to walk barefoot even in the snow.

Start health walking in the warm season to get used to the new sensations for you and to acquire excellent immunity before the cold weather. The first steps should be done at home (this recommendation applies to young children and people with weakened immune resistance). Start right now - put your slippers away, do the cleaning - vacuum, wash the floors. Walk around the apartment for 10-15 minutes at least twice a day.


You can combine this useful activity with daily gymnastics - include it in your favorite exercises as a warm-up and final stage. Focus on new sensations, feel the skin of your feet every unevenness of the floor, the softness of the carpet. If you are completely uncomfortable, at first walk in thin socks or footprints, then remove them. Gradually increase your walking time by a few minutes to an hour or more. When you adapt, go outside! Even if you do not have the opportunity to go somewhere in nature, you can walk barefoot on the lawn in the yard, playground, park lawn. Of course, you should first inspect the area so as not to accidentally step on dangerous debris.

As mentioned above, it is very useful to walk without shoes on the grass wet from dew (in the morning and in the evening). Walk on a wet lawn or forest clearing for 15 to 20 minutes, then put on dry socks (without drying your feet) and put on shoes. Shoes should be comfortable, soft and closed (for example, moccasins made of genuine leather). Walk for another 10 minutes at a fast pace to keep your feet warm. This is a very useful exercise - cooling and warming up the skin of the feet stimulates reflexogenic zones, improves blood circulation and reflexively affects all organs and systems, ensuring their full functioning.

Don't force things! If you immediately go “walking in the morning dew”, there is a very high probability of an acute respiratory disease - your body may not respond adequately to new sensations and local cooling of the feet. Be consistent and slow.


Alternate walking on grass with moving on loose river or sea sand, wet stones (pebbles). This is a great option for reflexology - in fact, acupressure, but performed not with hands, but with the help of natural remedies. If you live near a body of water, your barefoot walk will be very beneficial. Walk on the sand along the water 2-3 times a day. The recommended duration is 15 minutes or more. Go from wet to dry sand and back - so your feet will receive a variety of and very useful stimulation.

"Live" sand is not available? This is not a problem - you can organize a "health path" in a summer cottage or area near your home. You will need stones without sharp corners and edges (in extreme cases, ordinary expanded clay is suitable), coarse river sand. Lay out an uneven path, alternating strips of sand and stones. To enhance the healing effect, you can pour it with warm water. Now start walking barefoot, moving along the path at an average pace. In hot weather, you can replace warm water with cold water (but only if you already have hardening experience, otherwise a cold is very likely).

There is no way to arrange a "health path"? Useful procedures are easy to carry out at home! Prepare about 2 kg of ordinary river or sea pebbles, put it in a flat basin, fill it with cool water. The playground is ready! To enhance the healing effect, sea salt and decoctions of medicinal herbs can be added to the water. If you have a child, check with your pediatrician, find out what hardening methods are right for you, and start walking barefoot with the whole family.

Do you really want to walk on the grass? Choose the most even area and carefully inspect it, then the wellness procedure will not bring you any trouble. Do not forget that if the skin is injured, it is necessary to wash the wound as soon as possible and then disinfect it. In some cases, you will need a tetanus shot, which is given free of charge at all trauma centers.

(Photo: Warren Goldswain, Martin Novak, Darren Baker, shutterstock.com)

It is known that massage holographic points are located on the foot, each of which corresponds to a separate organ of the body. When a person walks barefoot, almost all organs are massaged, and the blood circulates evenly throughout the body. There are benefits for the lower extremities themselves - the arch of the foot is trained, all the tiny bones, ligaments and micromuscles that are usually not involved are included in the walking process. Contraindications for "barefoot" walks are rheumatic diseases of the lower extremities, gout, skin diseases (fungus, cracks), chronic diseases of the genitourinary system.

Where to walk

Not every surface is good for walking barefoot. For example, a tiled floor can cause hypothermia of the feet, and this, in turn, can provoke diseases of the pelvic organs and the genitourinary system. From the point of view of oriental medicine, it is not recommended to walk barefoot on stone surfaces for a long time, because they “pull” energy from the body. But heated tile flooring is especially harmful to the health of the feet. Such floors in the kitchens are very dangerous for housewives who spend at least an hour a day “in the heat”. The fact is that for each organ there is a comfortable temperature, and for the lower extremities it is lower than, say, for the digestive system or the brain. The low temperature of the feet guarantees a full flow of blood to the brain, while a warm floor, on the contrary, causes the blood to flow downwards. This can lead to an exacerbation of gynecological diseases (an increase in fibroids, manifestations of inflammation) and cause dangerous congestion in the legs, as a result - varicose veins.

Synthetic surfaces, carpets made of artificial threads, linoleum accumulate static electricity, which negatively affects the bioenergetics of space, and in practice means frequent headaches. The most ideal surfaces for foot health are wood (preferably oak parquet) and earth. Therefore, at home, if possible, roll up carpets, rugs and acquire parquet, and in the country, take off your shoes and try to do all garden work barefoot.

How much to walk

To get the maximum health benefits, you need to walk for a long time. According to Eastern doctors, the body gives the accumulated static electricity to the earth, and it, in turn, charges the person with useful energy. Modern medicine has established that the Earth's magnetic field has an undeniable influence on this process. Special devices show that only after about forty minutes does the negative energy of the body begin to decrease.

If you don't have time to walk barefoot a lot, magnetic insoles can help. They, imitating an uneven surface, massage the feet.

Walk on the water

Walking barefoot should be paid attention not only with flat feet and other foot defects, but also with any diseases of the nervous system - with overwork, neuroses. To restore the nervous system after mental overload, reflexologists recommend walking barefoot in the morning dew. You need to start healing walks from one to two minutes (the dew is cold, and the body must get used to the new sensations so as not to get cold) and gradually increase to an hour.

It is useful to walk on wet stones. The best simulator is a pebbly bank of a river or sea. If you bring the stones home, you can continue the procedures in your own bathroom. They need to be watered with cold water, to which you can add a little vinegar. This method of hardening is universal, but especially useful for those who suffer from anemia. The duration of the procedure is three to fifteen minutes for the sick, weakened and thirty minutes for the healthy. The stones must remain moist throughout the procedure.

Walking ankle-deep in water perfectly relieves headaches, improves lung function, and helps with flatulence. The procedure can be performed at home. Cold water is poured into the bath, approximately to the level of the ankles. Over time, the water level is raised to the calves and knees. Duration - from a minute for beginners, to five or six minutes. Water should be as cold as possible. After the bath, it is necessary to warm the feet, vigorously rubbing with a dry hard towel.

We pour our feet

This is the fastest (it takes only ten to twelve days) way to harden and increase immunity, which is recommended in the summer. Even daily dousing of ice water to the waist does not give that pronounced resistance to colds, which is acquired after training cooling of the legs. In the morning you need to take an air bath - after undressing, walk around the room a little. Rinse your feet with cold water, rub them until redness. Then - gymnastics and shower. After a week, you can move on to longer procedures: stand ankle-deep in cold water for two to three minutes, take a cold bath. Such morning procedures lead to a good condition of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, increase efficiency.

For cracked soles

Blue clay masks intensively and quickly nourish dry cracked skin of the feet. Apply the diluted slurry on the feet. When the clay dries, rinse it off with warm water, grease your feet with cream. You can also recommend a milk foot bath, add some milk to a container of water, dip your feet in it for ten minutes, and then wipe your feet with a slice of fresh lemon.

To disinfect cracks and prevent fungal diseases, you can add calendula tincture to the water (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of boiling water). The blood circulation of the legs is improved by contrast baths - five minutes in hot water, a minute in cold water (you can use table or sea salt).

Foot massage

If your feet are constantly cold, massage them by rubbing mint, eucalyptus, rosemary oil into the skin of your feet. A massage with lavender oil will not hurt tired legs. Aromatic oils of cypress, tea tree, orange help get rid of excessive sweating of the feet. They are especially effective if, in addition, a special massage of the “Genkotsu points” is done daily. It is not difficult to find it - it is located at the base of the thumb in the hole in the bracelet fold. It is recommended to massage the Genkotsu point for three minutes with four fingers of the other hand.

“When a person stands with bare feet on living earth, it is the same thing when a mother holds a baby in her arms. The invisible energies of such a person envelop, penetrate and warm all his cells. And such energy is maternal, because the Earth is really a MOTHER.

A person, walking barefoot on the ground, connects with the entire Universe, she begins to feel him.
Diseases, if any, can leave a person, and even the psyche changes - a person feels calmer, more confident. The character changes: a person becomes more balanced and gentle, a person becomes more kind, he will do less bad deeds, he will be able to see deeper the meaning of his life; bad deeds, if he had to do it, he will not be able to do it anymore.
What is morning dew and how is it useful?
– Dew is the living energy of the Earth and space, which is emitted by grass as a living organism that lives in this cosmic space. Grass possesses all the energies of the cosmos, because it has a connection with the planets. Rosa is very helpful. Dew cures skin diseases, but not all and not always. Riding in the dew in the morning has a beneficial effect on the entire body and on the subtle body of a person, and after that you can swim in the water.
- And what happens if a child walks barefoot? - A child walks barefoot on Mother Earth - such touches bring happiness and joy to the Earth, she sings through this little child her song of cosmic existence and her wisdom. Walk, baby, with bare feet on Mother Earth! Just as a mother gives everything to her child, so the Earth gives everything that she can to her children, namely: health to the body and mind. The body of such a person, who has already grown into an adult, will calmly react to the environment, for example, to strong temperature changes - his body will turn on its hidden capabilities and in the most extreme situations such a person will survive and not even get sick. And this is nothing else than the invisible connection of the Earth with a person, and this is called love, and this is harmony.
A child who walks barefoot from an early age on Mother Earth can be kind, and it is kindness that will allow him to be honest. Such a person will not be able to deceive, but will be able to give, but will not allow anyone to destroy life - that is, the planet, nature, water, air, his parents, his children.

What does alternative medicine say?

The vast majority of people, unfortunately, have forgotten the wonderful custom of their ancestors - to walk barefoot. But this is a sure way of hardening and maintaining the health of the whole organism. Walking barefoot gives strength, strengthens the immune system, helps to get rid of many diseases. Summer days are a great opportunity to walk barefoot in the country, in the forest, on the beach in order to stock up on health for the long winter.
Ancient Chinese healers wrote about the benefits of walking barefoot 5,000 years ago. They made the greatest medical discovery - they identified more than 1000 biologically active (acupuncture) points on the human body and revealed the connection between these points and reflexogenic zones on the sole of a person with all his organs. When exposed to acupuncture points with needles, spikes or sharp stones, they managed to cure almost all diseases. Modern physiologists have confirmed that the sole of the human foot is the most powerful reflexogenic zone, that is, the area where sensitive nerve endings are located - receptors - irritation of which causes certain reflexes. There are more such receptors on 1 square centimeter of skin on the sole than on any other part of the body. When walking barefoot, their activity increases.

The positive impact of bare walking on mental and physical abilities was noted by the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and the Roman philosopher Seneca. The ancient Greek writer Plutarch testified that Socrates constantly walked barefoot and taught his students to do this "in order to sharpen their thoughts." The Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca also fundamentally never wore shoes.

Of our compatriots, A.V. Suvorov was a great supporter of hardening with the help of barefoot walking, maintaining vigor and ability to work until old age.

Walking as a means of treating a number of diseases was first proposed at the end of the 19th century by the German Catholic priest and naturopathic doctor Sebastian Kneipp, who wrote the book "My Hydrotherapy". In it, he gives numerous examples of curing various diseases by walking barefoot on dewy grass, cold water, wet stones, on freshly fallen snow. In Russia, L.N. Tolstoy, who loved to take morning walks barefoot on the dewy grass of the park in Yasnaya Polyana, and the outstanding physiologist I.P. Pavlov became active followers of the Kneippian teaching.

Do you want to experience the joy of life? Take off your shoes!

Remember how, as a child, you enthusiastically spanked barefoot through puddles, ran through wet grass and warm paths? To many modern parents, this so natural childish desire seems indecent and unhygienic, and they are already nipping it in the bud, categorically curbing the child: “You'll catch a cold! You'll hurt your legs!"

Meanwhile, scientists have proven that walking barefoot is an effective hardening agent that significantly reduces the risk of developing acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. Walking barefoot, contributing to the activation of neuromuscular and oxidative processes, as well as the normalization and stabilization of blood pressure, helps prevent the development of serious diseases - stroke, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, hypertension and many other diseases.

Bare walking allows you to prevent and treat various kinds of foot deformities. In India, Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries where climatic conditions make it possible to walk barefoot all year round, there are much fewer problems with orthopedic pathology.

Walking barefoot has another advantage. It is known that when moving, in contact with the external environment (especially synthetic clothing), electric charges accumulate on the human body. To remove them, a living organism, like a car, needs grounding, but shoes prevent this. The accumulation of electrical charges leads to chronic fatigue, insomnia, and neuroses. If the foot is in direct contact with the ground, the charges freely go into the ground.

Why is it good to walk barefoot

When walking barefoot, maintaining the rhythm of this most natural type of physical activity is of great importance. In order to maintain the balance of the body when walking, a person unconsciously brings forward first the right leg and left arm, and then, in the same rhythm, the left leg and right arm. Such a cross excites electrical activity in the brain, which has a harmonizing effect on the nervous system. For this reason, it is more useful not just to sit without shoes, touching the ground with your feet, but to walk. Walking provides aerobic, that is, oxygen, exchange, which is important for the activity of the cardiovascular system, increases the heart rate and respiration.

By walking barefoot, a person discovers forgotten pleasant sensations and contributes to the harmonization of his connection with nature.

Upon contact with the ground, a foot massage occurs, which promotes intensive blood circulation, erasing dead areas and calluses on the skin, as well as a beneficial effect on the nerve endings.

Stimulation of certain areas of the feet helps to improve the functioning of internal organs, increase immunity, and strengthen the nervous system.

Walking barefoot helps strengthen the ligaments, bones and muscles of the foot, and in children - their proper formation, which is an excellent prevention and treatment of flat feet, as well as any orthopedic disorders. Regular walking barefoot on sand or loose ground reduces the load on the sole and arch of the foot, reduces pain associated with muscle strain due to irregular foot shape.

Bare walking helps to improve the elasticity of the blood vessels of the lower extremities and blood circulation in the legs. This is especially useful for women who spend a lot of time in high heels.

Long and regular walking barefoot develops a beautiful posture and graceful gait. In addition, hardened feet warm up faster in winter in frost and cool more easily in summer heat. Heat is much easier to bear if you walk barefoot, as excess heat is removed from the body through the feet.
By practicing barefoot, you naturally take care of the health of your feet. Bare feet are always dry, do not sweat and do not emit an unpleasant odor. The skin of the feet becomes stronger and less at risk of contracting any infection, including a fungal one, since the fungus develops only in a moist and loose environment.

Finally, walking barefoot helps to get rid of psychological complexes, because. promotes the formation of the habit of doing what you want, what you like, and not what, is approved by the harsh guardians of etiquette.

Walking barefoot, of course, is not a panacea, but using it in the general complex of a hygienic regimen can have a noticeable positive effect on health.

Who should not walk barefoot

Walking barefoot is contraindicated in diabetes mellitus, gout, rheumatism, chronic kidney disease, inflammatory diseases, cracks in the skin of the feet, as well as fungal diseases.

“Barefoot to run through the dew! ..”

Different types of surfaces affect the nerve endings in different ways. Hot sand, asphalt, mowed grass, small stones, coniferous needles or cones, snow or ice have a strong stimulating effect. And warm sand, road dust, soft grass, fleecy carpet - soothing. Moderately excite the nervous system asphalt of neutral temperature and uneven ground, wet or dewy grass, wooden floor.

When walking barefoot during one workout, it is recommended to change the type of surface on which you walk. Given the natural reaction of the body, it is useful to walk on the grass after warm sand, on freshly cut stubble, and complete the workout on an earthen path or on a road covered with soft dust. In winter, in urban conditions, you can combine walking on the floor, then on the concrete stairs, and finally on snow and ice.

If you live near a body of water, alternate walking on the grass with walking on loose river or sea sand, wet stones (pebbles), switch from wet to dry sand and back, thanks to this your feet will receive a varied and very effective stimulation.

It is very useful in the mornings and evenings to walk without shoes on the grass wet with dew. After walking on a wet lawn or forest clearing for 15 - 20 minutes without wiping your feet, put on dry socks and put on shoes. Shoes should be comfortable, soft and closed (for example, moccasins made of genuine leather). Walk for another 10 minutes at a fast pace to keep your feet warm. Cooling and subsequent heating of the skin of the feet stimulate reflexogenic zones, improve blood circulation and have a beneficial effect on all organs and systems, ensuring their full functioning.

Looking for new sensations

At home

Those who decide to practice walking barefoot should start small. The first steps should be done at home, first on a carpet or rug, then on the floor (this recommendation is especially true for young children and people with weak immunity). Vacuum, mop the floors, take off your slippers and walk around the apartment for 10 to 15 minutes at least twice a day.

For walking barefoot, you can make a kind of home "mini-beach". To do this, make a box measuring 50x80 cm 15 cm high or use a suitable strong box. Fill the box with a washed and dried mixture of coarse sand, river pebbles and large pebbles. In the absence of these materials, use chestnuts, acorns, a mixture of beans and peas, etc. You can do otherwise. Prepare in advance about 2 kg of ordinary river or sea pebbles, put it in a flat basin, fill it with cool water. To enhance the healing effect, sea salt and decoctions of medicinal herbs can be added to the water. Every day, trample on your "mini-beach" for 10-15 minutes, and you will forget about many diseases. Introduce your loved ones, including children, to walking barefoot on it.

Among Buddhist monks, one of the types of hardening is walking barefoot on the rocky bottom of a cold mountain stream, they take 108 steps along it. At home, the stream will completely replace the bath. To do this, a flexible hose must be placed in the bath away from the drain and run water through it. A cold stream, as deep as a finger, begins to run along the bottom, along which one must spank with bare feet 108 times. After cooling, the legs should not be rubbed, but only wet so that they warm themselves. Such a “charging for the lazy” not only invigorates, but also eliminates static electricity that accumulates in the body of city dwellers.

…and outdoors

With the onset of warm days, regardless of the weather, try to walk barefoot in the green zone of your locality. First, walk on soft grass and warm sand, then you can move on to flat ground, and only then should you master colder and uneven surfaces (pebbles, rocky and forest paths, etc.).

There is little risk of getting an infection while walking barefoot, unless, of course, there are cuts and other skin lesions. Dermatologists say that fungal diseases are more dangerous for pampered feet that constantly sweat in shoes. Do not exaggerate the likelihood of injury when walking barefoot.

You need to start the practice of bare walking from 10 minutes, gradually increasing the duration of training up to 30 minutes. Becoming an experienced "tramp", in winter you can run for 2-3 minutes in the snow.

The easiest way to start walking barefoot at their summer cottage. The dacha lifestyle in itself implies a fairly free attitude to clothing. Someone wears old torn jeans, someone walks barefoot. In addition, in the country you can walk barefoot all the time.

When moving around the site barefoot, you inevitably walk on different surfaces (earth, sand, grass, paving slabs, asphalt, gravel), training your legs. Do not miss the opportunity to walk on the same surfaces after the rain, remembering the barefoot childhood. Don't be afraid to splash in puddles and even stir in mud (but be careful not to slip!). Try to walk on soft warm road dust and mow the lawn barefoot, you will surely experience pleasant sensations and at the same time strengthen the defenses of your body.

On a summer cottage or a site near the house, you can make a kind of “health path” by laying out alternating strips of sand, pebbles without sharp corners (in extreme cases, ordinary expanded clay is suitable), earth, coniferous needles, tiles. Before moving on it barefoot, to enhance the healing effect, it can be watered.

Bare walking rules

Those wishing to engage in barefoot for therapeutic purposes must follow the general rule for all types of physical training: gradualness, systematicity and continuity.

Any training should be treated without fanaticism. Therefore, in the case of bare walking, do not force events! If you immediately go "walking in the morning dew", the likelihood of an acute respiratory illness is high, since your body's reaction to new sensations and cooling of the feet may be inadequate.

Start walking barefoot in the warm season to get used to the new sensations for you and to strengthen the body's defenses before the cold weather.

Walking barefoot requires adherence to certain rules of hygiene. After walking barefoot, be sure to wash your feet with room temperature water, soap and a brush. In the evening, it is recommended to massage the feet and calves of the legs, lubricate the feet with a nourishing softening cream. At first, corns may appear on the soles, and cracks on the heels. However, with proper hygienic foot care, this can be avoided.

Walking barefoot is useful to combine with daily cold and hot foot baths. Contrast baths enhance the hardening effect.

Walking along the paths in our parks and forests is sometimes unsafe, because you can run into fragments from bottles. Therefore, you should always have a brilliant green pencil or hydrogen peroxide and a bactericidal patch with you in case your foot is cut. Well, you don’t have to walk very fast to see the path you are walking on.

Do not walk without shoes at night and on fallen leaves.

Who are barefooters

Some people enjoy the feeling of contact with the ground and other surfaces so much that they try to go barefoot wherever possible and don't wear shoes even when it's cold. Around this phenomenon, a subculture of barefooting has developed, whose representatives call themselves barefooters, that is, “barefoot”. Barefooters tend to spend as little time as possible in shoes (ideally, never wear them).

The progenitor of this movement was Jane Fonda. On her initiative, the official holiday "Walking barefoot" was established in the United States. For lovers of barefooting, which has recently become very fashionable, in the West they even came up with special parks where paths with different surfaces are laid: convex and smooth, sandy, stone, wooden. There are especially many such parks in Germany, they are also in Holland and Belgium. In the US and Europe, special restaurants have already appeared where barefoot people are allowed in without any problems.

One of the barefooters, for example, gives several arguments in favor of walking barefoot at once: “The sense of balance improves, blood circulation is activated, more energy appears. For example, I once had problems with my knees, which I don’t even remember today. And in general it’s very nice to feel with your feet what you can’t feel in shoes! It is difficult to disagree with this, however, there are also negative aspects in this method of healing: in urban conditions, there is a high probability of injuring the feet and infecting the wounds.

Without suggesting that you join the ranks of barefooters, we still advise you to think about whether you should always wear shoes where you can safely walk barefoot.

As summer continues, try to go barefoot every chance you get! Do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of feeling the coolness of thick grass, the softness and warmth of sand heated by the sun, the tingling of twigs that have fallen from trees. And remember the words of the famous Sebastian Kneipp: "Every barefoot step is an extra minute of life"

From the book by A. Savrasov "Belovodye - White Vedas"