Barefoot and Balanced

I was training a brand new client recently with a balance and agility focus and a thought came to me - a barefoot thought actually. He's a hiker - a serious hiker - we're talking major climbs, multiple times a week. Naturally my first words once we started training were: Take off your shoes, we'll be training barefoot. (I love when clients just listen and don't argue with this request!) My thought, however, was this: How many people actually understand that true balance and stability begins with the 44+ muscles on the bottom of our feet?
If we're ignoring those, it's no different than using a band aid on a wound that needs stitching. We'll never stop the bleeding, only slow it down. If we're never increasing strength in those 44+ muscles, we'll never gain true strength, rather only build many supportive muscles around our feet to mimic the real thing. Now don't get me wrong, any intrinsic muscle building in the ankles and hips will always lead to better balance but imagine if we had the whole package! 1 session in and my newbie trainee was singing the praise of barefoot training. We attempted no running - yet. We included two, 3 minute intervals of barefoot treadmill, uphill walking and lots of squats, balance discs, battling ropes and upper body training.
When it comes to balance and stability training, your feet need to be on the ground. Otherwise, you're simply adapting to the cushioning in your shoe. Undoubtedly you change your shoes which have different levels of cushioning. You should train your body to be responsive to any surface. This is best possible when the muscles and proprioceptors in your feet have been awakened and strengthened!
May balanced feet be with you : )
www.luongofootwear.com

Barefoot vs. Minimal

There seems to be a major difference of opinion in both the actual difference between barefoot running and minimal running as well as between the interchangeability of the words. My interest here is mainly to discuss the interchangeability of the words. For the record, there is a direct difference between barefoot running and minimalist running but does it matter? Try and find any major website that clearly dictates a benefit difference and you'll have a very hard time. Obviously we know that true barefoot is sans any shoe and minimalist is with the use of any number of the amazing 'barefoot footwear' out there! (Ha, how's that for interchangeability?!) My point in bringing attention to this topic is our movement itself. We who enjoy most of our physical activity 'barefoot' probably found this lifestyle for it's health benefits. If those of us in the fitness field know what an amazing technique 'barefooting' is then why argue over such a simplistic difference? When someone tells me they've been running or working out barefoot, I usually ask: Are you fully barefoot or going minimal? (Just out of curiosity and perhaps to throw in a sales pitch). What's the harm in that? The barefoot / minimalist field is such a small piece of the fitness community (and it is the fitness community, runners are no longer the only people involved. Just check out any CrossFit studio or any fitness studio on top of its game). I see no reason to divide our party over our own preference of the words or because we feel somewhat more superior versus someone who is either barefoot or minimal, whichever the opposite of what we are doing. Spread the Light. Community is important. Keep the movement moving forward. And the next time someone asks you about 'barefooting', let them know they have a couple of options! In the end, we're all after the same goal: Optimum Health!