Friday, May 28, 2010

The Barefoot Running Health Secret

Many broken down, injured runners are finding their stride again by simply kicking off their shoes and running barefoot. Barefoot running has provided many runners the opportunity to run pain and injury free. A simple google search will yield enough reading material to keep you busy for at least a few weeks. Barefoot running has been said to strengthen the feet, improve posture, soften foot landing, improve proprioception, and improve focus.

In all my research of barefoot running I have seen hardly any discussion about grounding. For the latest research on grounding check out the book Earthing by Clint Ober. After reviewing the research in the book, and experimenting on myself as well observing the effects of several others, it is clear to me that grounding can provide tremendous health benefits including; deeper sleep, reduction in stiffness and pain, greater mental clarity, improved digestion and much more.

When your skin touches the earth your body is flooded with electrons that help eliminate free radicals and reduce chronic inflammation. I suspect this is one of the reasons barefoot runners experience a dramatic reduction in pain after just a few barefoot runs. You don't need to run barefoot to get these benefits. You can simply sit outside with the soles of your feet touching the earth. This is probably why jumping in the ocean feels so great, why yogis meditate in caves, and why many pregnant women instinctually want to go barefoot.

The risk of sitting outside with your feet on the grass is incredibly low, while the reward is very high. Give it a try and see what happens for you. With all the damage we are doing to ourselves and our environment it is essential we reconnect with the earth, our loving mother, who has birthed us and provided us boundless beauty and life.

What are your experiences with barefoot running and/or grounding?