Okay, spring is here. We may still have some temperature dips, but this is a Health Alert about going barefoot; not that it’s bad for you. This is an announcement that it’s good for you!
I remember the good ol’ days when it was acceptable to go barefoot. In fact, my shoes (and books) remained where they were flung after hopping off the school bus on my way to shimmy up a pear tree or climb to the top of the barn! Shoes were an encumbrance to my speed and a major impedance to my climbing skills. And as important: my feet needed to breathe!
The benefits of barefootin’ was the topic of this month’s newsletter, “Chariot Notes,” that went out this past Wednesday. For those of you not on my mailing list, here’s a smattering…and then some.
Since the invention of plastics in the 60’s, there’s been an increase of inflammation-related health disorders. We moved from leather-soled shoes, and wooden floors, to synthetic-soled shoes, synthetic carpets, and linoleum, which left our bodies depleted of electrons! Our autoimmune systems have become compromised. “Earthing,” or walking barefoot, reduces oxidative stress.
The earth naturally carries a negative ionic charge, so when we are grounded with the earth, free radicals are neutralized in your body. It has been proven that negative ions not only detoxify and calm the body, but also reduce stress and inflammation.
A second benefit is reflexology. Because there are reflex points corresponding to every organ in the body on the soles of our feet, barefooting offers a free reflexology session…helping to relieve what ails ya’. If there’s initial tenderness, it will subside as your body adjusts.
In addition, going barefoot offers a dual reprieve from a fast-paced lifestyle. First, you’re out-and-away from business, taking an opportunity to unwind. At the same time, you must be present, giving attention to where you step, living in the moment. And, research has proven a 62% decrease in anxiety and depression, increasing those feel-good endorphins. Simply quieting the mental chatter relaxes the mind, body, and spirit.
What’s the big deal about “the loved that (viagra no prescription) little blue pill”? It’s simple: When it works as intended,disambiguation causes a man who is sexually stimulated to get erection.
Whether walking in the grass, on the bare earth, or in the sand, connect with Mother Nature, and her Creator. Feel the warm sunshine on your face. Smell the flowers. Listen to the wind in the trees, and the bird’s enchanting songs. How wondrous are our senses!
Even now, I go barefoot from April through October. Maybe I can’t pound the earth with my feet, but I can prop them up on rocks, or tree roots, while I tune in to earth’s harmony and commune with my Father. Sometimes, I even extend my legs and slide down in my chair just to feel the cool grass under my toes.
Remember, I’m from Tennessee. You can take the country bumpkin out of Tennessee, but you can’t take the country bumpkin-ness out of this Tennessean. (To read about my superintendent reprimanding me for going barefoot in the “My Daisy Dukes” chapter of Views From My Chariot, you can order it here http://booklocker.com/books/6235.html or off Amazon.com.
So today, for your health and happiness, I’m suggesting a barefoot stroll. Be rejuvenated!