Wednesday Workout: I Don’t Like To Wear Shoes

There are five primary areas of practice to the Writer Wellness plan. Every other week I will post an idea for relaxation (Monday Meditation,) creative play (Tuesday Tickle,) fitness and exercise (Wednesday Workout,) journaling and misc. (Thursday Thought,) and nutrition (Friday Feast.)

I’ve shared my thoughts recently about how important it is to practice yoga in bare feet. I really like to go without shoes.

But even though I don’t like wearing shoes, they are a safeguard against the many things that would invade the comfort and stability of our feet. Sometimes in spite of shoes we are accosted by invaders as when I stepped on a rusty nail in a board and it sent pain riveting through my body to my brain. Zowy! It was nothing compared to the tetanus shot, however. So, I buy and wear shoes with several things in mind. The most important job of my shoes is to completely and totally support my feet, particularly my arches. They are strong and high from years of ballet and yoga, so if my arches aren’t happy, no part of me is happy. I buy shoes sparingly and only if they are practical and supportive. 

I needed a new pair of tennis shoes (the style of shoe I wear the most) and I tried on shoes in two cities and five different stores over the last two weekends before settling on something I didn’t want to buy. Really. I never wanted to buy into the marketing hype that a pair of tennis shoes can tighten and tone your butt just by wearing AND walking in them. But I now own a pair of Reebok Simply Tone shoes in a size 6 ½. http://www.reebok.com/  Because they formed to my arches and didn’t push down on my big toes the first time I put them on in the store.

I love shoes for the protection, but I hate them for the imprisonment they impose on my feet and I also dislike how much shoes cost. The Simply Tones weren’t inexpensive, but more than I normally pay for a pair of tennis shoes. I’m a coupon hound and the shoes were on sale and between the two incentives they were close to what I consider reasonable expense for footwear. And I wore them for Saturday’s errands and housework. When I took them off at nine o’clock Saturday night to watch a basketball game on television, I realized I had worn them for ten hours straight. That’s a record for me. And the next day my feet felt alive, energized, and exercised. Thrilling. 

When our feet are happy, our whole system is happy. Bare feet are great, but put some serious time and thought into all your shoe purchases, especially the shoes you wear for exercise, and notice the subtle improvements in your overall wellbeing. Similar experiences with happy/unhappy feet? Do tell. 

Meanwhile, remember to look for a digital or print copy of Writer Wellness, A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity at Who Dares Wins Publishing, http://whodareswinspublishing.com.

And check out these great blogs for ideas to keep your writing and publishing healthy and prosperous. 

http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/ Bob Mayer 

http://jenniholbrooktalty.wordpress.com/ Jenni Holbrook

http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/ Kristen Lamb 

http://inspiration4writers.blogspot.com/ Inspiration for Writers, Inc. 

http://pentopublish.blogspot.com Natalie Markey

Be well, write well.