Posted on 15th September, 2023 at 6:14:07 AM
“If you are in a bad mood go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk.” – Hippocrates
Remember the first baby steps you took as a child. For an infant, the first time they start walking on their bare feet, it is usually met with an element of surprise and applauded as the first major achievement in one’s life. An act so seemingly simple, is actually of great magnitude if you see it from the perspective of human physiology. It showcases a child’s attempt to establish control, achieving balance, and a state of equilibrium. Yet, this simple act of walking, over the years, seems to have an almost taken-for-granted status. Moreover, our first steps are always barefoot & showcase our first connection with the ground, and by that extension to the natural world.
As we grow and become more involved with the material world, we slowly start losing contact with the natural world. But, time & again, we find solace and healing from nature itself. Naturopathy, as a science, recognizes how nature itself provides cure and healing for mankind’s major ailments. Even before we started adopting the methodologies of naturopathy as a branch of science, we might have heard of our mothers and grandmothers talking about natural remedies that have worked time and again. Today, walking cannot be merely viewed as a locomotive aspect, but an intrinsic aspect linked with our wellbeing. We are already aware that walking itself has multiple benefits. But are there additional benefits associated with walking barefoot?
Let us try to explore some of the beneficial aspects of walking barefoot:
● Helps Relieve Tension and anxiety - The aspect of walking barefoot on the ground is called grounding. What grounding does, as per naturopathy is that it activates the electrons in the ground. When your body comes in contact with those electrons, it reduces inflammation & improves blood circulation. This in turn, helps your body to relax & relieve tension.
● Improves Sleep - If you are someone who has problems sleeping peacefully or suffers from insomnia, it is advised to walk barefoot for at least 30 minutes in the morning. What it does is that all the acupuncture points are activated as well as the nerve cells connected to the brain. Apart from the exercise of walking, which releases endorphins, walking on the ground bare feet helps to calm down your body & sync yourself with harmony.
● Improves balance and strengthens muscles - Walking barefoot regularly improves coordination & balance. It also helps in strengthening the back and hip muscles as well as provides additional support to the ligaments and feet muscles.
● Improves Cardiovascular Health - When walking barefoot regularly, the blood circulation improves over time. This in turn helps in improving the blood viscosity and the overall aspects of cardiovascular health.
Now, the thing to keep in mind is that although walking barefoot has lots of benefits, it must nonetheless be practiced with some precautions. For someone, who is a diabetic patient, walking barefoot may not be recommended as it may cause more damage than help. Moreover, if you are someone who is new to this process, it’s always advisable to start slowly and after proper scrutiny of the place.
