Piero Frustascarpe
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Via Francigena (2017), plus more than 2000 Km/year of trekking, hiking and minor caminos since 2000.
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Hi PieroI would like to share with this group of Pilgrims a beautiful modality of walking, a sort of walking meditation, or walking yoga, to use in Caminos.
A way to bring awareness in your every single step and, at the same time, to prevent a lot of injuries.
The basic rule is very simple: instead of walking landing your foot with the heel first, you softly and gently touch the ground with the front of it (toes and anterior plantar arch).
This is the way the human beings walk and run when they are barefoot. Just see the babies when they learn to walk.
Personally I practice it since a few years and I truly regret to have learned this walking attitude late in my life. Besides, a good deal of long-distance runners and sky runners have adopted it with a galore of advantages: less heel stress, less injuries, much less plantar fasciitis and shint splints, much more ankle stability.
The German physician Peter Greb a few decades ago re-discovered the way human beings used to walk before the invention of the shoes. This is the book he wrote, where he explains this technique and its benefits:
The true Walk: From heeling to healing - The dynamic Yoga GODO
You can also read a shot description of "natural wakling" in this website: https://www.godo-impuls.de/index.php/godo-englisch
The Tarahumara People are among the masters of the natural running.
In Youtube you can find a good deal of video tutorials.
So... many wishes for your Pilgrimages in whole awareness!
I would like to share with this group of Pilgrims a beautiful modality of walking, a sort of walking meditation, or walking yoga, to use in Caminos.
A way to bring awareness in your every single step and, at the same time, to prevent a lot of injuries.
The basic rule is very simple: instead of walking landing your foot with the heel first, you softly and gently touch the ground with the front of it (toes and anterior plantar arch).
This is the way the human beings walk and run when they are barefoot. Just see the babies when they learn to walk.
Personally I practice it since a few years and I truly regret to have learned this walking attitude late in my life. Besides, a good deal of long-distance runners and sky runners have adopted it with a galore of advantages: less heel stress, less injuries, much less plantar fasciitis and shint splints, much more ankle stability.
The German physician Peter Greb a few decades ago re-discovered the way human beings used to walk before the invention of the shoes. This is the book he wrote, where he explains this technique and its benefits:
The true Walk: From heeling to healing - The dynamic Yoga GODO
You can also read a shot description of "natural wakling" in this website: https://www.godo-impuls.de/index.php/godo-englisch
The Tarahumara People are among the masters of the natural running.
In Youtube you can find a good deal of video tutorials.
So... many wishes for your Pilgrimages in whole awareness!
I'm trying out some Xeroshoes Terraflex shoes right now. They have a zero heel drop, and flexible sole. https://xeroshoes.com/barefoot-shoes/new-terraflex-trail-running-hiking-shoe/You know I am wondering about camino shoes. I was born and raised in Florida where I've been barefoot except where shoes are required. I'm getting ready for the camino ( in about ten days). I see suggestions to have one pair of heavy shoes on hand, but I feel like Sparticus on Bird Cage, "the shoes, they make me fall down." Not really that, but I find I have best grip with water shoes or in bare feet. Of course, I'm going to need good shoes, but I'm in midst of these considerations. I find that with water shoes or without shoes, i tend to walk as you said, and with heavy, stiff arch supporting shoes, the heel strikes first.
Hi Gigipro
some people walk barefoot and others in sandals or five toe footwear. It is a matter of what you are used to. Reflect that 800 km is an average of 1,600,000 foot strikes so the feet, ankles, legs, knees etc get a lot of work and anything that can protect and in some cases cushion impacts is very helpful. There will be stoney places, possibility of glass and other things that can cut so bare foot would be last choice. Years ago only great saints or sinners walked bare booted.
My first Camino was walking in Salomon low cut walking footwear which were OK but no ankle support. From the on depending on the backpack weight and terrain (some paths are very rough, stony and steep) I prefer boots with ankle support like the Lowa Renegades. In my last one on the VDLP half the boots on the shelves where we entered were Lowa Renegades; relatively light, waterproof and comfortable providing I have purchased boots that allow my feet to spread and swell; usually need half to a full size bigger than normal shoes to avoid losing toe nails and generating blisters. Thee are many brands to choose from but buying by brand can be a mistake; it is a matter of what suits your own feet not mine.
Hope this helps.
Happymark
There's no real proof that boots provide much if any support for your ankles. If you have no ankle problems it shouldn't be necessary.Thank you for this information. Yeah, after looking at various descriptions of the rocks and cobbles, it does seem I will need something with to cushion my steps, and as you say, ankle support may be important. I hadn't planned on coming w/out shoes but I think even the lightweight shoes can be only for a switching off. Sounds like a plan. It does help. : )
Like Gigipro, I grew in an area (farmland in North West Italy) where we used to wear shoes only in cold seasons and when we had to go to school or to church. And I kept on walking barefoot at home all my life.Hi Piero
This is interesting and not sure how long before it becomes automatic instead of having to consciously try and do so. How long did it take you?
You know I am wondering about camino shoes. I was born and raised in Florida where I've been barefoot except where shoes are required. I'm getting ready for the camino ( in about ten days). I see suggestions to have one pair of heavy shoes on hand, but I feel like Sparticus on Bird Cage, "the shoes, they make me fall down." Not really that, but I find I have best grip with water shoes or in bare feet. Of course, I'm going to need good shoes, but I'm in midst of these considerations. I find that with water shoes or without shoes, i tend to walk as you said, and with heavy, stiff arch supporting shoes, the heel strikes first.
GraciasI would like to share with this group of Pilgrims a beautiful modality of walking, a sort of walking meditation, or walking yoga, to use in Caminos.
A way to bring awareness in your every single step and, at the same time, to prevent a lot of injuries.
The basic rule is very simple: instead of walking landing your foot with the heel first, you softly and gently touch the ground with the front of it (toes and anterior plantar arch).
This is the way the human beings walk and run when they are barefoot. Just see the babies when they learn to walk.
Personally I practice it since a few years and I truly regret to have learned this walking attitude late in my life. Besides, a good deal of long-distance runners and sky runners have adopted it with a galore of advantages: less heel stress, less injuries, much less plantar fasciitis and shint splints, much more ankle stability.
The German physician Peter Greb a few decades ago re-discovered the way human beings used to walk before the invention of the shoes. This is the book he wrote, where he explains this technique and its benefits:
The true Walk: From heeling to healing - The dynamic Yoga GODO
You can also read a shot description of "natural wakling" in this website: https://www.godo-impuls.de/index.php/godo-englisch
The Tarahumara People are among the masters of the natural running.
In Youtube you can find a good deal of video tutorials.
So... many wishes for your Pilgrimages in whole awareness!
I would like to share with this group of Pilgrims a beautiful modality of walking, a sort of walking meditation, or walking yoga, to use in Caminos.
A way to bring awareness in your every single step and, at the same time, to prevent a lot of injuries.
The basic rule is very simple: instead of walking landing your foot with the heel first, you softly and gently touch the ground with the front of it (toes and anterior plantar arch).
This is the way the human beings walk and run when they are barefoot. Just see the babies when they learn to walk.
Personally I practice it since a few years and I truly regret to have learned this walking attitude late in my life. Besides, a good deal of long-distance runners and sky runners have adopted it with a galore of advantages: less heel stress, less injuries, much less plantar fasciitis and shint splints, much more ankle stability.
The German physician Peter Greb a few decades ago re-discovered the way human beings used to walk before the invention of the shoes. This is the book he wrote, where he explains this technique and its benefits:
The true Walk: From heeling to healing - The dynamic Yoga GODO
You can also read a shot description of "natural wakling" in this website: https://www.godo-impuls.de/index.php/godo-englisch
The Tarahumara People are among the masters of the natural running.
In Youtube you can find a good deal of video tutorials.
So... many wishes for your Pilgrimages in whole awareness!
I'm trying out some Xeroshoes Terraflex shoes right now. They have a zero heel drop, and flexible sole. https://xeroshoes.com/barefoot-shoes/new-terraflex-trail-running-hiking-shoe/
Thank you!!! You spoke my mind!As to the long held idea that boots provide ankle support, long term studies and research have shown this to be not quite the case.
First, unless there are medical issues, the ankle is best protected with exercise and use, where the ankle is allowed to use uneven surfaces, exercise, and balancing on one foot in order to build strength and endurance and lessen susceptibility to injurious fatigue.
My feet are too long for their women's sizes, so I phoned them for help in determining my correct size in men's sizes. The size that they recommended was actually too small, but the next full size up is perfect. The company is very good about exchanges and working with you to get the correct size. When you make an exchange you don't pay for shipping for the return. I've walked about 20 miles in them so far, and I think that they will work on the Camino for me.Those look amazing!
And great value for the projected mileage.
Did you get the recommended + half size or did you go for a full size larger?
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