Happy Feet

So once again I have to admit that my husband was right... damnit! Lol! He found these weird looking, almost alienish, shoes from reading his Twitter friends called Vibram Fivefingers. My first thought was, "Eww! How uncomfortable!". As a dancer I baby my feet and am very picky about what I put on them....no high heels for this chickie! And I NEVER, ever go barefoot, not even in my house. But last week he decided that he wanted this shoes to improve his posture, make running feel more natural, etc. And when he came home, I was both mystified and intrigued as to how they could be as comfortable as he claimed. Well now I know!


Today we took a drive to one of the few non-Big Box outdoorsy stores in our area- Appalachian Outfitters so I could try on a pair of these funky "barefoot" shoes. (Looooove the store by the way... could easily spend all of our money and then some in there!) Little did I know that once I got these bad boys on I wouldn't take them off.... not even to check out. They are THAT comfortable and cool. Here is what the perks are to wearing them:

1. Strengthens Muscles in the Feet and Lower Legs - wearing FiveFingers will stimulate and strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improving general foot health and reducing the risk of injury.

2. Improves Range of Motion in Ankles, Feet and Toes - no longer 'cast' in a shoe, the foot and toes move more naturally.

3. Stimulates Neural Function Important to Balance and Agility - when wearing Vibram FiveFingers, thousands of neurological receptors in the feet send valuable information to the brain, improving balance and agility.

4. Improves Proprioception and Body Awareness - those same neurological receptors heighten body awareness, sending messages about body mechanics, form, and movement.

5. Eliminates Heel Lift to Align the Spine and Improve Posture - By lowering the heel, our bodyweight becomes evenly distributed across the footbed, promoting proper posture and spine alignment.

6. Allows the Foot and Body to Move Naturally, Which Just FEELS GOOD.

They recommend trying them on because it is such a precise fit. Typically I wear a 4 in kids or a 5 in women's shoes so my Vibram size is a 36. But I am in love with them, seriously, if you like to be barefoot and want the protection a sneaker sole gives this is the shoe for you!! It is going to be hard to ease into wearing them because I am so comfy right now!