I love high heels and I wore them so much when I was younger. I spent hours a day, on my feet, wearing these 3″ heels that were so comfortable back then. Fast forward to today and I have a hard time finding any shoe that is comfortable, let alone something I can stand in for hours. If I could go to work in my flipflops, I would! So it was with interest that I cracked the cover on this new release that I was sent to review. I have to say, while unexpected, I learned a lot!
Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Foot Wear by Katy Bowman
Publisher: Propriometrics Press (April 15, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0989653985
Synopsis: Barefoot enthusiasts say ditching your shoes is essential for optimal whole-body function. Doctors say minimalist shoes cause injury. Who’s right? What if they both are? In Whole Body Barefoot, biomechanist Katy Bowman explains how both sides are right and wrong by broadening the perspective of over-simplified “shoes are good” or “shoes are bad” arguments. Using evolutionary-based and biomechanics arguments, Bowman demonstrates that shoes, in a modern context, have purpose, but that the trade-off for protection can be reduced whole-body health if we don’t pick the right shoes for our body and skill-level.
My Thoughts: My feet are a mess and I am sure I am not the only one out there with problems. I have a hard time finding comfortable shoes for work or even tennis shoes to work out in. If I could go barefoot all day, I could and even as a child, I was the same way. So I was interested to read about the structure and physical process of the body pertaining to footwear plus the thought process behind the barefoot/minimalist shoes.
This book goes into depth about how shoes affect your body and how your body adjusts to the shoe structure. Additional stress to your skeleton is hard and most people do find themselves with back issues, hip problems, foot and leg problems. There is a lot of study behind minimalist shoes and even being barefoot most of your day, but transitioning to that lifestyle is something you have to do. Just switching would be hard on your body and feet.
The author includes a lot of diagrams and information about the practice and offers exercises and tips to transition well while staying healthy. The book also includes a list of the types of shoes that work well within the minimalist description and guidelines.
For those into fitness and the health of your body overall, this is an interesting and very informative book to check out. I learned a lot, including the cool exercises to strengthen your feet. Plus I will be checking out some of the shoes mentioned to help me on the way to finding some comfort.
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
This sounds like a very interesting book to read and I want to know the exercises to strengthen my feet. I have alway had trouble finding shoes that for me well.
I grew up in FL and have been barefoot or worn flip flops for as long as I can remember. Sounds like a book right up my alley!
I’d rather go barefoot. It’s not published yet but my library has it on order.
This sounds like a great book. I would love to learn some foot strengthening exercises. Thank you for sharing this review, I will definitely look for this book.
I need to find this book. I’m a former heels gal and am always looking for the right footwear.