About two months ago, Tara and I were graciously given a pair of Vibram FiveFingers shoes from The Shoe Box, in Tallahassee, Florida.
Tara had previously bought this pair, that is just for yoga and strength training and loved them. She then talked me in to wanting a pair too. I was not too keen on them at first, since they are so different looking. But after wearing them for two months I am in love. I think I may start wearing them around town too!
We each got two different kinds. She got the Bikila which is specific for running. Tara is a girly-girl and loves pink, so these fit her perfectly.
I got the Komodo Sport, a running/cross training pair in a more subdued, but still fun, blue color.
You have to really start slow with your new Five Fingers or your calves and feet will be very sore. Both us had some very sore muscles starting out. Check out this page to learn more:
Tara says:
"I love my five fingers! I feel like everything they stand for, backs up what I believe in (living as natural as possible.) They are as close to being barefoot as possible which in turn helps you have the most natural stride you are suppose to have. Your feet and calves work harder so your knees and hips joints don't. I put my Nike Shox (the shoe I swore by for years) today, for the first time in about a month, and my feet ached and burned. I have gotten spoiled in my five fingers!"
From the Vibram Five Fingers site, 5 Reasons to Wear Vibram FiveFingers:
1. Strengthens Muscles in the Feet and Lower Legs—Wearing Vibram 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. Eliminate Heel Lift to Align the Spine and Improve Posture—By lowering the heel, your bodyweight becomes evenly distributed across the footbed, promoting proper posture and spinal alignment.
5. Allow the Foot and Body to Move Naturally—Which just FEELS GOOD.
They even make kids shoes! I can't wait till Penelope's feet are big enough to wear them.
What I really love about them, is that I feel much more grounded and connected to the earth when I wear them. As you all know I have a background in massage therapy and energy healing and the bottoms of your feet have a TON of energy meridians and significant pressure points that correlate to the health of your whole body. When you are walking/running barefoot you are essentially stimulating those points just like you would in a massage or reflexology session!
And because of that, the more you walk barefoot or wear Five Fingers, I believe, the greater your overall health will be. If I were to get another pair to wear around town, I would get these or these.
They even make kids sizes (and The Shoe Box carries those as well.) I can't wait till Penelope is big enough to wear them!
Thanks so much to The Shoe Box for sponsoring the 5k!
