The Hoka Hoax

Ditch the Comfort Shoes and Get Grounded (Literally)

You’ve seen them. Celebrities are wearing them, your boss is walking around the office in them, your grandma is hitting the block in them - Hoka sneakers. The big fat brick sole is quickly becoming iconic, and the relatively small company broke the $1B mark in 2022. 

Hoka is not the first of its kind in the realm of cushy fitness shoes, but they hit the market with exceptional thickness. They market ‘maximum cushion’ and some have called them ‘the most comfortable shoes ever.’

Make whatever fashion statement you want. But don’t get it twisted, our obsession with maximum comfort at all times is destroying our biomechanics and eroding our connection to ourselves and the earth. 

Our bodies are in constant conversation with us, we have to tune in! Carrying our bodies around in pillow shoes dulls our receptivity to important messages from our body. 

I’ll break down how & empower you with solutions, of course!

Comfort shoes are ruining your feet.

So much of our “common knowledge” about foot health was developed by doctors employed by shoe companies! We are told that the only way to fix our feet is to buy something: arch supports, gel insoles, hefty running shoes, orthopedic sandals. Has anyone ever actually ever healed with these products?

The idea of "extra arch support" as a beneficial feature goes against the natural design of our feet. Our bodies are a product of divine design! Our feet are inherently capable of supporting us and adapting to different surfaces. By relying on artificial support, our feet become reliant on external structures, leading to the weakening of intrinsic foot muscles and ligaments, ultimately compromising their natural shape and strength.  

Cushioning found in many shoes can contribute to the deterioration of our foot's natural shock absorbers. While the cushioning feels nice in the moment, the foam  absorbs impact forces that should be naturally absorbed by our feet and the rest of our kinetic chain (ankles, knees, hips, spine, shoulders, neck). 

These fitness shoe brands don’t hit the $1B mark by trying to put themselves out of business. So many of the common foot problems I hear about actually start with our shoes. Plantar fasciitis, bunions, flattened feet, weak arches, and decreased foot strength can all stem from our foot muscles losing stimulation and opportunities to be challenged in “comfort” shoes

Excessive comfort keeps you dependent on a cycle of consumption. We only grow through challenges!

It’s not just about your feet.

Everything is connected, nothing works in isolation - especially our feet! 

1. In traditional Eastern medicines, energy meridians are channels or pathways through which our energy circulates, connecting different organs, systems, and body parts. From the thousands of nerve endings to these energy meridians that connect to your organs - our feet circulate energy throughout our bodies’ complex networks. 

2. The soles of our feet are rich in sensory receptors, which provide information about touch, pressure, vibration, and body position. These receptors contribute to our sense of body awareness and spatial orientation.

3. Chronic pain throughout your knees, hips and lower back often results from your foot’s weakened muscles, forced misalignment, and inability to absorb force. 

Constantly wearing shoes and ‘protection’ all the time means that those meridians in our feet never get stimulated and forced to adapt and grow. Over time we can actually dull our proprioception and interoception - our body's ability to sense where we are and what's going on inside our own bodies. 

Our foot health can actually make us more present.

By restoring natural foot function, we can alleviate stress on joints, tendons, and ligaments and cultivate greater presence and connection in all parts of our lives. 

Get grounded.

When’s the last time you spent time on the ground? When’s the last time you stood on some grass or some dirt?

Barefoot training is the ultimate life hack that you’ll never hear about it cause it’s 100% free. 

Barefoot training can improve your movement, alleviate chronic pain, and enhance your overall health by reconnecting with nature and understanding the intricate relationship between your feet and the rest of your body.

Being barefoot allows our feet to reconnect with the ground, stimulating the sensory receptors on the soles. That sensory feedback helps retrain the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of our feet to function optimally. 

Keep reading - with just a little time and energy you can save a lifetime of physical and financial pain. 

Your 3 Step footpath to next level health.

1. Connect with nature!

Grounding, also known as earthing, connects our bodies with Earth's electrical energy. Earth's surface carries a negative charge, while our bodies can accumulate positive charges due to various factors like stress, exposure to electromagnetic fields, and environmental toxins. Direct contact with the Earth promotes a state of electrical equilibrium within our bodies.

Research suggests that grounding can reduce inflammation, improve sleep quality, and alleviate pain. Grounding also helps neutralize free radicals, the unstable molecules that can cause oxidative stress and damage to our cells.

Grounding also increases mindfulness, stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system allowing us to cultivate inner presence and peace. 

Power Up: Mindful Grounding Meditation

Find a quiet spot outdoors and sit or stand comfortably - either way the soles of your feet should be connected to natural ground (pavement should be a last resort option). Focus on your breath. As you inhale, imagine drawing in the energy of the Earth through the soles of your feet. With each exhale, release any tension or negativity, allowing it to flow back into the ground. Ideal in the morning, but great any time of the day! Start with 5 minutes and find yourself extending this ritual longer and longer over time.

Bonus Power Up: Gardening

Connect with the Earth by cultivating a garden. Planting and tending to plants can foster a deep sense of connection with yourself and the world around you. Whatever you tend to - even house plants - try to do so with your bare skin. Be in your garden barefoot and ditch the gloves. Feel the Earth!

2. Walk barefoot as much as possible!

Walking, running, or exercising without wearing shoes can improve your movement, alleviate chronic pain, and revolutionize your health. By embracing the barefoot experience, we can address the root cause of chronic pain, improve biomechanics, and enhance force absorption. 

Introducing barefoot or minimalist footwear and natural movement, we can strengthen our foot muscles, improve balance, and reconnect with the ground, allowing our feet to regain their natural sensory feedback, promoting better alignment and reducing the risk of injuries. 

Power Up: Schedule your grounding

Walking barefoot might seem inaccessible in daily life, but you’d be surprised how many opportunities you pass everyday to set your feet free. Set time aside to be barefoot on a trail or park. Be intentional by building grounding into your daily routine.

3. Walk on progressively hard surfaces!

Most of us have weakened our feet for a long time with products that keep our feet soft and sheltered, so the road to recovery must start with small steps! Remember, we only grow through challenge.

Progressive overload is vital when starting barefoot walking and training. It is important to gradually increase the duration and intensity of the activities to ensure optimal foot strength progression. Start small with short barefoot standing and walking to allow your body to adapt gradually. 

Even if it's on pavement, training and toughening up your feet can help activate and stimulate your feet in ways you haven’t ever experienced in your sneakers.

Eventually build up to running barefoot- start slow for 5 minutes on soft grass. Build up to different surfaces and speeds, and longer distances! As our strength and resilience improve, we can incrementally increase the duration and intensity of barefoot activities.

Power Up: Invest in a Shakti Mat

Shakti Mats are the OG acupressure mats that you can use all over your body, but are exceptional for your feet. Just two minutes can release tension in your feet, stimulate deep tissue, and awaken your entire body. Standing on the Shakti Mat is one of the most intense ways to use your mat, so definitely build up to complete bare feet on your mat. 

Every one of these interventions is free or an inexpensive investment - definitely cheaper than Hokas. Liberate yourself from cycles of marketing and getting played by companies that have zero interest in your actual health. Get barefoot out there!