HOW to PUT the SPRING BACK into YOUR STEP by A. R. Rustebakke

1. Learn to feel your legs again. You may have dulled the sensitivity of your legs and feet with pain medications and/or habitually ignoring how they feel. Stop the meds gradually if you fear a withdrawal reaction. Repeatedly pay attention to the feeling in your legs and feet until you can feel the spring. Be patient. It may take some time for you to be aware of your feet and legs. No awareness means no spring!

2. Go barefoot or stockingfoot as often as possible. Buy shoes with as thin and flexible a sole as possible. Most shoes on the market are harmful to your feet and legs. Soft Star shoes, sold only on the internet, are the best.

3. Learn to “foxwalk.” This is how evolution designed us to walk. It’s impossible in almost all shoes. In our evolution, using shoes came very late. Our bodies still haven’t given us genes to make wearing most shoes comfortable.

To foxwalk set your front foot down on the callus behind your little toe. Then increase the weight by rolling to the callus behind your big toe. Finally put weight on your heel last.

Walking like this vastly reduces the impact on your feet, legs, your whole body. You should immediately notice less pain walking. You will also reduce the long term damage to your whole body.

It’s that simple, but will take practice until it feels natural and you foxwalk habitually. An additional benefit is that foxwalking automatically increases the amount of exercise you get per distance walked. The US Dept. of Health says walking 30″ at 3mph 5 days a week is enough exercise for anyone. Foxwalking 1.5 miles everyday at any speed is more than enough.

To motivate yourself keep a daily record. Just looking at it will give you a daily reward or punishment. Making it fun helps motivating yourself. Do a little pretending as you foxwalk. Remember how much fun pretending was when you were a kid. Imagine you’re sneaking up on someone and are going to pounce on them. Be a tiger if you want!


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