Why do we do yoga and Pilates barefoot?

When you go to a yoga and Pilates class, the first thing you'll be asked to do is take off your shoes and go barefoot. Have you ever wondered why this is a necessary part of the practice?

Beyond a rule of etiquette and an element of hygiene, being barefoot is not only a matter of cleanliness or respect for the space, that is, not to transfer dirt from the streets to where we will put the mattress and lie down. In yoga and Pilates, the feet play a central role, as they function as the base of the body.

When you are barefoot, you are better stabilized in poses and have the security of not slipping, you enhance body awareness and balance as you feel the movements without the obstacle of shoes (such as when you are guided to step on the big toe, little toe and heel), while at the same time stimulating blood circulation. Furthermore, by remaining barefoot, especially in yoga, you participate in a tradition that honors the connection of the body with the environment, adding a spiritual symbolism to the physical practice.

Why ground contact is so important

If you've taken yoga classes, you've probably heard the word grounding many times. It's that reminder to plant your feet firmly and feel the ground beneath your feet. But what exactly does grounding mean and why is it considered so important? Grounding, in classes, is the contact of bare feet with any natural surface. It's an act that recalls our original connection to nature and offers many benefits, both physical and energetic. In addition to the physical enhancement of stability and balance, grounding also has a scientific basis that has to do with the Earth's electrical field interacting with that of our body and balancing them. When we're barefoot, our feet act like batteries. According to experts, we're charged with many positive ions and this happens because we're exposed to the energy of the electrical and electronic devices around us. When we are barefoot on a natural surface, our body, through the soles of our feet, is charged by the negative ions of the Earth. In other words, the Earth's natural electric field balances our own electrical charge, the Earth's free electrons neutralize the free radicals responsible for inflammation and damage to the body, acting as a natural "antidote". What other benefits can we feel and see? Increased energy, improved sleep, better functioning of the endocrine system, and even a reduction in chronic pain.

Key to stability, balance and alignment

Did you know that the big toe sends a signal to activate the adductor muscles, which are connected from the pubic bone to the femur bone, and it has been proven that tension or tightness in the hip adductors contributes to pelvic floor dysfunction? Something that cannot be done when we wear shoes. There is no doubt that the right sports shoes protect the foot in various sports, but when the toes are “imprisoned” inside the shoe, their mobility is limited and they are rigid. The feet and legs are the foundation of many exercises and not only in standing positions. Each of our feet has 26 bones and the muscles of the toes are connected to the muscles of the calf. In yoga and Pilates, being barefoot allows our feet to “wake up”. When we press the entire foot on the ground - from the heel to the toes - the fascia (the foot has seven layers of fascia), muscles, bones and joints are activated, we achieve better acrostasis postures, lift the toes off the ground, move them, make intense arching, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion and rotations of the lower limb, while improving balance. In addition, the freedom of movement of the toes allows for better alignment and participation of all the muscles of the foot, enhancing stability in every movement. Finally, good alignment of the lower limbs is reflected in the correct posture of the entire body. Many pains in the body come from poor posture of the lower limbs and pains and tensions can be reduced in this way.

And one more thing: If you have an injury, an illness, or for some other reason you don't want to be barefoot, you can wear special socks that don't slip or, even better, socks that have the toes separated so you can move them.

(the above article was first published: https://www.newsbeast.gr/health/fitness/arthro/11921637/giati-kanoume-xypolitoi-giogka-kai-pilates )