Barefoot Lifting: Tested and Approved!

Happy Hump Day/Bruins Game 7 Day/1st sunny day in 5 days Day! Tis a wonderful day. I'm so nervous for tonight it isn't even funny. The tragedy of tonight is that the Bruins have been unable to win when I watch the games in a social setting. So I will be taking one for the team and watching by myself, in my apartment, with no company. One of the biggest sporting events in my lifetime in Boston and I'll be alone. As long as my solitude results in a Bruins victory I will be happy. I'll make sure my imaginary friends keep me company. GO Bs!!!! Beat the dirty Canucks! DO ITTTTTT!

I wanted to report back on the barefoot lifting post from last week. Rainy weekends mean a lot of gym time, play time outdoors will have to commence this weekend. I decided to test the barefoot lifting technique on Sunday when I pulled together a lower body lift. It was AWESOME. I peeled my shoes off when it was time for squats and deadlifts and continued in socks only. Definitely check with your gym before you do this, but I felt comfortable since a trainer [who works at the gym] encouraged me to give it a try. The results are amazing. Every muscle in your body is so much more engaged. You feel your calves, hamstrings, glutes and lower back all work together as a system with the deadlifts more so than I have ever felt doing the lift in shoes. Squats felt a lot different as well, you really have to focus on driving up through the heels to maintain balance. Overall I highly recommend giving barefoot lifting a shot, if you can't do it in socks then buy the dorky Vibrams [that I not so secretly love] and wear them while lifting. The additional muscle engagement you feel starting in your feet, and traveling up through your calves, hamstrings, quads, glutes and back is really remarkable.

I'm starting to feel like I should pretty much live barefoot. There is nothing that is better done in shoes than without shoes. Your body adjusts to its natural posture, walking gait, running stride, and lifting technique. It shows you your physical weaknesses, and then organically builds from the ground up. The only thing I wouldn't want to try barefoot is cycling...it could tear the soles of your feet up pretty badly. Beyond that...try something barefoot! It can't be beat.