Barefoot Women-the Most Powerful of All Social Images?

"Barefoot Pop Princess" Sandie Shaw. (source: Pinterest) 

There is something about a barefoot woman that captivates everyone.

We can theorize and come up with intelligible answers, but we really can't boil them down to one single one that's right.

The fact is, that the barefoot woman, as an image, is more enduring than any other social image.

When Taylor Swift (below) appeared in her video for her song "15", she was barefoot-the song was a huge hit and it made no difference that the audience of focus, when we specifically refer to the lyrics, was teenage girls lyrics. 

It doesn't matter who the audience is, or whether it is mostly male or mostly female, a barefoot woman gets attention.

Country sensation-turned pop-diva Taylor Swift (source: wallpapercasa)

One of many images of Wiccan goddesses who are barefoot, this is Goddess Diana (source: sacredwiccanjigsy.com)

One might argue the idea is hungover from the old patriarchal social mentality. But the barefoot woman of power predates those ideas. The pagan religions of Europe included many barefoot dances and rituals and in these religions, God was usually seen as a woman. In many modern versions of Wiccan religions, God may be male and female and many rituals are done barefoot.


No matter what type of fashion is in, we will see the most-famous models and divas barefoot as some point.

Today, an ever-more-popular image is of woman is a woman doing Yoga. Yoga, of course, is always practiced barefoot. 

Yogini Paula Van Alstine (photo by Liesl Clark-Claris Photography)

Facebook page photo for Claris Photography

The barefoot woman invokes the image of a goddess, no matter what the observer's religion or gender

And so the debates will rage on.....but in the "battle of the sexes",  where warriors are barefoot, society seems to say women win-but do they win "hands down" or "feet down?!?!?"

Blessings!

Barefoot in Canada

I may be just an American, but I grew up close enough to Canada to know you can't be a Canadian if you can't tolerate winter.

But to brave a Canadian winter, voluntarily without shoes ups the ante.

Almost Barefoot has a good number of Canadian readers and today we look at some Canadian barefooters.....some who run in the snow, some who just run as long as there's land to run on, and some who sing!

Back in 1968, Anne Murray became the first Canadian woman to top the American pop charts with You Needed Me. In the photo below, one of many appearances Anne made sans shoes.

Barefoot became Anne's trademark in the 1960s when she began her long, prosperous career. From CBC Still Photo Collection

Canadian Grant Curle is a self-taught barefoot athletic trainer and a snow runner.Check out this awesome article about him in the Star, which includes great video link. 

And this guy.......Joseph Michael Liu Kai-Tsu Roqueni......

I need to find an update!  He left the beautiful city of Montreal in July to run to the southern tip of Argentina...all barefoot!   Beat that, Forrest  Gump!    More to come. 

Blessings! 

Doctor Who Opposes Barefooting is Just Plain Wrong

Barefoot in Britain-Shepherdess Alison O'Neal. Phot appeared in the Westomorland Gazette on May 25, 2010. Click here for story

 British barefooter Alison O'Neal said it best when she told the British paper The Guardian that:

"[b]arefoot walking is extremely beneficial. It's low impact and it makes you more aware of your movements and your body. It strengthens your back muscles and improves your posture. There are thousands of nerve endings in the soles of your feet that are constantly being stimulated by the changing temperatures and textures on the ground."

Alison walks at least ten miles a day on the fells-that' sort of like the prairie for us folks across the pond; she's a shepherd and lives her life quite freely.

So it's rather funny that a doctor from New York City named Richard Kushner wrongly states what many doctors have stated that “If the foot is too flat on the ground, there’s a clawing effect that happens with the toes.” Dr. Kushner was interviewed by Dana Stevens of Slate Magazine-she's a movie critic who wrote an extra on how she hates flip-flops.

Slate magazine reporter Dana Stevens

Well, that's called gripping. Note that every animal which lives outdoors has feet that are well equipped for that.

Clawing engages the toes and thus engages the other 25 joints in each foot so you can feel the ground and move.

Learning to claw is like learning to use our feet as they had "evolved" to be used before they got dis-evolved by shoes.

This one of the first techniques that is taught by barefoot fitness instructor Stacey Lei Krauss, co-owner and founder of willPower and Grace and the willPower Fit Studio in Denver, CO.

Barefoot Fitness Instructor Stacey Lei Krauss photo by Carolyn of the Daily Obsession

Stacey teaches these classes all week long and is in quite good shape. She's also a very reputable spokeswoman for Vibram Five Fingers, the famous barefoot running shoes that are tried and true among successful barefoot runners.

Barefoot fitness begins by learning "how to be barefoot", says Stacey-it's something that we need to re-learn after going our whole lives in shoes. Fortunately, learning how is easy. It does take some time to awaken the dormant muscles of the feet and ankles, so do go barefoot more often!

Blessings!

Barefoot in Britian-Barefoot living keeps you young!

"Being barefoot also makes you feel youthful – because it's pure and simple fun. We're normally so preoccupied with keeping our bodies in shape, we tend to forget about the mind. For me the two go hand in hand. Not only do I feel fit and toned – but, young, alive and free."

-British barefooter Alison O'Neal


More on Alison soon!

Blessings!

Barefooters beware-You're disdained before your sandals even come off!

I've found something too funny not to share, so today has to be a comedy day for barefooters and Almost Barefooters alike.......

Do read on!

Wanted: for Disdaining Flip Flops! Slate profile

A sworn enemy of Almost Barefooting.....Reporter Dana Stevens of Slate Magazine.....how does a movie critic get licensed to be a lifestyle critic? Since I'm a critic of those who disdain my flip-flops, am I now qualified to be a locomotive engineer? I've wanted to drive a train even since I was little!

Dana wrote the following in Slate Magazine this past summer about flip flops:

"They’re unsightly, unhygienic, and unfit for public display" and called herself a "live-and-let-live type of gal in the same article".

I would say that a more accurate description of our friend Dana is "contradiction" 

Dana called flip-flops "the bane of society"...LOL!

Photo from Wikipedia commons

 

Also wanted for disdaining flip flops! Wikipedia

Amanda Marcotte, another Slate writer, "signed off" on Dana's position in The Raw Story in a Pandagon post. 

But in reality, flip flops are wonderful for a lot of reasons:

Here are just few.......they are good for the health of your feet and your body

• They allow your feet to retain their true, natural shape, rather than get squished by shoes and develop all the associated problems. 
• They allow the fascia-to retain their natural length. The fascia tendons in the bottoms of your foot are the ones that  get too short from wearing shoes and result in what's called planter fasciitis. 
• They allow the foot to move naturally and completely, developing the muscles and developing the foot's own natural support system that prevent tilted pelvises and bad backs. among other things caused by a weak foundation. 

Do walk on!

hoto by William Philpott/Reuters for Slate

 Long live flip flops, for all those times we can't be totally barefoot, we can remain...Almost Barefoot!!   

Blessings!

And long live the First Amendment, the Constitution, and Freedom of Speech in the USA! And Dana, while you're viewpoint gets totally smashed here, we do respect your right to express your opinion, and we respect your opinion, even though it's our opinion that yours is totally wrong.

We'd like to thank The Raw Story, Amanda Marcotte and her Pandagon post, and Dana Stevens for helping expose the story that led to this post! Read Amanda's post by clicking this link! Both have rather impressive writing credentials-though the cussing isn't really necessary. I

n Almost Barefoot's opinion, they could both maybe, kick off their shoes and relax. Ladies, if you're too afraid of flip flops, maybe try a Yoga class-it's OK to be barefoot there, and millions of American women and men will agree with me. 

Barefoot Running Profiles-Meet Barefoot Rick

Barefoot Rick is quite an accomplished athlete in terms of running and running barefoot.

Running barefoot is spiritual for Rick, in more ways than one. Of course, running barefoot automatically awaken's one's own spirit and helps one remember that in every body, there is also a soul inside.

His full name is Rick Roeber, and like many barefooters-he ran many miles with shoes-'til things started to hurt. He took off his shoes and well, the rest is history-his recovery became a spiritual DIScovery. He made a connection with God as he sees God, and began an ambitious mission to help others through his sport.

Rick "runs for Jesus", and for people in need. His religious focus is his own thing, but he takes it to heart and shares the charity with others as he says is his own obligation, and finds that giving of himself to others has been very rewarding to him.



Rick partnered with "Soles for Souls" and raised money for victims of war who lost heir feet or legs so they could acquire wheelchairs and prosthetics. He is constantly involved in charity work now, and runs for many.

He's currently training for the Jerusalem Marathon, which takes place in just two weeks. That will add 26+ mils to the over 22,000 he's run since 2003!

Blessings!

Barefoot in Germany

A woman known only as "Barefoot Maria" waits for a train in Leipzig , photographed by Burkhard55

Barfuss in Deutschland  ...                                            Barefoot Germany......................................................It is amazing how many Germans speak English, so I thought I'd sprinkle a little Deutsche into this post. German readers are frequent visitors to Almost Barefoot-so I say thank you-danke-as well as to all who stop by to read.  

Germany is known for being barefoot-friendly. We've found a lot of positive stories. Certainly, the photos taken by Burkhard55 in DeviantArt show the ease of photographing people barefoot in the middle of the day in busy urban venues.  

Well-known barefoot runner "Barefoot Rick"-who runs for Jesus and for charities of many causes, called Germany's capital "Barefoot -friendly Berlin". Barefoot Rick has raised money for causes around the world and we hope to visit him sometime soon here. He runs barefoot to raise funds for all sorts of people with mobility challenges.   I wish I could say "so long from our German bureau, but we really don't have a German bureau, so I'll just say so long and happy Sunday....und Auf Wiedersehen!   Blessings! 

Barefoot in London

Our UK readers have been paying us lots of visits-thank you! 

Thank you to all of our readers.

So, a question for Brits: 

How often do you see barefooters in London?   

Last week, our post about a barefoot Sheffielder was incredibly popular. So, we explore more of England!

Barefoot in London while waiting for the tube

WJ London posted this this past summer and added that "running with no shoes is is the latest trend for jogging Londoners, it comes from the early hunter gatherers, who would run for hours barefoot (this was on soft ground however) and instead of promoting a heel first action (the way our ankle is meant to function) it promotes running on the balls of ones foot."  How true-heel strike destroys the joints!  

Anyway, we'd love to know more about barefooting in London, so we'll be seeking to learn, and soon!

Blessings!

Barefoot Hippie Chick Kisses President

EXTRA! 

Barefoot Hippie Chick Kisses President!



                    Oh!Bama!!!                                      Plant one on me, baby!!!!


"No one knows how she got clearance from Secret Service. She tip-toed up, flowers in hand, and planted a kiss right on President Obama's cheek, and that her face said clearly she wanted much more....."   -Witness speaking on condition of anonymity.

Now, if this were President Clinton, the only thing people would say is:

"Was she pretty??????"

If it were President George Dubya Bush, the only thing people would say is:

"All he thinks about is war!!!!!" 

If any of this about President Obama was true, we're sure Michelle would have more "flowery" comments!

Except that, to our knowledge, nothing said above about President Obama is true. You're laughing now because you know that what people would say about Bill Clinton or George Bush II likely would be true.

It is true, however, that the United States of America is a wonderful place to be becasue we have free speech and freedom of the press.

It's Friday in America and life is good!     

Blessings! 

Barefoot in Italy

Global Barefooter

What's it like to live barefoot in Italy?

Chicco Dellafranca lives Almost Barefoot-he does wear shoes to work-he's a musician with a fairly high local profile, so he has to take that into consideration.  He went barefoot almost all the time as a child and still does whenever he's not working.

. "I have also tried to walk barefoot in the snow, even if I do not love this. For many regards Hiking and Mountaineering, actually it is very meditative walk barefoot, especially in the countryside, as I always do"

Chicco also rides a bike barefoot. He says Yoga is popular in Italy but that the Yoga studio is the only place that many people take off their shoes when they're out and about.

Ciao!

Barefoot women singers

There's something about being barefoot that frees the mind and heart for sincere expression. 

To be barefoot at work is a wonderful luxury artists have.

But then, since it is so tied to free expression, it just may be that bare feet are the work shoes of the artist, just as steel-toe boots are the work shoes of people who do heavy factory work, or non-conducting soles are the work shoes of electricians. 

Photo byCelebFeet

Today, one of Almost Barefoot's readers, Descult Dinu of Romania, launched Music Live Barefoot, a Facebook page dedicated to female singers who like to preform barefoot.

Thinking back to the early 1990's, barefooting was still more of an oddity. Back then, Jewel (left) was a brand new artist-she sang pop-folk tunes and was always barefoot-it was like her trademark back then, long before she got into country and dressed like a cowgirl. 

Below, we see Jewel almost barefoot, singing the National Anthem at the Indy 500.

photo by Darren Cummings of Associated Press for the Washington Post

BLESSINGS!

Barefoot and Powerful-A Belly Dancing Yogini Speaks on What it Means

Dancing for Life with Sumora

Yoga is an incredibly empowering barefoot activity.

It’s one of the few formal athletic disciplines in the West that is done barefoot. We continue to explore how such a quiet and unorthodox activity has given positive energy to so many people. Yoga in the West is practiced mostly by women. Almost Barefoot explores the journey of women today and how Yoga has helped them become empowered.

(left) Sumora solutes the ocean in a spiritual dance (right) Sumora performing a Belly Dance

Yoga Teacher and Belly Dancer Sumora spoke to us this week to give us some perspective. Sumora is a business owner, mother, wife and a strong feminist with a very unique perspective.

She loves to go barefoot in the snow, and given how much snow her home state is getting, that's a good thing!

This is contribution is part of an ongoing series called Barefoot and Powerful, where we explore how being barefoot on a Yoga mat is empowering to women.

Sumora, as she is well-known by her students in  Massachusetts, a.k.a. Susan Sumora Morgaine Stanley 

How has Yoga empowered you as a woman?

I have loved learning all about the Yogic Goddesses of India - Durga, Kali, etc.  The concept of Shakti, or Adi Shakti in Kundalini Yoga, that divine creative force of the universe, which is feminine,  really hit home for me, so much so, that that is the name of my yoga studio - Shakti Spirit.  As much as I love the kriyas, it was the meditations and the powerful breathing that grabbed me.  I have found that, to me, Kundalini is the most spiritual of the yogas. I teach women-only classes and my goal is to empower them, as well, within the framework of the teachings of Kundalini Yoga.  The breath work allows me to go deep within myself and touch that spiritual center where my feminine power resides.

Before you began doing Yoga, did you go barefoot very often?

I have always gone barefoot.  I have hated shoes for as long as I can remember.  I am one of those who can go barefoot into the snow.  I am also a belly dancer and I teach and perform that barefoot, as well.

When did you start practicing Yoga?

I started practicing Kundalini Yoga 20 years ago due to some severe stress that was going on in my life.

What made you decide to teach it?

As I said, I fell in love with it almost immediately.  About 4 years after my first class, my father passed away and left me a small amount of money.  The first think that came to my mind was to taken an upcoming Teacher Training course at my local Ashram.  I wanted to share with others what Kundalini Yoga had brought to my life.  It was one of the most intense and beautiful times in my life.  I learned so much, not just about yoga, but about life and about myself.

As a Yoga teacher, you’re a woman who not only has the power of authority also the ability to empower others. What’s one way you encourage your students to empower themselves?

I think the most important thing that I can do is to let them know that they are important; that they need to take the time to for themselves, making sure they get the time to care for and nuture their own beautiful selves, something most women neglect to do.  I encourage them to walk their own paths on their journey.

What’s an empowering message you would offer to women and girls?

I think for younger girls and teens, we need to teach them that they are important, that they are more than what society tells them that they are.  They need to stop competing and comparing themselves to other girls and these female celebrities.  We need to teach them that they are more than what they look like, or what their bodies look like.  We need to teach them to stop listening to society and the media who reduces them to nothing but sexual objects.  They are not objects.  They are human beings and they need to demand respect.  As adult women, it is our responsibility to teach this to those coming up behind us.  As women, we need to be respected and honored for our feminine power.  

The Yoga community has also been very welcoming to men. How can we continue to make sure that the Yoga community remains a place where women can empower themselves and have it still be as open as it is today?

I think it's great that there are men who wish to practice yoga.  I wish I knew more than the one I know.  :-)   I know that there are those that disagree, but I believe there should be yoga centers that are women-exclusive.  Many women are survivors of abuse.  They have no desire to exercise or practice yoga in the presence of men.  These needs must be addressed and women-only studios is the way to go.

Add something else that is your unique thought on this discussion……

Being barefoot is an extremely powerful thing.  As a Goddess-oriented witch, as well as a yogini and belly dancer, I think one of the best things you can do for yourself is to, once a day, go outside and let your bare feet touch Mother Earth beneath you.  Breath in Her energy and power; release your stress into Her.  You will feel better for it.

Thank you, Sumora!

Blessings!

Barefoot in snow-new stuff!

Meet Helga. She goes barefoot in the snow and among other places. Whether we go barefoot in snow or not, we share some things with Helga.

On her own blog, she says her parents never let her go barefoot. Sound familiar?

Her goal is to go barefoot everywhere around the globe, and she's currently a barefoot newby in training.

Blessings!

Barefoot Rock Climb Video

I want to thank one of my European readers, Descult Dinu of Romania, for sharing a cool climbing video.

What's so significant is that this woman did not have climbing experience. She climbed the wall barefoot-proving how your natural, primal senses are instantly turned back on when you go barefoot.

Enjoy the video! Click Here!