I invented (sort of) a new winter activity.
It’s fun!
It’s healthy!
It’s strange!
OK… just to be clear, I don’t expect to see this on the sports channel any time soon.
I had the idea to try this for three reasons.
Reason #One : Walking of any kind is extremely good for you.
Read the post Walkin Them Blues Away. The exercise decreases every kind of disease including diabetes and heart disease and a 2006 study found that just one brisk 30 minute walk immediately improved the mood of depressed individuals.
Reason #Two: Walking with bare feet on the ground, grass, or sand is known to be particularly good for your health.
This stimulates acupuncture points on your feet that correspond to every organ and part of your body.
Also According to book called Earthing by Martin Zucker, walking with your bare feet on the ground has been scientifically proven to promote healing and create a deep sense of well-being. This is because this intimate contact with the earth creates a measurable flow of the earth’s electric energy to your physical body.
This has been known by ancient cultures for thousands of years. Tai Chi masters report an obvious energy coming up their legs which they call ‘earth chi”.
Reason # Three: I’m a wimp.
Knowing the above reasons, and personally loving to walk barefoot on the lawn or a beach whenever I can, I have also heard you can walk barefoot on snow.
Advanced martial artists and other high level athletes do this with no problem. Not me though. I last about 20 seconds.
Wearing socks is a compromise. You still get all the exercise, you still get the acupuncture stimulation, and because they socks are thin and natural, you still get almost all the earth energy.
It turns out it FEELS even better than grass or sand!
Soft new snow feels amazing on your feet. I guarantee it’s a new experience.
It’s hard to believe but your feet really really don’t get cold or wet.
In order to do this though you can’t stay still or the heat from your feet will melt the snow.
I wear a thin wool sock on my skin and put on a thick wool working sock on top of that.
One limitation is the time. I have never walked more than 20 minutes since I get cold feet easily.
Obviously you also have to have SNOW.- DRY SNOW.
We have lots of that here in Alberta. (I’m trying to turn this into a GOOD thing here. )
This is some small consolation for also having extreme cold right now.
If any of you poor souls in Florida or California wants to try this out and trade places with me I would be willing to consider a short term home trade 🙂
Copyright © Randy Fritz You are welcome to share this article with anyone who you think may benefit from this information as long as you give credit to Real Food for Life by including the link to the home page www.RealFoodforLife.com or the direct link to the post.
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Very interesting suggestion. Perhaps sprinkling some cayenne pepper on your feet before applying the socks might help keep feet warmer longer. I used this method when my feet just will not warm up (inside). I am in Winnipeg and we share your sentiments about the snow and cold.
Interesting! I knew about the barefoot on the earth thing. Can you use cotton or another natural sock? I try to avoid anything that uses animal byproducts.
I will try this but only in my back yard since the street will have salt and melted spots.
Thanks for the information!
Sharon: Thanks for the cayenne suggestion. Have you ever added it to lotion? Or maybe Capzasin HP could be used? If anyone tries it, please post here and I will get the update. Thanks!
What a cool idea – umm I mean great idea! I’m going to try it next new snowfall.
Andrea
I’ve tried cayenne in my shoes. All I got was orange socks :).
Hi Soyman. I’ve never been able to make that cayenne in socks work myself.