A walking shoe like no other, Masai Barefoot Technology has taken the world by storm। People from across the globe have sworn to the efficacy of MBT shoes in promoting better posture, less pain in joints, and a reduction in the amount of cellulite. Bold statements, to say the least. In this article, I’ll explain what these walking shoes are and the benefits they hold. Fitness walking has developed into a leading workout regimen over the last decade or so. In fact, many people prefer fitness walking before going to the gym or doing workout classes. Scan the magazines at the checkout line in your grocery store and you’ll notice, time and again, headlines covering the topic. It’s been shown that if you walk 30 extra minutes a day you would loose 17 pounds in a year. Beats going to the gym and slaving away in my opinion. How does Masai Barefoot Technology fit into the mix?
The MBT shoe is a perfect partner for all of you that currently have a fitness walking program, or are thinking of beginning one। Walking obviously holds several benefits, but it still produces a lot of where and tear on the body. In fact, every step you take puts about 500 pounds of pressure on your feet. That’s a lot of miles and a lot of pressure. Isn’t it worth your while to get all the comfort and support you can?
That’s where Masai Barefoot Technology comes to the rescue। These walking shoes are designed to copy walking on a beach in the sand. The multiple layered, curved soles of the MBT shoe emulates the barefoot walking style of the African Masai tribe on uneven terrain. It features a perforated EVA insole, which is a synthetic compound used for out soles. E.V.A. provides cushioning to the foot and is easily shaped by heat and pressure. A padded tongue and collar offers added comfort for immediate wear. Natural rolling movement of the foot for even weight distribution can be found with the MBT’s TPU and glass fiber shank, which adds firmness to the sole construction. TPU, if your curious, is a plastic material that gives support through the mid foot or medial side of a walking shoe. Shanks are stiff support platforms buried beneath the cushion of the mid sole.
So what are the benefits, you ask? Masai Barefoot Technology is a revolutionary fitness shoe offers a better choice for people who want to become more health conscious। Top benefits include:
-Makes training more effective and challenging
-Enhances the way you use muscles and joints
-Improves posture and your circulation with every step
-Distribute pressure equally along the whole foot
-Cushion your feet while challenging your muscles
By Bonnie Stein, M.Ed.
This is one area of fitness in which you must be the expert, or least a very educated consumer. You shouldn't count on help from most shoe store clerks. Many are not knowledgeable about walking shoes. A clerk in a well known athletic shoe store in the mall picked up a beautiful running shoe, with about three inches of cushioning in the heel (Just what racewalkers don't want due to instability at heel plant), and told me, "Of course you can racewalk in these running shoes. Racewalkers can wear running shoes because you're as fast as some of the runners."
My hope is that you will become the expert. Be an informed consumer and you won't need to count on the clerks. On the other hand, if you find a salesperson who is knowledgeable about walking shoes, you're in luck. Most likely you'd find these salespeople in smaller, family owned shops and not the sport store chains in the malls.
1. It's best to look for walking shoes at the end of the day (at least in the afternoon) when your feet more closely approximate the size they'll be after you've been walking for a while.
2. Ask the clerk to measure your feet to find your current size. Feet change size with age, pregnancy, weight gain or loss, and even as a result of athletic activity.
3. Just because you've always been a size eight means very little. A size eight shoe will vary considerably with style and features, especially among different brands.
4. If you buy a walking shoe that's too tight, you'll be compromising your comfort. A walking shoe must have sufficient room in the toe box area (front of the shoe) to allow adequate space as your foot flexes. Shoes that are too small will restrict the muscles and tendons in the foot, causing pain and cramping. One indication that a shoe is too tight is if a student tells me that his feet fall asleep while walking. If you get a shoe that doesn't have adequate room, it may feel OK in the store, before you start walking. However, shortly thereafter when your feet begin to sweat and swell a bit, the result will be numb feet in a constricting shoe. That's the reason for the thumb's width rule.
5. Non-cotton socks are a good investment along with properly fitted shoes. Take the socks that you will wear for walking with you when you go shopping for shoes. Don't wear cotton socks for fitness walking or racewalking. Cotton socks are a primary cause of blisters because they hold the moisture close to your skin. If that's a surprise to those of you who always were taught that cotton is desirable, think about cotton's properties. Cotton is highly absorbant. That's exactly what we don't want on our feet- - - wet socks. Combine that with the friction of rubbing against wet skin and you've got the leading cause of blisters.
My favorite socks are made by THOR-LO. They are made from a synthetic material that wicks the moisture away from your skin. When I take my socks off, they may feel a little moist, but my feet are quite dry, and I never get blisters as I used to with cotton socks.
6. Tight shoes will not stretch to fit better. Don't think walking shoes need to be "broken in." A proper fitting shoe should fit well from the first day. If you still get blisters (and you're wearing non-cotton socks) chances are the shoe is too tight.
7. For those with especially narrow or wide feet, try a different brand rather than a smaller size. Some brands naturally run wider (Saucony) and some brands narrower (Nike). Some brands even have styles in different widths (New Balance).
8. Always fit the larger foot. If you have to, you can add a half insole in the front of the shoe of the smaller foot. Would you believe that a half-size larger is only a twelfth to a sixteenth of an inch difference? Most of us can use at least that much extra space in front of our toes.
9. If you have bunions, corns, or hammertoes, look for a shoe with a wider and higher toe box. That will guarantee more comfort for you. I've seen people press on the front of the shoe to prove that it fits, and the big toe is pressing right up against the inside front of the shoe. That's not enough room. Walkers need extra room in the toe box even more than they might in other sports, to allow for the flexing that takes place with the walking motion.
10. Spend plenty of time walking around the store in the shoes to make sure they're right before you purchase them. Never go shopping for walking shoes when you're in a hurry such as on your lunch hour. Brad Zuber, the owner of all of a shoe store in Atlanta, encourages walkers to walk the mall in the shoes before they decide. I know he got a little nervous only once when a walker didn't return until an hour later. At the time he didn't know that Macy's was having a One-Day Sale and the walker got a little sidetracked as she was trying out her shoes.
11. I always want a shoe that is flexible. Either the mid-sole material should be flexible, or flex grooves could be cut into the sole. If the shoe is not flexible, your feet will surely have to absorb more stress as you try to roll through the walking motion.
12. A shoe that is lightweight and breathable is very important. I find leather shoes to be the heaviest, but also the most durable. They are not appropriate for racewalking because of their weight. Mesh/leather combination shoes are the most breathable. The least breathable materials are made of suede.
13. A good walking shoe should cost in the range of $65-$85. Any less than that and the components of a good walking shoe are left out. Any more than that and I believe we're paying for expensive bells and whistles that we don't need. (Those $100 running shoes have a lot of extra shock absorption that offer no benefit to the walker.)
14. Due to the lack of actual racewalking shoes, some racewalkers have chosen racing flats made for runners. Most of them are flexible, lightweight, and adequate for the racewalker who wishes to race. The down side is that these shoes wear out even faster than most walking shoes and they are not very supportive. If you pronate (roll in) excessively, you will do so right through these shoes. I never recommend them for anyone except advanced racewalkers.
15. Don't get too attached to a single brand. Try on different styles and makes. Be your own expert. One shoe store owner in South Florida tells me that all of his salesmen go hide in the back when they see a customer come in who starts flexing and examining the walking shoes. He jokingly tells me it's because they know that person is a graduate of the Beginning Racewalking class and may know more than the salespeople.
That's my hope - - - that you all become knowledgeable walking consumers who can't be fooled into purchasing a shoe that's not right for you। It all comes down to FIT and COMFORT. Walk away with that!
Dancers Tell All About Their Favorite Shoes To Dance In
Swing dancing in the D.C. area has strayed away from fashion. Dancers have become more athletic and so has their dance shoes. The hopping, sliding and fast movement has them wearing their favorite pair of sneakers instead of ballroom shoes. Today, dancing in comfort is a requirement, not a choice.
Fashion in the DC swing dance scene has come a long way from saddle shoes and Mary Janes. Swing dancers today have taken dancing to the next level. They've traded in their high heels and saddle shoes for more unusual choices.
"The most comfortable shoes to wear dancing are golf shoes," says dancer James Kranyak. "I just take off the cleats and glue suede to the bottom."
The main thing a good dance shoe must have is a smooth sole. Using hard leather or suede on the bottom is most commonly used because it allows the dancer to slide. While sliding seems like a dangerous idea to some beginners, the importance of easy and smooth movement must outweigh that fear.
"Its hard to spin when your shoes are stopping you," says swing dancer Stan Tso. "I've danced on rubber soles before and that was not fun. My knees were about to come apart."
Dancers need shoes that move as fast as they can. Dancing to fast music can be more difficult with out the easy movement sliding creates. "It's important to have smooth soles because slides match the musicality and that's when you feel the connection with your partner," says balboa instructor Jane Castanias.
Dancers today use a wide variety of techniques to make their comfortable shoes easy to dance in. Some resort to using tape, others use a shoe doctor to attach leather to the bottom of their favorite tennis shoes. Dancers also make their own dance shoes because it's cheaper than buying a pair.
"I danced with painter's tape on the bottom of my shoes for two years and only had to redo the tape twice," says Jeff Aravanis. He wares Pumba sneakers with a hard leather sole that was attached professionally. "These are my new favorite shoes to dance in," Aravanis says.
Swing dance instructor Yvonne Furad suggests using duct tape on the bottom of dance shoes. "Nike, Reebocks, or cross-trainers are the best to dance in," Furad claims. "One thing I hate is when people come to my class in sandals. Wearing open toe shoes around beginners isn't the best idea."
For those who choose to buy shoes in stead of make them, dancestore.com sells shoes that look like they're vintage but are made for dancing. Aris Allens are shoes sold on this Website that are light-weight and comfortable. The hard leather soles make spins effortless, and the shoes look stylish while keeping your feet comfy.
Some women prefer to dance in heels. They're great for getting women to dance on the balls of their feet instead of keeping their feet flat. It can make spins sharper, and they can also make the movement more stylish.
"Heels are a great for dancers who like to keep their weight shifted forward because they keep you on the balls of your feet," says dancer and massage therapist Janell Bowie. "I like to dance in ballroom practice shoes because the thin soles let me feel the floor."
Wedges are another type of shoe that women can wear that can be purchased from dancestore.com. They look like they're out of the forties era and and are made for the fast-pace swing dancer. Michele Joseph agrees, "Simple wedges are great because they make your footwork look nice and sharp."
There are many ways to look stylish and be comfortable for any dancer। The trick is to stay as comfortable as possible. Remember, the more cozy your feet are, the faster, longer, and happier you can movie on the dance floor. Comfy feet are happy feet.
The primary purpose of shoes is to protect your feet and prevent injury. But in order to do so, they must fit well. Poorly fitted shoes, shoes that are too narrow, too short or too large--can cause discomfort, injury and even permanent deformity.
Understanding the components of proper fit can help you make sensible shoe purchases for yourself and your family. This brochure describes the parts of a shoe and how they can affect fit. It also discusses special considerations related to children's, men's, women's, work and athletic shoes, and provides recommendations on footwear selection.
Although style is often a key consideration in choosing a pair of shoes, the most important quality to look for in shoes--from a practical standpoint--is durable construction that will protect your feet and keep them comfortable। In selecting shoes, keep this basic principle of good fit in mind: Your shoes should conform to the shape of your feet; your feet should never be forced to conform to the shape of a pair of shoes. Soreness, blisters, callouses, and, with time, permanent disfigurements can be caused by habitually crowding your feet into shoes that don't fit well.