Deep Grounding & Mother Nature

I'm into my final week of a wildly busy, on the go, 6-weeks. I knew this coming into the fall that I was in for an intense 6-week period. I was right. Of course, until you're in the midst of it though, you just never know how it will affect you.

This period has been well controlled at my end in terms of my health practices I'd say;

- I haven't pushed any workout sessions

- Most activity has been walking; Long walks, short walks, fast walks, slow walks

- A decent amount of reading

- Constantly reminding myself "there is nothing left to push with" (energy wise). Do what you can do right now.

The biggest impact for me during these weeks (other than my time and energy) has been my sleep. "Busy brain" has been fired up several nights, including the Monday and Tuesday nights following this past Thanksgiving weekend. In hindsight, my lesson here leading into next fall is to maintain my meditation practice. That in itself may not completely eliminate these "busy brain" broken sleeps, but it will absolutely help without question.

Wednesday Deep Grounding Adventure

Wednesday following my morning client sessions and some lunch, I had time and knew I needed to get into the woods. Mother Nature always helps me feel good. It was a beautiful sunny day, a bit cool, but beautiful. My intinctual thought was; "I need a barefoot hike".

I've loved minimalist footwear and barefoot movement for over a decade now (going back to 2009-2010) when I got my first pair of Vibram Five-Fingers shoes. I've progressively built to the point where I'm in minimalist footwear 90% of the time and only in "typical footwear" the other 10%. I also love being barefoot in nature. I love the feel of the ever changing terrain, the changing temperatures of the ground... and I don't mind getting my feet dirty (*insert gasp! here*). I hadn't done a barefoot hike in a little over a year, so I was looking forward to getting out into the woods to not only just take in the surroundings, but to do something different that just feels good, and that I enjoy.

And that's exactly what I did...

****Disclaimer - Before you continue, please note I am not trying to push a minimalist footwear/barefoot activity and/or lifestyle on anyone. There are however people who love it (like me) and others who are curious about it. What I will remind you fine readers is that this is something you have to build up over time (as I have for over a decade). 99% of us have grown up in a shod (wearing shoes) lifestyle which has restricted our feet, lower legs and the rest of our body from experiencing movement and the nature around us in a way we evolved. When you do train your body and practice this kind of minimalist/barefoot movement, it's incredibly freeing.

IF you are interested in learning more, feel free to connect with me. **********

Off to the woods and Off with the Shoes

Being in minimalist shoes so often now, I was excited to go further than I had ever before barefoot amongst the trees. A year or so ago when I went out, it was early summer (very different conditions) and I hiked half a kilometre in the woods without my shoes. Doesn't seem to far does it? But at that time it was enough and it felt great!

Wednesday's adventure I not only had the confidence to go further, but I also needed it from a recovery standpoint. Feeling exhausted and nearing burnout, nature always helps me reset mentally and physically. I set out to the woods and came in purposely through an older entrance to the trails that is less travelled (i.e. more varied and less worked down terrain).

Yes it appears my foot is glowing!? Maybe it was a sign of a great hike to come?

Maybe it's the sunshine through the trees?

Maybe it's my amazing sock tan from coaching?

Probably all of the above to honest... LOL

Take note of the rocks under my feet where I took my shoes off. This wasn't by design, but by very cool coincidence that they were textured in this way. It immediately felt so good on my feet when I took my shoes off. Welcome to minimalist/barefoot movement - you actually GET TO FEEL the ground underneath you!

From here, I loaded my shoes in my backpack and away I went...

Mother Nature provides our bodies with something our man-made structures and environment do not; Constantly changing ground beneath our feet. Just look at the rocks here (above) I walked over early in the hike.

Very early on you can see different textures, obstacles etc on the ground beneath my feet.

Soft ground, hard ground, rocks, grass, moss (i.e."nature's carpet") etc... all presenting themselves as I hiked.

Using your Senses

What I love about barefoot hikes, is the fact that you now are utilizing another one of your five senses; touch.

Not only do you feel the ever changing textures and terrain beneath your feet, but in particular this time of year you experience temperature changes. It never ceases to amaze me how much heat rocks hold from sunlight or even the warmth of a few mossy steps as you move along. Another step or two can take you into cool damp grass, packed down dirt or mud. None of these sensations can be felt in shoes of any kind.

Some sections of trail provided the perfect fall atmosphere with the colourful fallen leaves. Soft, cool and damp.

In addition to the FEEL, you can SMELL the fallen leaves around you...

You SEE the vibrant and variety of colours around you....

You HEAR leaves falling through the branches along side the trail as you hike...

As people who are blind share with us that the loss of one of our senses, enhances another, taking time to slow down and fully experience our surroundings with AS MANY OF OUR SENSES as possible has a similar effect.

Then you have "nature's carpet" all around this time of year (below). On rocks, trees and the ground. Just another texture and temperature to experience from Mother Nature.

Barefoot Hikes Create a Different Experience in a Familiar Place

Even though I know these trails well, the act of hiking barefoot creates an entirely new experience in the woods. Aside from involving more of the senses, barefoot hiking also increases the level of being in the moment.

Taking of your socks and shoes, even for a short distance creates a "natural pace" in your hike. You don't rush. In certain terrains your pace slows, in others you may move more quickly. Regardless of your pace, your AWARENESS is constant simply because you HAVE THE FEEDBACK available to you between the Earth and your body. That more natural gait and pace creates an amazing sense of rejuvenation and recovery that is hard to describe.

Barefoot hikes also allow the enjoyement of silence to be emphasized out there. Your footsteps are much more "ninja-like" naturally when you are barefoot. This allows you to HEAR the nature around you even more, rather than your constant "clunk" with every step (which hopefully is minimal anyway). Let me show you what I mean (turn up your volume)...

I love the fact that the only sound here is from my other walking pole in my backpack a bit. The sense of peacefulness that hits you during these kinds of walks is incredible and hard to describe.

What this Adventure Brought me

My hike was just over 4km, with half of it being barefoot in the woods. I call it my "Deep Grounding" for various reasons;

- The body is allowed to function more along the lines of how we were designed to move.

- The peacefulness around me and created within me.

- The premise of "reconnecting" with our natural environments (not just with our senses but the concept of "Earthing" for those who are into energy work)

- It feeds my soul.

- There are no intentions other than "DO IT". No distance, speed or time planned. Just go and experience.

The feeling when I left the woods, back in my minimalist shoes on the walk home was absolutely awesome. Almost like having gone for a long walk or run. That euphoria that naturally occurs after activity, ya know? It was a much needed energy boost and feeling of comfort, but without stressing my body more. The adventure GAVE me energy rather than TOOK energy from me.

That night, I slept like a baby. I felt so much better when

I woke up the following morning with some energy and ready to take on the day again. Not that time has permitted it much over the past 6-weeks, but I now know for next year to be sure to incorporate more of THIS into my weeks when I can as a recovery tool.

It's a wonderful reminder to all of us to HAVE SOMETHING that gives us that "Deep Grounding", that sense of recovery and feel of recharging.

It's a great reminder to think outside the box...

or in this case, shoes.