Tips for Easy, Safe Walking and Fitness

Ryka

There is just one bit of advice I can give. Wear soft, supportive comfortable shoes, and go barefoot or shoe-less when you can.

Facebook friends and Instagram followers have a pretty good idea as to what I wear on my feet, since I've been posting my step-count along with my kicking off my shoes most nights.

My favorite brand is Skechers, which I've found to be the softest, lightest and most flexible of any brand. I've bought quite a few pairs when in the states. Now that I don't have any plans of going, I will have to find them here in Israel. The black shoes, in the picture on the right are Rockport, which are good for a leather shoe. But I still, when the weather is warm enough, prefer my Skechers.

Since yesterday was so unseasonably warm I wore them, and I walked much more than usual without any discomfort.

As you can see on the graphs, I don't walk all that much each time. I break up my walking and rarely take more than 4,000 steps without being sedentary for awhile. Besides wearing the right shoes, that is of the utmost importance. I'm not young anymore. My body must be catered to.

Another thing I do is to exercise my feet by not wearing shoes or even slippers. When I was young I studied Modern Dance and Israeli Folk Dance barefoot. And I firmly believe that fully exercised feet, which aren't encased in shoes, or being strained by what's called "flip-flops" in Hebrew, backless shoes, sandals or slippers, make for a healthier person. I connect this to the effectiveness of Reflexology. Our general health can be traced to the state and flexibility of our feet. That's why I like thick socks which keep me warm but don't restrict my feet.

What do you think of this? What are your tricks and tips?

Under The Desk

Yes, you can see here three pairs of shoes under the desk in the den. Am I the only one who, after a day of work or just any busy day, feels better after kicking off my shoes? And as you can see, my shoes are all good comfortable, lightweight and soft ones with support.

• Skechers (pink)
• Rockport (black)
• Rykä (blue)

I'm very fussy about shoe fit and don't buy shoes unless I'm very sure they are comfortable, but even I feel the need to kick them off at the end of the day. I generally unwind at the computer, drinking water, and before I know it, my shoes are off and sort of live under the desk. 

I also find it most comfortable to rotate shoes and not wear the same ones day after day. That's why I have a few pairs. I think it's better for the feet to switch every day or two if possible. Think of it like turning your mattress over. Recently I began having trouble finding a comfortable position for sleeping, which was solved after I turned my mattress around. You can find a similar relief in wearing different shoes. 

In my sales job in Yafiz, I sometimes work in the shoe store, and I try to make the customers aware of how dangerous badly fitted shoes can be. I ask them what reflexology really is. I call it "correcting badly fitting shoes." Think about it. If the right sort of pressure on your feet can heal you, then, bad pressure can make you ill. So, in the long run, it's better to replace shoes that aren't truly comfortable, even if they are still new or "wearable."

That's why at the end of the day, when my feet beg to go free, I kick off my shoes and leave them under the desk.