Right Shoes. Right Fitness.

Have you invested in branded, colorful shoes that look good? That’s great! But do you know how important it is for you to have the RIGHT SHOES for your workouts? Yes, your shoes are just as important as the exercise and the right form itself. How? Today, let’s understand the role our feet play while working out and how shoes become a crucial aspect.

Fitness and Feet

Before we understand how shoes play an important role in our fitness journey, let’s first understand the importance of your own feet. You heard that right – FEET.

They are our foundation, our roots. They move us, take our weight, maintain our balance & stability, and most importantly, everything stems from there. Right from our structure to our posture, our exercise form, everything in based out of our feet. Should our feet get affected, everything goes wrong.

A little hard to believe? Well, think of it this way – if feet weren’t as important, why would the entire function of Acupuncture / Acupressure stem from the feet? On days when you’re physically and mentally exhausted, try taking only a foot massage and you’ll immediately see the difference in the energy level throughout your body.

So any effect on feet has a domino effect on the rest of the body. If the feet are stressed and pressured in a wrong way, the stress is passed on to the ankles, knees and keeps moving upwards our spine, till our neck and shoulders. Hence, it is very important that you focus on your feet.

Feet Fitness and Shoes

The easiest and most important way to take care of your feet is through your shoes. They play a crucial role because these are the clothes your feet wear. If the clothes themselves aren’t the right fit, the feet will not perform the required function well - they will feel suffocated, wrong points get pressurized, they get imbalanced and the stress increases which directly impacts the rest of the body.

Getting The Right Shoe

While working out, our entire body is pumped up and engaged 10X. Therefore, your workout shoes have got to be right. An injury caused by inappropriate shoes can unnecessarily derail your fitness journey.

There are specific shoes that are designed for specific workouts. They not only help in getting the best out of the workouts but also save your feet from any possible injury.

• Running - Running shoes that have inbuilt shock absorbers are available for joggers, and lightweight walking shoes are available for walkers.

• Danced Based Cardio – A shoe with extra cushioning at the arch and the heel to support knees and joints.

• Ankle Protection - Thick-soled, high top basketball shoes provide extra protection against ankle and foot injuries caused by jumping.

• HIIT Routine - sneakers with a minimal arch, supportive to the ankle, light and flexible.

• Deadlifting - flat soled shoes like Converse

• General weightlifting - sneakers with a minimal arch or minimalist shoes and tight fight

• CrossFit – Flat soled shoes with minimal cushioning

CORRECTING THE COMMON MISTAKE - WHY YOU CANNOT WEAR YOUR RUNNING SHOES TO YOUR GYM

Simple basics: Running shoes need to have a toe space and also be cushioned to absorb the constant shock your body gets from all the quick jumping and movement.

In a gym, when you’re majorly weightlifting, you need your body to be stable and balanced. Therefore, gym shoes must be minimalistic, that maintain rigidity and not encourage a lot of movement at the ankle.

Getting The Right Shoe Size

• If you perform a certain type of exercise three times a week or more, choose a corresponding sport shoe.

• The best time to try on shoes in the afternoon or evening, or after your workout as your feet are largest at these times.

• Try the shoes on with sports socks to ensure a good fit and stand up when trying the shoes to make sure they fit.

• Leave a half inch between your big toe and the tip of the shoe and make sure you can easily wiggle your toes.

• Bend the shoe to make sure it is not overly flexible as this can indicate a lack of support.

• In true running shoes, leave space in the toe box for toe splay. It makes sense and can improve your running form and performance.

• In weightlifting shoes, avoid unnecessary space in the toe box. A tight fit tightly sneaker supports your feet during unilateral moves. The toe space creates an unnecessary imbalance and your body has to work harder. Go with an exact fit.

With the basics established, I now hope you truly invest some time and money into getting the right shoes for your workouts. Do not compromise on these, as the entire body and wellness gets affected by a thing that is seemingly so small. Shoes can make or break your fitness journey.

If there are any questions about which shoe you must get, drop a comment below and let me help you find the perfect partner for your feet.