Health Benefits Of Walking Barefoot In Snow
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I have written a lot about barefoot walking, and for me, it is a way of life. Walking barefoot in the snow, however, is a little bit special.
With walking in the snow comes some of the similar health benefits as barefoot walking on grass or any other dry surface.
The Health benefits of barefoot walking in the snow include:
- Heightened Exhilaration
- An increased sense of well being
- Increased Circulation
- Reduced Inflammation
- Increased Immunity
- Grounding
- Barefoot Walking Benefits Plus
We will go through all of the points I have listed above, and then I will touch on the all the thing you need to know to get you started if you want to give it a try.
These are my experiences so do what works for you and in all cases consult your doctor if you are unsure about your bodies ability to cope with the cold.
With that out of the way lets begin.
Heightened Exhilaration
Making a quick sprint across fresh powder is a lot of fun. The soft velvety feel underfoot is a very difficult thing to explain. It is a pleasant sensation as you connect to the earth. These lighting up of the nerve ending as you go out onto the cold leaves you with a sense of exhilaration. I think this is due to the contrast between being in a warm and cosy environment majority of the time.
In most cases, our feet are well protected and insulated. Even if you are wearing barefoot shoes and or socks its not quite the same sensation. The cold feeling of the fresh snow for a few minutes at a time is quite enjoyable.
An Increased Sense Of Well Being
Following a brisk walk on fresh powder, I am always left with a significantly increased sense of well being. The firing up of all the nerve endings in my feet reminds the body that they exist. It is well documented over in my other post that the feet are engorged with millions of receptors that allow us the feel the space that we are in and aid balance and connectivity to the earth (grounding more on that in a minute).
Increased Circulation
The feeling of exhilaration and well being I just mentioned stimulates and pushes nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.
The soles of our feet are extremely sensitive to touch and the ground beneath us. This is due to a high concentration of nerve endings, with as many as 200,000 per sole.
Reduced Inflammation
Cold therapy as a practice is an excellent way to work on decreasing inflammation. Wim Hof the cold therapy chap takes this to the next level. This is not the faint hearted however but a few minutes on and off in on fresh powder is excellent. Beware if you have existing conditions (Arthritis) as this could irritate them.
Increased Immunity
Another benefit of cold therapy is to boost your immunity. As I said earlier, most of us spend a lot of time indoor and heavily insulated the exposure to cold coaxes the body to adapt and build up resistance to the elements. The same applies to barefoot walking in the snow the gradual exposure does increase your immunity I have found.
During the winter months, I try and walk the dog will as little layers as I dare to get you to the cold. By the time its full-blown winter, I can get away with just a weatherproof jacket on a short walk. More importantly, virtually never get a cold or flu because my body is used to and better adapted to the cold exposure.
Grounding
Walking Barefoot in the snow is like grounding super amplified. Grounding is when you allow your body to be in direct and uninterrupted contact with the earth. In this case, it would be with your bare feet connecting directly to the earth through the snow in this case.
Barefoot Walking Benefits Plus
I have another lengthy article that talks about all the benefits of barefoot walking. So if you combine the benefit of walking in the snow, you can see why I think its special. Have a read here
Here’s How To Give It A try
Don’t move too fast
Be careful NOT to move too fast in the cold. Be aware that the when you are cold, the body make our muscles contract. If we move too fast, we can force our muscles to overstretch; this is never a good thing as we are a bit more brittle. So take it slowly at first when you venture out on the snow and get a feel for the new sensations underfoot.
Time Your Snow Walk
A good tip I use is to decide how long I want to venture out for, say its 3 minutes to start with on fresh snow. That means it 90 seconds one way and 90 seconds back. I just do a count to 90 in my head (slow or fast depending on how I am feeling that day) and once I get to 90, I turn and head back.
Once I get back, I warm up again and decide if I want to go out again. If you do it this way, you will avoid any potential of getting frostbite. If go out several times the body will adapt and begin to compensate, and you will reach an equilibrium state where your body creates enough heat to compensate for heat you will be loosing through your feet.
Remember to keep the count in your head and not to get carried away.
Wrap up Warm before you go out
Always warm up before you go out, once you are out there head back in before you lose feeling in your toes.
A good amount of warm clothing is an excellent way to do this. I always have a hat or head covering of some sort on. I find a lot of heat and warm escapes upward from the head. Also, a scarf and a good winter jacket is the way to go. More is definitely better in the beginning, and you can make a call as to what layer you remove as you go.
Know Your Terrain Before You Go Out
You should always walk barefoot in the snow somewhere you are familiar with. I always start off with places I know like the back garden or familiar trails. This reduces any guesswork and nasty surprises that may be out there. Stubbing your bare exposed foot in snow is not fun.
Stay Light On Your Feet
Keep your footsteps light and springy this makes sure that you are pumping plenty of blood down into your feet while you are out on the snow. Keep to the balls of your feet as much as possible especially in the beginning. As I said earlier your body will soon adapt and keep your extremities warm.
Build Up Time On The Snow Gradually
Your first barefoot walk will be a load of fun but as I said, try not to get carried away and stay out too long. Over time you will be able to go for a more extended period. Remember it is a new skill you are learning, and your body will work with you to get good at it if you are patient. Don’t push your self too hard. Your body will thank you for it.
Conclusion
So to summarise there are quite a few health benefits to walking in the snow barefoot.
- Heightened Exhilaration
- An increased sense of well being
- Increased Circulation
- Reduced Inflammation
- Increased Immunity
- Grounding
- Barefoot Walking Benefits Plus
Follow the steps I have outlined to enjoy it and get the most out of it, and you should be fine. As I said earlier, In all instances consult your doctor for the best advice and guidance in your particular situation.
Read my other article on barefoot waking benefits here
Let me know if you have any questions have fun