Is Yoga Done Barefoot? Why Do Yogis Recommend Doing Yoga Barefoot?
Yoga is an age-old practice for improving physical and mental well-being, but it quickly became popular as an exercise form. However, that is just what it seems like. Yoga, as we said earlier, is beyond it.
Yoga for all. For some, it helps them learn how to balance their bodies, while others use it as a tool to indulge in spirituality. But we will not discuss what yoga is and what it does (it’s all in our previous blog Yoga and Spirituality). Today, we will look into something that may have brushed your thoughts - doing yoga barefoot.
If you have been to different yoga classes, you may have noticed that people take their shoes off before walking to the mat. Perhaps the studio owner has such guidelines to keep the studio clean. Or maybe there’s more..?
Let’s immerse ourselves in this so tomorrow’s yoga session is twice as enjoyable.
Benefits Barefoot Yoga Brings to the Mat
If you go to a yoga studio and see shoe racks outside, know that the studio owner or instructor placed them there for a reason. Most instructors prefer barefoot during this practice. They ask all participants to remove their footwear. They like to keep their floor and mat clean. Also, they want you to get the best classes with the most benefits.
Improved Energy Flow: The energy flow in our body is better when barefoot because it lets you establish a direct connection with the ground.
Better Stability: Feet are a crucial part of the body, playing a vital role in our postures. Since most yoga positions need the feet and mat to be in contact with each other, a firm grip is necessary for balance and stability. Yoga barefoot works best because there is nothing restricting movement.
Stronger Feet: Depending on our body weight, our feet place millions of pounds on our feet daily. Wouldn’t you want to bolster your feet to keep them strong and safe? Barefoot yoga helps with that.
Do You Wear Shoes for Yoga?
Exercising barefoot is beneficial unless you have a health condition or feel discomfort. If you feel uncomfortable doing yoga barefoot, you can use specific shoes to help enhance your practice.
Better Feet Strength: Some yoga shoes are designed to support your feet during intricate exercises. You can stretch or bend better with increased feet strength.
Reduced Foot Pain: Premium yoga shoes are ergonomic and can relieve significant foot pain, especially when performing strenuous activities.
Extra Cushioning: Yoga shoes sports protection. Hence, the popularity. Get padding that keeps your feet strong and helps maintain balance. You can practice different postures better.
Avoid Germs: Some people wear shoes in yoga studios because many others visit these spaces. They can bring germs inside. Wearing yoga shoes and carrying a personal yoga mat helps avoid germs.
So, Do You Wear Shoes During Yoga?
The choice is yours. You can choose to wear yoga shoes or perform barefoot. As we mentioned, it will depend on your requirements and the yoga space. For instance, you don’t need shoes if you do yoga at home.
Ideally, barefoot yoga has some added benefits like battery feet strength, stability, and flexibility. But if you don’t like it barefoot, choose high-quality yoga shoes for comfortable sessions.
