Bare Your Soles for Mental Health Awareness Week

7 years ago

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At Cause UK, our dress code is to avoid heels at all costs. Walking our Cause UK mascot, Ted the dog, five inch heels don’t cut it. #Heel-gate grabbed the headlines as a secretary was allegedly dismissed for refusing to wear them. We’re supporting eco-therapist Hayley Gillard (pictured) who has set up a unique Barefoot Club.

Why not ditch shoes altogether for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek!

Don’t miss Hayley in a live debate with the Guardian for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek this Thursday 19 May, about using mindfulness in social care.

Below are Hayley’s persuasive reasons to give barefoot walking a go…

Bare Your Soles for Mental Health Awareness Week: Now’s the Time to Go Wild

Sock it to ‘em!

Eco-therapist Hayley Gillard is encouraging stressed out women to do something simple: take off your shoes and socks and head for the great outdoors. Hayley, a social entrepreneur and founder of the Wild Goose retreat, is kicking back with her Barefoot Club.

It’s not about extreme measures such as juicing or detoxing which is more focussed on unhealthy weight loss than well-being. What women really need is simple – to lose the shoes.

5 REASONS TO GO BAREFOOT!

  1. It’s physically better! – Our feet weren’t made for shoes. Being barefoot can help to improve gait, growth and muscle tone.
  1. You feel free! – As soon as you take off your shoes and socks your senses are heightened immediately. You become more response and receptive. This is fantastic from a mindfulness perspective.
  1. It feels silly! – Yes, this really is a benefit!  We spend far too long being serious and stressed out. Laughing is refreshing, it makes you feel good, release those feel good endorphins!
  1. You develop great relationships – People are intrigued when someone is barefoot! Who knows, you may meet your future best friend/husband/wife!
  1. It reduces stress – Not only is being outdoors, trying something new, meeting new people and being barefoot great for our wellbeing but barefoot walking actually reduces stress levels. You have lots of acupressure points on your feet which are linked to anxiety, stress and mental wellbeing and walking on your bare soles stimulates all of these. Our feet have over 200,000 nerve endings in them, as we feel the ground, its texture and temperature we become much more aware of the earth beneath us and can feel grounded and calmer.