Barefoot: Encyclopedia - Barefoot

Barefoot

Going barefoot is the practice of walking without shoes or socks. It is more common in developing countries but less common in public in industrialized countries due to greater availability of footwear. Some people enjoy the sensation of their feet in direct contact with the ground and make an effort to be barefoot whenever possible (often calling themselves "barefooters").

Barefoot - Activities

Barefoot - Barefoot hiking

People who enjoy the sensation of walking barefoot often go barefoot on hikes in the countryside, which offers a greater variety of different surfaces to experience than typical indoor or city environments. (Bare soil is considered particularly pleasant). In the United States as well as several European countries there exist barefoot hiking groups * which organize shoeless excursions. Several German-speaking countries have barefoot parks which are designed to be ideal for going barefoot.

Barefoot - Barefoot sports

Most martial arts are practiced barefoot, as well as many gymnastics and dancing disciplines. Barefoot beach volleyball and beach soccer have become the favourites of many young people.

Sports that make use of a swimming pool are usually practiced barefoot.

In sports like long-distance running, most athletes run in shoes, but Abebe Bikila set world records running marathons with and without shoes.

Some American football placekickers have also played with a bare kicking foot, citing better control over the contact between their foot and the ball as the reason.

Barefoot - Barefoot lifestyle

A significant portion of the population even in developed countries enjoy going barefoot and a few of them are resisting the taboo against doing this in public. They maintain their barefoot lifestyle as completely harmless to other people and desire tolerance of their choice not to wear shoes.

Barefoot - Religious and cultural aspects

Barefoot - Sign of godliness

Many religions consider removing shoes as appropriate when approaching holy places. In Exodus, Moses had to take off his shoes before approaching the burning bush. Muslims must be unshod for prayer or to attend services in a mosque. Some Christian churches practice barefoot pilgrimage traditions. In the Hindu religion, the preference to go barefoot is due to the worship of holy animals and the ban on wearing leather products.

Barefoot - Symbol of peace

In ancient times, shoes predominantly served as military equipment. Therefore Isaiah announced that For every boot... will be for burning, food for the fire. For to us a child has come, to us a son is given. (Isaiah 9:5-6). Jesus advised his disciples to go out for preaching the Kingdom of God without taking along shoes -- and Jesus is shown barefoot on most paintings to demonstrate his peaceful mission. One way to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi, is to walk barefoot around his monument. Even Pope John Paul II paid him this honour.

Barefoot - Barefoot on stage

In dancing, theatre, and opera performances, bare feet often express emotions, fears, vulnerability, a down-to-earth attitude, and/or familiarity.

Barefoot - Myths

There are many myths and popular misconceptions regarding regulations against bare feet.

Barefoot - Driving Barefoot

In the United States, widespread belief in the existence of laws against driving barefoot has been debunked as an urban legend.

In Germany, traffic laws definitely do not forbid driving barefoot. For thorough study see this page on German traffic laws (in German language).

In Belgium, the driving code does not explicitly ban barefoot driving, but article 8.3 requires drivers to be "constantly able to perform any maneuver". According to the federal police, this implicitly bans barefoot driving (though there is no data to back up such a decision).

In Hong Kong, laws require drivers to be driving with appropriate footwear. Driving barefoot, or with sandals, is not allowed.

Barefoot - No Shoes no shirt...

In the United States, it is also frequently believed that OSHA regulations prevent people from going to stores, restaurants, and the like without shoes (or a shirt). In fact, the law (such as it is) refers specifically to employees and is designed to protect employers from lawsuits. There are no state health codes that ban customers from going barefoot in establishments, as is demonstrated by a project undertaken by The Society for Barefoot Living. Individual businesses, however, are free to refuse to serve customers without the footwear they deem appropriate. Individual cities and towns may also require certain footwear in public places.

Barefoot - Health issues

Barefoot - Risks

There may be regional risks like poisonous plants or animals, or parasites that can enter the body through the skin or cuts on bare feet. For instance, the intestinal parasite hookworm may infect humans who walk on soil containing hookworm larvae (typically in areas of poor sanitation).

Barefoot - Benefits

Some physicians who espouse natural healing traditions recommend going barefoot as a measure against flat feet, varicose veins, and dorsal pain. They believe that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. Currently this issue has not undergone any peer-reviewed study, the standard for a practice to be accepted by the medical establishment.

In the Far East, some areas have officially established reflexology paths; the idea being that those who walk on them in bare feet, stimulating the foot reflexology points, will get the same benefits as a reflexology massage.

Some evidence for the health benefits of going barefoot has been collected on the page Parents for Barefoot Children, although again this is not a peer-reviewed, "scientific" study. People who promote a barefoot lifestyle, such as Richard Frazine and members of The Society for Barefoot Living maintain that habitually going barefoot makes the feet tougher and far less susceptible (though not immune) to commonly feared hazards; this is echoed by former NJ health commissioner Len Fishman.

Barefoot - Celebrities

Barefoot - Male

• Model Travis Fimmel not only does most of his modeling in bare feet, but says he goes barefoot almost exclusively.
• Singer Henry Rollins often performs barefoot on stage.
• Singer Lenny Kravitz has said he feels no need to wear shoes or socks.
• Singer Richard Ashcroft appeared barefoot on stage at Live8.
• Actor Sean Astin arrived at a film premiere in bare feet.
• Pro wrestler Kevin Von Erich wrestled barefoot.
• Singer Simon Le Bon appears in several videos in his bare feet.

Barefoot - Female

• Actress Julia Roberts is known as a person who loves to be barefoot. She has appeared barefoot in several of her movies.
• Actresses Liv Tyler, Nicole Kidman and Cameron Diaz have walked barefoot on the red carpet at their own movie-premieres.
• Model Pamela Anderson is often seen in magazines, walking around barefoot in her hometown.
• Singer Björk often performs barefoot.
• Singer Shakira is often barefoot on stage, as well as in her music videos.
• Singer Deana Carter performs barefoot.
• Singer Joss Stone performs barefoot.
• Singer Kelly Clarkson is performing barefoot on her current tour.
• Singer Mandy Moore sometimes performs in bare feet.
• Singer Britney Spears gained some notoriety by going barefoot into a public restroom. She has since frequently been seen going barefoot.
• Designer Genevieve Gorder almost always went barefoot during the series Trading Spaces on TLC.
• Runner Zola Budd often ran barefoot in competition.
• Wildlife presenter Saba Douglas-Hamilton often appears barefoot, especially in the BBC series, Big Cat Diary.

See also

• Barefoot and pregnant

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Barefoot", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki