Barefoot running & Alexander Technique

Breathing, sleeping, running, meditation, yoga, relaxation
Mellis
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Barefoot running & Alexander Technique

Post by Mellis »

<edit by RRM> Moved from another thread:
Oscar wrote:
Mellis wrote:I use honey or silver if I get a cut, a blister or a burn.
What does it do when you use it on a cut?
</edit by RRM>

I'll give you an example: I like to go barefoot outdoors. And run barefoot. One day I stepped on some sharp object and it peeled of a bit of flesh on the side of my foot sole. I didn't feel anything, I just noticed that I was bleeding. It was like a cut but open. It didn't look much, but it took a month to heal completely, as every time I walked I was opening up the wound. So after a week or so, when I saw the area around the wound looked a bit red and felt warm, I put honey on it at night. Also, I washed it with silver water. After a few days, it was better and the cut shrinked and dried up. It might have been just as good without the honey or silver, I don't know. 8)
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Oscar
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Post by Oscar »

Ah I see. The red means it's inflamed (body taking care of bacteria), btw.

Barefoot running! I'm a bit tentative about going real barefoot...I'd rather use a barefoot shoe (oxymoron! ;)). Still waiting for the one I want to get back in stock though.
Mellis
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Post by Mellis »

What shoe, Oscar? Show me a pic or link
:P
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Oscar
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Post by Oscar »

Mellis wrote:What shoe, Oscar? Show me a pic or link
:P
It's back in stock! So I just ordered this one: http://www.terraplana.com/evo-p-1263.html?colour=57 :D
Mellis
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Post by Mellis »

Aha! Well, next year, I'll try these: http://birthdayshoes.com/a-five-toed-mi ... aking-news :lol:
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Oscar
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Post by Oscar »

Wow :shock:
I'm just a beginner at barefoot running, so I'm starting 'slow'. I didn't fancy the VFF (yet), because I'm not so fond of having something between my toes. Probably the ideal shoe would be the one made with an individual mold (thinking of that silicon one).
Mellis
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Post by Mellis »

Starting slow is the way to go. I'm making my own sandals, something like this: http://www.barefootted.com/index.php?q=/
panacea
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Post by panacea »

it's a shame there's no shoe 'cases' to go over the vibram five fingers, of course without a underside on the case. that way you could use them and not look like a social monkey. :/
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Oscar
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Post by Oscar »

I think that's what shoes like Vivo barefoot cover, wearing barefoot shoes that still look like shoes.

Are you using a specific running style or is it 'just' not heel striking?
Mellis
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Post by Mellis »

You asked me? 8) I am doing the barefoot and thus no heel strike, even walking softer, lighter, no sound onto the ground. Then running, staying light, soft, soundless, and smaller steps, quicker. It's lovely. The feet are recovering, they love it. I have a sense of forward now that comes from the foot, and that is new for me. It's the direction of the bones in the front of the foot, sort of the "finger-like" ones, I use them more springy now, no more klomping or how do you say that, stomping down into the ground. It works 8)
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Oscar
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Post by Oscar »

I see. So far I've been running according to the Art of Running/Pose Method. I learned it from Malcolm Balk, a Canadian AT teacher/runner. It should be more or less the same, although I still get the impression that (some) barefoot runners land in front of their center of gravity. Well, I guess I'll have to try things out when my shoes arrive.
Mellis
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Post by Mellis »

Oh, that sounds great Oscar. I would love to learn from a pose-teacher, too. I am also an AT teacher so perhaps that helps me stay in touch with the feet and balance et c. One word of caution: new shoes arriveing and all: listen to what your feet tell you, when to stop et c. If you run totally barefoot, it's easier to hear/ feel when your footsoles/skin has had enough. Actually, I notice I run even more carefully without shoes. But with shoes, its such fun and can be hard to stop in time. Just from my experience. The second you get a tiny feeling of hm, perhaps I should get back home now, see if you can stop running and walk home. You'll be happy the day afterwards.
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Post by Oscar »

Thanks!

I don't think Malcolm gives workshops in Sweden, unless invited (by an AT school?).
There seems to be a Pose trainer in Stockholm though.
In any case, if you're interested here are the websites (if you hadn't found them yet):
http://www.theartofrunning.com/
http://www.posetech.com/
Mellis
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Post by Mellis »

*checking it out* :P thanks Oscar!
Mellis
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Post by Mellis »

Oooooooooooooh! I love that before and after video. It reminds me of rider and horse. Something like this perhaps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaMI5Pk ... r_embedded
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