| About two years ago I began noticing these odd | | | | preventing any injuries in the neck or spine. Since I |
| shoes on the streets and in the gym. With further | | | | started wearing VFF I feel that it is now vastly easier |
| research, I decided to join the forces and try the new | | | | to stand up straight. The main improvement I see is in |
| barefoot technology. For my first pair of Vibram Five | | | | my hips and lower back. Before, after a long day of |
| Fingers (VFF) I chose the popular, very versatile, KSO, | | | | standing on my feet and keeping good posture, I would |
| which stands for Keep Stuff Out. | | | | come home with achy feet and my lower back felt as |
| This particular model is good for water sports, Pilates | | | | though I'd been carrying a 90 lb pack all day. I wear my |
| or yoga, trekking, running, walking and virtually anything | | | | VFF almost every day for as long as possible and my |
| else you wish to wear them for. I began wearing them | | | | spine alignment feels more natural and comfortable |
| to the gym for workouts and CrossFit, and gradually | | | | than it ever has before. |
| began building my way up to running in them. I am not | | | | I've been practicing yoga for about 4 years now, and I |
| an avid distance runner, but for my 3-4 mile runs a | | | | am an avid supporter. However, of all the talents I've |
| few times a week they haven't let me down. | | | | been blessed with, balance is not one of them. One of |
| Just a few months ago, in the great city of | | | | the aspects that initially caught my attention when |
| Washington D.C., I came across the newest creation | | | | researching VFF was the strengthening of the |
| of VFF, the Bikila. This model is designed for running | | | | muscles in the lower leg and in the feet. No one really |
| and fitness, so I thought they would work perfect for | | | | thinks about the fact that the shoes we wear every |
| me. Once I slipped that first Bikila on my foot I was | | | | day are actually sheltering our feet and forcing them |
| sold. If I might say, these were the best impulse | | | | into unnatural positions. The stimulation that your feet |
| purchase I've ever made. I began the next day by | | | | and leg muscles feel while barefoot does not occur in |
| running my usual 3 mile run and my feet were jumping | | | | most normal shoes, such as tennis shoes, heels, and |
| for joy. I thought I loved running in my KSO's, but the | | | | boots. Well, I was wearing shoes that hurt my feet in |
| Bikila's felt like they were perfectly tailored for my feet | | | | some way, shape or form almost every day. Whether |
| alone. | | | | they were work shoes or play shoes, they never felt |
| VFF have been a part of my lifestyle for almost a | | | | that great. Now that I wear VFF almost every day, my |
| year now and the improvements I have noticed are | | | | balance has improved tenfold. I can now hang with the |
| astounding. Good posture has always been a | | | | big dogs in yoga class and not feel as though my |
| challenge for me. I've struggle for years with focusing | | | | body is rebelling against all those great balancing poses. |
| on not allowing my shoulders to roll forward, hopefully | | | | |