PMR #290: Going barefoot with Steven Sashen

Our feet are incredibly sensitive, and they play a central role in fully experiencing the world outside, which makes wearing bulky and inhibiting shoes seem strange indeed. Today’s guest, Steven Sashen, is the co-founder of Xero Shoes, and he is here to talk more about how his designs can lead us closer toward experiencing the wonder of going barefoot more often. After dealing with ongoing sprinting injuries for many years, Steven’s friend recommended running barefoot. Following his first barefoot run, Steven began to understand how to change his form and he stopped getting injured. He realized that his shoes were the cause of all his previous struggles.

Years later and Steven is now at the forefront of what he calls ‘the movement movement’, and today he speaks charismatically to the central role that overly padded footwear plays in deadening our experience of the world and causing injury. Steven is a one-of-a-kind guy who is ready to destroy any argument for mainstream shoes with an entire history of barefoot human evolution as his proof. He sets an example for the possibilities not just of going barefoot, but of reaping the rewards of pushing our bodies beyond their limits.

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Today’s episode was provided to you by Chomps.com, a Whole30 approved, gluten-free, certified paleo, certified humane, and not to mention delicious protein snack! You can get 15% off your next Chomps purchase by visiting chomps.com and using our discount code, ‘paleomag’, at checkout!

 

Key Points From This Episode:

The incredible design of our feet and how important they are in our overall health. How modern shoes are a hindrance to the proper use of our feet. Insights into Xero shoes and how they aid foot health by minimally covering the feet. How Steven no longer got injured after trying barefoot running. Steven’s barefoot experience led to him making sandal-like shoes, and Xero was born. Perspectives on the need for proof of the legitimacy of Xero shoes vs. other shoes. How regular shoes cause pronation, supination, and arch problems. The purpose of a shoe is to protect your foot and then to let the foot do the rest. Xero shoes are 10-100 times more durable than regular shoes. How to prepare your feet for more natural footwear: do fun things barefoot. Running mistakes that result in calf or Achilles soreness: cadence and foot placement. Arguments that separate the facts of toe spreading from the myths. How Steven’s life philosophy helps him worry less about things like diet and bunions. The link between Steven’s previous vegan diet and him not being able to taste umami. Feeling the ground with our feet helps with balance, survival, and mood. Wrapping feet up defers the sensing of stimuli to other areas not designed to sense it. Xero shoes prepare your feet to go barefoot more often, and also help with running form. What to do to adjust your bare feet to colder weather, and how Xero shoes handle cold. Socks are mostly unnecessary but have their place in providing extra protection at times. The Xero Rox Mat is great for foot massages. A consideration of how the sub-two-hour marathon could happen barefoot. Where to find Xero shoes and follow Steven. How Steven left Brooks and Adidas reps speechless in a panel discussion.

 

Tweetables:

“We’re creating what I call a ‘movement movement’, trying to make people understand that natural movement is the obvious, better, and fun choice.” — @XeroShoes [0:12:43.1]

“We design products to be as close to barefoot as we can make them while still providing the benefits that are necessary.” — @XeroShoes [0:16:38.1]

“A friend of mine refers to it as instant meditation, because when you are out for a walk and you are feeling all those things, it really does capture you.” — @XeroShoes [0:35:09.1]

“Winter started kicking in and I was just wondering, ‘How long will I go until I feel the need to put on shoes?’ And then suddenly, it was March.” — @XeroShoes [0:38:25.1]

“If someone showed me that for some strange reason using your body naturally was bad for you, I am the first one to go, ‘All right, we need to do something about that.’ — @XeroShoes [0:51:07.1]

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Steven Sashen on Twitter — https://twitter.com/XeroShoes

Steven Sashen on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashen/

Xero shoes — https://xeroshoes.com/

Xero shoes on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/xeroshoes/?hl=en

Xero Shoes on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/xeroshoes/

Xero TerraFlex — https://xeroshoes.com/barefoot-shoes/new-terraflex-trail-running-hiking-shoe/

Xero Sandals — https://xeroshoes.com/sandals/

Steve’s snow shoveling video — https://xeroshoes.com/cold/

Xero Prio for kids — https://xeroshoes.com/shop/shoes/prio-kids/

Xero Rox Mat — https://xeroshoes.com/shop/foot-care/rox/

The Movement-Movement Podcast — jointhemovementmovement.com

Ashleigh VanHouten — http://ashleighvanhouten.com/

Ashleigh on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/?hl=en

Chomps protein snacks — https://chomps.com/

Whole30 — https://whole30.com/

The American College of Sports Medicine — https://www.acsm.org/

Correct Toes — https://www.correcttoes.com/

Paleo f(x) — https://www.paleofx.com/

D Bar Restaurant — https://www.dbardenver.com/

Dr Phil Maffetone — https://philmaffetone.com/

1:59 — https://www.amazon.com/Sub-Two-Hour-Marathon-Within-Runners-Training-ebook/dp/B00LKCP6AQ

Stronger by AlterEgo — https://app.soundstripe.com/songs/6781

Today’s episode was provided to you by Chomps.com, a Whole30 approved, gluten-free, certified paleo, certified humane, and not to mention delicious protein snack! You can get 15% off your next Chomps purchase by visiting chomps.com and using our discount code, ‘paleomag’, at checkout!

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