E250: How Barefoot Shoes Can Transform Your Body Mechanics with Delaney Smith

The Art of Living Well Podcast®

Episode Summary:

Delaney Smith is the Founder of Minnemals barefoot shoes and she is a Muscle Activation Techniques and Gait Analysis practitioner. After practicing for 5 years and continually seeing weak feet and other problems across the body, she traced a lot of the weakness and dysfunction back to the shoes people wear every day. The lack of information around this topic and what people have traditionally been told to look for in a "good" shoe brought her into creating her own barefoot shoe line, Minnemals.

Episode Highlights:

• How traditional shoes weaken feet—strong feet are key to preventing pain and improving body mechanics.

• How to transition to barefoot shoes gradually with foot exercises and mindful walking.

• Barefoot shoes: wide toe box, zero drop, flexible soles = natural movement.

• How having an awareness of your gait will improve your posture, mobility, and overall wellness.

• Exercises to strengthen your toes and feet without wearing barefoot shoes.

Chapters:

The Impact of Traditional Shoes on Foot Health 06:39

Understanding Gait and Foot Mechanics 10:17

Transitioning to Barefoot Shoes 16:46

Characteristics of Barefoot Shoes 19:34

Strengthening Feet Through Barefoot Walking 24:15

Exercises for Foot Health 30:19

🔗 Resources:

• Shop Minimals: https://www.minnemals.com/products/stimulus-barefoot-sneaker

• Instagram: @minnemals

• Facebook: @minnemals

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  • Learn more about your hosts:

    • Marnie Dachis Marmet

    • Stephanie May Potter