By Amanda Connell
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy barefoot walks along the sandy beaches of the Mornington Peninsula.
With numerous stretches of bay and ocean coastline to explore, slow down, dig your toes into the sand and discover the benefits of barefoot beach walking.
The soles of our feet have an abundance of specialised nerve endings called proprioceptors that are crucial for movement, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. They transmit sensory feedback about the temperature, texture, pressure and emotional response of the ground below and allow for the involuntary and conscious adjustments of posture required to prevent falls and injury.
As we age, and without regular stimulation, these proprioceptors decline, resulting in loss of sensation, toe movement limitations, and falls. With more nerve endings per square centimetre than any other body part, our feet are one of the most high-demand, complex functioning parts of our body.
As the sand shifts under your weight, this challenges the posterior chain of muscles in your legs – the glutes, hamstrings and calves – to work harder, producing resistance training that effectively burns up to 50 per cent more calories that walking along a footpath. Soft sand is also a low-impact option that’s gentle on joints or those with arthritis, and enhances balance and stability. Furthermore, walking barefoot on sand stimulates the acupressure points on our soles, helping improve blood flow and circulation.
By connecting our soles with the Earth’s surface, there is a transfer of free electrons – the Earth’s negative charge – that helps reduce electrical imbalances in our body and the oxidative stress of free radicals that are responsible for chronic illness, inflammation, disease, stress and anxiety.
A simple barefoot beach walk is a cathartic experience that recharges and revitalises our body and mind by reconnecting to the Earth beneath us.
The foot is an evolutionary masterpiece of 26 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 ligaments, and numerous muscles, tendons and nerves, and it’s specifically designed to connect us with the natural environment around us. Doing so plays a crucial role in supporting our health and wellbeing.
