More than a Bare Experience

Last week, I had the privilege of attending two (of three) days of Dave Asprey’s 10th Annual Biohacking Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Dallas, TX, and it was pretty special. The conference was created by Asprey to connect a community of like-minded individuals to share stories, information, and ideas. This conference has grown into a platform for innovations, emerging science, and brands across the world. If you have heard of Bulletproof Coffee, then you can thank Asprey for that innovation. Asprey has been a leading voice in taking control of your own biology!

Josh Holland of the US Vivobarefoot Team

My trip to Dallas was to spend time with my brother and to see what he was doing on behalf of Vivobarefoot. As soon as I arrived in the Tech Hall of the conference, I immediately spotted my brother, Josh Holland, at work. The number of attendees surrounding the Vivobarefoot booth was quite impressive. Josh, an ambassador and coach through Vivobarefoot, was educating individuals with the plantar pressure plate, providing them with a live analysis of their foot placement and posture with their current shoes and without them. The question proposed by Josh to many of the attendees on the plantar pressure plate was “Does that look like a foot to you?” and often times the answer was no. Josh worked with attendees on different body movement techniques, toe stretching and strengthening exercises, and ankle mobility, while also educating them on the importance of foot wellness.

Helya Glen of the US Vivobarefoot Team

Vivobarefoot provides a barefoot-like experience for all types of individuals, and there are several benefits to wearing the brand. Vivobarefoot can:

1.) improve your posture and balance, allowing your feet to move and function as they are designed to improve your balance and posture over time.

2.) Strengthen your foot muscles and lower legs to help prevent injuries and improve overall foot health.

3.) Enhance sensory feedback from the ground to help you better understand and adjust your movements while walking and/or running.

4.) Reduces the risk of foot problems that traditional shoes can cause with cushioning or support, which ultimately weakens the muscles in your feet and leads to foot problems such as bunions and plantar fasciitis.

5.) By wearing Vivobarefoot, it will allow for increased mobility and flexibility to promote a more natural walking or running motion in your feet and lower legs.

Phillip Mangan of the US Vivobarefoot Team

I tried the Plantar Pressure Plate with the shoes I was wearing on day two of the conference, and I could immediately see the problem (it did not look like a foot on the screen). Next, Josh had me take my shoes off, and the image on the screen looked somewhat like a foot. He then had me go through a series of functional movements, such as using a SlackBlock, and then had me try on a Vivobarefoot shoe. That’s when I could immediately see a change on the plantar pressure plate, proper foot placement, and foot pressure evenly distributed within a shoe. After completing the functional movements, I stepped on the plantar pressure plate without shoes again and could see an improvement. I stepped to the side and simply thought about what I had just experienced. Around noon that day, I went to lunch with Helya, Josh, and Phillip (US Vivobarefoot Team) and listened to the wealth of knowledge they were sharing with one another. Then, we return to the conference to find even more attendees surrounding their booth, inquiring about the products on display.

Josh Holland of the US Vivobarefoot Team

After a few hours of engagement with attendees, Josh had a 45-minute presentation and a 15-minute breakout session for those who wanted an even better understanding of foot wellness. During his presentation, Josh provided “9 Principles of Natural Health,” which were: Mind and Breath, Psychological Resilience, Nutrition and Water, Fasting and Detox, Social Fitness, Grounding, Light and Sleep, Hot and Cold, and Barefoot Movement. He presented the question, “Are your shoes improving your health?” and provided an interesting fact: falls cost $50 billion per year in the United States. According to the National Institute of Health’s National Library of Medicine, “roughly 700,000 to 1 million patient falls occur in U.S. hospitals, resulting in around 250,000 injuries and up to 11,000 deaths.” Also, “more than one in four people age 65 years and older fall each year,” and “foot problems that cause pain and unsafe footwear such as backless shoes or high heels can also increase your risk of falling” (National Institute on Aging). Josh also presented the pre-release of “The Pligrim” which is a grounding boot complete with a conductive sole that allows for a closer connection to the Earth’s energy (free electrons that have been known to reduce inflammation among many other ailments). It was a favorite among the conference attendees!

(From Left to Right: Phillip Mangan, Helya Gen and Josh Holland of the US Vivobarefoot Team)

On the final day of the conference, I found myself standing at the Vivobarefoot, both absorbing all of the interactions of Helya, Josh, and Phillip with the conference attendees. Most notably, podiatrists, physical therapists, former professional athletes, electrical engineers, and a four-time Olympic track and field coach engaged with the Vivobarefoot team. One physical therapist student, who is near completion of his school, shared he wished he would have learned more of the methodologies and functional importance of tow strength, foot mobility and flexibility, and ankle functional movements. The student expressed the things he learned at the conference, especially with foot wellness, allowed him to think more broadly and his goal is to implement some of the functional movements and education learned through Vivobarefoot, once he begins his practice. The dialogue between Vivobarefoot and the above-mentioned professionals was truly remarkable!

(Video from the 10th Annual Biohacking Conference in Dallas, TX)

I had the privilege of wearing the “Motus Strength” and the newly relaeased “Motus Flex” shoes and immediately became a fan! Upon arriving back home, I subconsciously put on my favorite pair of Crocs to run an errand to the store and felt the discomfort in my feet. I couldn’t believe it! Although my brother has worn this product since 2009, I have just scratched the surface. I also questioned, Why haven’t I tried these shoes much earlier on? Better late than never! I now have a better understanding of the benefits of wearing Vivobarefoot, and it did not take long to get used to the shoes. They will definitely be my go-to shoes, and they should be yours as well. Not only does Vivobarefoot sell great shoes, they also provide “Vivohealth” guides and courses on foot health and wellness. Give them a try and experience the benefits yourself! Check out www.vivobarefoot.com and receive a discount on your purchase by using discount code MHM10; you won’t regret it!

Wearing my Motus Flex by Vivobarefoot! #happyfeet #footwellness