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May 2025

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Interesting Stuff

The Farmers' Market is open for the season. Robinson Park has so many great vendors. Honey Shack has honey from raspberry fields, and it's spectacular. 

Random thing I read on the internet, attributed to Dr. Carrie Rigoni: "If punishing ourselves led to healing, we'd all be well by now." This line pairs perfectly with another gem from Krista Scott Dixon's page:  "It's not about willpower. It's about support." Take those into your new year with you and hold them close. 

 

Music

*Music for the resistance: Take a walk and listen to Rizzlekick's latest Competition is for Losers. Check out "Good Luck." or "Pleasure & Pain." Macklemore goes all out on "F*cked Up." Listen to "Funeral for Justice," Mdou Moctar, "Notes from My Future Self," Jon Batiste, "Hostile Government Takeover," AGiftfromTodd, "Room on the Porch," Taj Mahal & Keb Mo, and "Speak Out," Rising Appalachia & Ani DiFranco.

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Minimalist Shoes and Studio Shoes

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We've got 29 muscles in our feet. Our feet are meant to be active. 

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Minimalist shoes (sometimes called barefoot shoes) can help our feet stay stronger. They usually have little or no arch support and they are zero drop, which means there’s no difference in height between the ball and heel. I've found that my hips prefer a zero drop shoe, but it does mean more work for my Achilles tendon. A good barefoot shoe is wider than a traditional shoe so that our toes can splay (toe-splay-and-why-it's-important). Some minimalist shoes have very thin soles for optimal ground feel, and generally they are flexible so the foot can move and flex while we walk.  

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Not all minimalist shoes have thin, flexible soles. Some options are shaped-like-feet and zero drop yet are quite stiff or have very rugged soles. Topo Shoes and Lems (find locally at Happy Hiker in Old Town) and Altra shoes (find at REI) are examples of these. If your feet are narrow, there may be some Merrell options that work for you. REI also carries Xero shoes and sandals as well as Bedrock sandals that are zero drop, no arch support, and more flexible than a Chaco sandal. 

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 If you want to throw down some bigger bucks for cuter shoes, go to Anya's Shop, where you'll find shoes for work and play in a variety of fun styles: loafers, sandals, boots, slides and sneakers.  I'm wearing thin sandals from Shamma, slightly thicker sandals from Bedrock, running shoes from Freet, and hiking boots, the Farmer from Realfoot, which are very wide at the front with a narrower heel. 

 

If you wish to wear shoes while dancing at Studio Sway, you need a pair that is worn in our studio only. If they’re worn outside, or even at your home or another dance studio, there’s likely little rocks that adhere to the sole and can scratch the studio’s floor. Minimalist shoes are a bit wider and more flexible than traditional sneakers, so you can dance and strengthen your feet and ankles more than in a rigid shoe. One option is to look for water shoes, which often are thin and flexible (though not necessarily wide or foot-shaped). If you're looking for less expensive minimalist shoes, Saguaro and Hobibears are brands with a decent reputation. 

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Katy Bowman’s Whole Body Barefoot is short, easy and pleasant to read. It explains the benefits of minimalist shoes. If you have foot pain, check out her book to see if what you need isn’t a stiff shoe with rigid arch support.

 

Activewear Suggestions

 

Locally, I like Savers for used, and I like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Nordstrom Rack for discounted wear. 

REI has a great return policy for members, so go ahead and wear that bra or walk in those shoes for up to a year and return them if they don't work. 

 

Athleta has excellent quality clothing, and they've opened a store at Academy and Wyoming. Lululemon, located in the outdoor Q mall, is also excellent quality, but like Athleta, they're expensive. 

 

Remember to wash activewear separate from cotton clothing and then hang dry all your activewear to keep them soft and free from pilling.