Ever think about going for a nice long stroll under the morning sun with all the beautiful greenery and fresh air waiting to embrace you—sans shoes? Well you’d might to take us up on that after reading our article on the benefits of walking barefoot! Chockfull of incredible benefits, walking barefoot has been a practice people who wish to live a holistic, healthy, and well-balanced life swear by. For more information about the phenomenon, here are the 10 incredible benefits you can reap from walking barefoot! Feel free to chuck your shoes in the bin in 3…2…1…

Fact 1: Mother Nature truly knows how to nurture! Simply by walking barefoot on a wonderful country side, or even beautiful green slopes, you inadvertently enjoy the benefits of reflexology. This is known as the therapeutic form of a foot massage. Reflexology is the application of adequate pressure on specific points on the feet, hands, or ears. Reflexologists believe that these reflex points correspond to different organs and systems. By pressing on these points it is believed that a great deal beneficial effects on the organs and the person’s general health are achieved.

Fact 2: Walking barefoot strengthens your feet and ankles! Yes, that’s right. From your toes to your knees, the entire area gets stronger. Walking barefoot toughens that skin of your feet, especially the sole, and builds muscle around the foot, ankle, leg, and knee areas. Because our feet are inherently durable, we can endure walking and running barefoot without any chronic overloading!

Fact 3: Studies show that direct physical contact with the Earth’s soil and its limitless and constantly restored natural energy or electrons help with ridding the free-radicals that plague our bodies. When we allow ourselves to walk barefoot, our body is able to absorb these electrons from the Earth through the soles of the feet. This energy is believed to be one of the most potent antioxidants available to man, also boasting anti-inflammatory effects on the body among several other health benefits.

Fact 4: Walking barefoot allows you to have better balance! You can balance your body better when you have a full grip with all your toes planted firmly on the ground. It’s difficult to achieve this sort of balance when you have your shoes on. This is why martial arts and yoga have you doing poses and stunts barefoot to ensure stability and balance.

Fact 5: Going barefoot relieves any pain you may feel on your back and goes as far as correcting your posture. People who have also started walking barefoot have noted that over a period of 6 months, they no longer suffer from fatigue when walking long distances and clicking knees during sprints.

Fact 6: It’s great for your blood circulation. When walking barefoot, your hands and feet will no longer feel like they’ve been chucked inside the freezer all day during late nights or early mornings. Because walking barefoot increases blood circulation, you’ll no longer feel the need to wear socks around the house or cup your hands around a cup o’ joe.

Fact 7: You become more aware about your surroundings. Being alert about where you’re headed and what you’re stepping on allows you to avoid injuries. Because you’re walking barefoot without the protection of your shoes, you’re going to need to see the path ahead of you in order to avoid blisters, wounds, or puddles!

Fact 8: Walking barefoot improves…your eyes?! Yes, you read that right! And if you couldn’t read it, you might want to give barefoot walking a go to improve your vision! Walking barefoot improves your eyesight because when walking, you put pressure on your first, second, and third toes: the reflexology pressure points which correspond to your eyes.

Fact 9: It’s a stress reliever, too! Walking barefoot on grass in the morning helps rejuvenate your senses and helps quiet the mind. In addition, the green color of the grass is the color best suited for soothing tired eyes.

Fact 10: Walking barefoot is already a great way to battle insomnia, anxiety, and depression! Because our bodies are made up of 60 percent water, we’re great for conducting electricity. The negative ions in the Earth detoxify, calm, reduce inflammation, and synchronize our internal clocks!