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Although cutting-edge, equipment-based classes are among the most popular group fitness classes in clubs today, the growing trend of a return to body-only, barefoot classes deserves attention. Fitness seems to have come full circle, as one cannot help but recall the early days of Jane Fonda’s pre-choreographed workouts that encouraged participants to shed their shoes and discover their bodies from the feet up. With this growing trend, however, arise some cautions.
Barefoot classes can encourage proprioception and enhance balance. Stacey Lei Krauss, a professional fitness educator and Nike athlete, sheds her shoes in programs she creates like her willPower and Grace™ (willPowerFit.com) fusion classes, in which “barefoot training opens uncharted territory for instructors looking for the newest thing.”
“Because we have 33 joints in each foot that are worthy of articulation,” Krauss says, “we have muscles that need to be strengthened and stretched. In my opinion, teaching people how to land on their feet is amazing — and I’ve watched it change lives.”
Shannon Fable, CEO and owner of Sunshine Fitness Resources (sfresources.com) and Group Fitness Director of Colorado’s Lakeshore Athletic Club, agrees. “There’s a need,” she says, “to retrain the feet to be natural shock absorbers, to strengthen the lower leg complex, and to teach participants to accelerate and decelerate from the tips of the toes to the crowns of their heads, moving as one unit without the shoes we’ve relied on for so long making our feet lazy.”
The trend is not just for classes, however. Personal trainers sometimes invite their clients to remove their shoes when training. June Kahn, CPT, owner of Bodyworks LLC in Colorado (junekahn.com), affirms that when we work our personal training clients barefoot, “their muscles in the feet get strengthened, allowing for better balance and a stronger foundation to their base of support.”
In 2007, all MANIA conventions offered barefoot classes, which were among the most popular. Mind-body options like yoga, Pilates, T’ai Chi, Gyrotonic and Feldenkrais request participants to remove shoes from the start to create a more natural state of being.
Carol Scott, CEO of ECA World Fitness Alliance, includes barefoot sessions when she puts together programs. Scott says, “As a session program developer, I observe that martial arts and body sculpting fusion classes are utilizing barefoot training techniques to increase balance, kinesthetic and neuromuscular awareness. Working on the floor, utilizing balance training equipment, and even incorporating outdoor training are growing more and more, and participants look forward to it.”
Too much of a good thing literally can breed germs, however. During indoor barefoot classes, participants are most often either on a hardwood floor or on different types of gym and yoga mats. Because these floors and mats get used so frequently in sweaty, warm environments, clubs don’t always have time to clean them appropriately. In July of 2006, The New York Times reported a 50% growth in the last two years in the number of doctor visits from health club members complaining of foot issues like athlete’s foot and plantar warts. “The likely culprit? Unclean exercise mats,” the paper reported.
There are two messages here for health club management: First, it is necessary to encourage participants to purchase and reuse their own mats to eliminate 
shared mats and, consequently, reduce the spread of bacteria. Second, whenever possible, it is essential to educate both owners of their own mats and also the maintenance staff of clubs on the importance of cleaning both floors and mats to prevent the accumulation of bacteria and fungus.
Mat washing can be done via home remedies or purchased solutions. For the former, Emily Dalton, customer service manager for Hugger-Mugger Yoga Products, inventor of one of the most popular mats on the market, recommends cleaning mats about every other week to keep them sticky. “For light cleaning,” Dalton suggests mixing “one part water with three parts mild soap [like Woolite] in a spray bottle. Spritz the mat, and wipe it dry with a soft cloth or towel.”
Ready-made yoga mat cleaners are also available. Lauren Eirk, respected certified yoga instructor of laureneirk.com at the Louisville Athletic Club, uses Maxim. Websites such as www.yogasyz.com sell similar ready-made solutions.
Most facilities have such high traffic areas that cleaning mats between use proves impossible. Eirk says that most of their mind-body classes such as Power, Ashtanga, and HotYoga, get the mat so soaked that the club now requires students to bring their own mats. “There was no way to dry them out before putting the mat away or using for the next class,” she says.
Beyond cleaning sprays, there are new products on the market that also address these concerns. Some companies manufacture protectors for hands and feet like Yoga Paws (www.yogasyz.com). While these do not completely cover the surface of the skin or provide a constant barrier between skin and germs, they do provide an additional non-stick surface. F3: Fitness Foot Foam (www.bernardbiscontini.com) offers a different approach. Developed in German laboratories and produced in Spain, it is a cooling mousse for the feet that provides instant peppermint aromatherapy while also serving as an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiperspirant. It dries quickly as a clear powder. It absorbs moisture and helps diminish calluses and can be used both before and after yoga practice to help promote foot health.
What can participants do? Practice good foot hygiene, says Diane Berson, a leading dermatologist in New York City with a practice in her own name. “Begin your practice with clean feet on a clean surface, and finish with some type of anti-bacterial treatment on your feet.” A regular pedicure with sanitized instruments will also help ensure optimal foot health. Finally, keeping the feet dry and sanitized (which includes an anti-fungal product and changing socks frequently sometimes) will help bacteria at bay.
Taking off shoes to rediscover the feet can give an entire new dimension to both your group fitness and personal training. In addition, taking care of floors and mats, coupled with proper foot hygiene to disinfect and protect the feet, will ensure that wellness truly starts from the ground up.
Reference
Ellin, Abby. “Communal Yoga Mats: Beware of Germs.” The New York Times, July 27, 2006.
Lawrence Biscontini, M.A., is regularly-featured contributor for SCW publications and Specialty Certificates. Lawrence has won Instructor of the Year Awards from ACE (2002), IDEA (2004), and Can Fit Pro (Specialty, 2004), and Best Mind-Body Presenter from ECA (2005). Lawrence works as trainer and Wellness and Spa consultant for his company FG2000, Golden Door Spas, Reebok, AFAA, Resistaball® International and Gliding, and is the creator of Yo-Chi®. He is the national spokesperson for the Sisters of Saint Joseph Catholic Villa, his charity of choice. He possesses multiple personal training and group certifications and is a registered Yoga Alliance teacher. His latest book, Running the Show, addresses customer service for all industries, including fitness. Find Lawrence at findLawrence.com!
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AQUATIC SHAKTI: THE EXPERIENCE - FR1J - Friday, February 29, 9:00am–11:00am
THE LB METHOD - FR2C - Friday, February 29, 12:00pm–1:30pm
AQUA CYCLE - FR3K - Friday, February 29, 1:45pm–3:15pm
MOBILITY AND STABILITY DIM SUM - FR4D - Friday, February 29, 4:15pm–5:45pm
T'AI CHI FUNDAMENTALS - FR5A - Friday, February 29, 6:45pm–7:45pm
This is a MASTERCLASS: $10 MANIA ATTENDEES/ $20 Non-Attendees NO CECs
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FREE BOSU¨ WORKOUT! BOSU¨ BLOCK PARTY - FR5E - Friday, February 29, 5:50pm–6:40pm
SCHWINN¨ CYCLING: THIS RIDE ROCKS! - FR5I - Friday, February 29, 6:45pm–7:45pm
PLAYGROUND PLUS FEATURING COREPOLE - SA1G - Saturday, March 1, 7:00am–9:00am
PEAK PILATES¨ MVeª SPORTS BOOTCAMP - SA3L - Saturday, March 1, 11:45am–2:15pm
PEAK PILATES¨ MVeª SUPER SETS - SA4L - Saturday, March 1, 2:15pm–3:45pm
PEAK PILATES¨ MVeª EVERYBODY - SU2L - Sunday, March 2, 8:45am–10:15am
EX-TENSION - SU4D - Sunday, March 2, 1:00pm–2:30pm
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FREE BOSU¨ WORKOUT! BOSU¨ BLOCK PARTY - FR5E - Friday, February 29, 5:50pm–6:40pm
SCHWINN¨ CYCLING: GET SMART -SA1I -Saturday, March 1, 7:00am–9:00am
BOSU¨ CARDIO EXPRESS - SA2C - Saturday, March 1, 10:00am–11:30am
NAVIGATING THE FITNESS INDUSTRY AND FINDING YOUR PLACE IN IT -
SA4N - Saturday, March 1, 2:15pm–3:45pm
SOLE SYNTHESISª BY BALLETONE - SU1D - Sunday, March 2, 7:00am–8:30am
SCHWINN¨ CYCLING: HILLS AND SPRINTS - SU2I - Sunday, March 2, 8:45am–10:15am
NO EQUIPMENT NECESSARY - SU3G - Sunday, March 2, 11:155am–12:45pm
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PILATES REFORMER FUNDAMENTALS - FR1M - Friday, February 29, 9:00am–11:00am
AEROPILATES FREE-FORM CARDIO REBOUNDER: REFORM YOU BODY - FR2M - Friday, February 29, 12:00pm–1:30pm
PILATES REFORMER STUDIO BARREª TOTAL BODY TRAINER: PILATES - FR3M - Friday, February 29, 1:45pm–3:15pm
FIT FOR LIFE WORKOUT - SA1B - Saturday, March 1, 7:00am–9:00am
AEROPILATES¨ FREE-FORM CARDIO REBOUNDER: REFORM YOUR BODY -
SA3M - Saturday, March 1, 11:45am–2:15pm
PILATES REFORMER FOR ATHLETES - SA4M - Saturday, March 1, 2:15pm–3:45pm
PILATES BAR NONE - SA5L - Saturday, March 1, 4:00pm–5:30pm
PILATES BAR NONE (repeat session) - SU1L - Sunday, March 2, 7:00am–8:30am
PILATES REFORMER - MAGIC CIRCLE, BOX AND POLE -
SU3M - Sunday, March 2, 11:15am–12:45pm
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