Barefoot living means moving with the seasons and exploring all year round.
But even the bravest barefooters know there is something extra special about spring’s arrival. It promises new life and fresh directions.
Not that emerging into spring feeling healthy is easy. Maybe you’ve not moved as much as usual through winter, or perhaps you’ve stayed active but are looking for renewed movement ideas.
Either way, Venus can help.
Venus is a flow-movement practitioner and coach based in LA. Flow movement is like dynamic, rhythmic yoga. It builds strength and balance throughout your body - including your brain!
Movement and nature connection are Venus’ passions, and we couldn’t think of a better person to offer five tips on how to start moving again this spring.
- Breathe the fresh spring air
Venus recommends stepping outside at the start of your day. “Reawakening my nature means connecting my body to the earth, especially in the morning when the sun is rising,” she says.
Anything that gets your blood pumping works well. Perhaps a short walk is the best way for you to enjoy the birdsong, sunlight and blossoms. Or you can mix it up!
The biggest thing is simply getting outside. Whether you’re in the real jungle or the urban jungle, spring promises new life. Stepping out in the morning is a wonderful way to make a habit of natural movement.
- Follow love, not fear
When Venus coaches, the first thing she asks is: “What is the entry point people need? And what are they really seeking?” Ultimately, she says, “you whittle it down and you get to really simple things … there is either love or there is fear.”
She recommends finding motivations rooted in love, not fear. “I try to ask people more love-based questions, like ‘What excites you?’ ‘What are the things that draw you?’ ‘What are the kind of exercises you enjoy doing?’”
Why? Because “that’s what’s going to keep them consistently doing it, enjoying it and eventually having all the results they want.”
So, what movements bring you joy? Focus on those!
- Put your back in to it
“The spine is the superhighway of the body,” Venus says. Especially if you haven’t been moving as much through the winter, moving your spine is an excellent starting point. And it can be super easy!
“I always say start by just standing up nice and tall, barefoot,” says Venus. Going barefoot, either literally or in her Vivos, is integral to Venus’ practice. She finds it grounds her and builds strength and balance.
Spinal movements can also be funkier. “The simplest thing we can do is go back to crawling on the floor,” Venus suggests. “Just simple baby crawls!” This has many benefits, she says. “You're going to be getting great spinal undulation and hip and shoulder oscillation.”
- Connect with community
Moving alongside others is key to Venus’ flow practice, and transforms the power of movement. “Bringing people together with movement is a beautiful thing,” she says. “It's bigger than just the movement itself. It's people coming together, being on the same page, doing something for a good cause… even if it's just two people.”
So, who do you love to move with? Whether it’s a friend, a team or even somebody you’ve not met yet, getting moving again can be social as well as physical.
- Give yourself a lift
Ready to step it up?
To prepare for more intensive workouts, Venus recommends bodyweight exercises to build a healthy foundation - things like squats, push ups, pull ups and lunges. “All those things are a great foundation to lead you into a more rigorous exercise routine,” she says.
You may be surprised at how strong you can get through bodyweight exercises. Especially with proper squat technique - and Vivos like the Primus Lite III or Geo Racer Knit, designed for barefoot workouts - you’ll be moving better than ever in no time.
Best of all, you don’t need any fancy equipment for bodyweight exercises. A garden or simply some floor space works just fine - and, if you don’t have a pull up bar, a sturdy tree branch!