I think this would feel wonderful!

Awhile ago truce wrote about spontaneously walking home from work barefoot in downtown Sydney and I was reminded of her experience when I saw this Grauniad article about Barfuss (barefoot) walks.

On a specially-designed Barfuss you don’t simply trudge over rather samey woodland floor. At Trentham, different stages of the walk present you with running water (pumped from the lake), stone and brick (from the remains of the old house), sand, grass, logs, planks, pebbles, flint, those knobbly paving stones you find near pedestrian crossings and – at the start – a mudbath the colour of dark chocolate.

The beneficial effects on your whole body of stimulating your feet is the basis of the ancient practice of reflexology. In China, reflexology paths paved with different types of stone have been around for thousands of years and are regularly walked on for relaxation and to promote longevity.

Research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in 2005 showed that walking reflexology paths three times a week for 30 minutes a session over 16 weeks can reduce blood pressure and improve balance.

As a kid I remember going barefoot all summer and so every autumn when school started my shoes always felt extra tight because my feet had spread out so much. Even now I can’t stand wearing shoes, so I’m lucky that I can wear sandals for at least eight months out of the year. But I don’t actually go barefoot much anymore, except at home and at the beach.

I don’t think I’d like to try walking barefoot in downtown Sevilla. Not only because of the horseshit everywhere but also because of the dangers of cutting myself. As well as feeling grossed out about possibly stepping where dogs have peed and people have spat or vomited, etc.

But one of these reflexology paths sounds like it would be amazing.