Thread: March Cross Training Reports? Barefoot cross training?

ok, we are in the third month of cross training 2010. how's it going? the yoga is helping me be much more conscious of where i'm holding little pockets of stress in my muscles. mostly shoulders and upper back for me.

how's everyone else's cross training going? how is it affecting your belly dancer?

btw: a trainer who was initially skeptical when he saw me working out in my vibram "toe" shoes is now converted to the benefits of working out bare foot or in "barefoot type shoes" and advocating it to his clients. win! i told him belly dance is good for the body head to toe

do you work out barefoot or in shoes?

If I am using weights at home, I tend to be barefoot. If I get on the elliptical, I wear my high arch birkenstocks, my feet bother me less that way (I have yet to find sneakers that have the right amount of arch support in the right places for me!).

I love tromping around the woods in the Vibram barefoot shoes though!

I'm in shoes on the rare occasion that I'm on a machine like an elliptical or treadmill. Aside from that - assuming I'm not in a gym or outside - it's bare feet all the way!

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

btw: a trainer who was initially skeptical when he saw me working out in my vibram "toe" shoes is now converted to the benefits of working out bare foot or in "barefoot type shoes" and advocating it to his clients. win! i told him belly dance is good for the body head to toe

do you work out barefoot or in shoes?

I just checked out the vibram website--fascinating! Which vibram shoe do you use? And do you run/walk outdoors in them?

I'm still boot camping ..g.: 2 days a week it's 30 strenous cardio and 30 minutes strength training. And I'm still in the intensive cardio for an hour once a week as well (same training group). In class we're covering Turkish style and have begun incorporating each piece of the traditional 5-part American Cabaret/Vintage Orientale--sooo, increased cardio fitness and strength is really paying off for me.

Originally Posted by NazirahDances

If I am using weights at home, I tend to be barefoot. If I get on the elliptical, I wear my high arch birkenstocks, my feet bother me less that way (I have yet to find sneakers that have the right amount of arch support in the right places for me!).

I love tromping around the woods in the Vibram barefoot shoes though!

NazirahDances,

I posted here before I saw that you also use Vibrams. Which one do you use? It sounds like you really like them.

I have the classics (because I cross creeks in them), it DID take me some time to get used to them. They also need to fit perfectly, the first pair I had didnt, and I never got used to them. Actually went into a store the second time and tried them on and found a size that worked better for me.

I'll have to check that out. I'm seldom barefoot ( and never around weights! I like my feet too much) mostly because my floors at home are way splintery. I do wear toesox when I do dance workouts & the Nike Frees I have are reasonably close to a barefoot feel. I do have a workout that's done best in bare feet...I'll look it up & give y'all the link. I believe its Stacy Krauss. I really enjoyed doing it & have recc'd it as excellent cross-training for dancers.