Barefoot Maidens, Lightfoot Lads

I love being barefoot.  I'm barefoot now, in my office at the ad agency sitting on top of a Gaiam.com exercise ball to tone my abs as I type away.  I'll post pictures in one moment once my camera battery re-charges. 

No, those are not a picture of my feet - but great toe action, eh?

At the Ashram, I've learned the art of leaving shoes in the vestibule of each house before I enter. All over the Ashram are lovely barefoot maidens and lightfoot lads springing into handstands and full lotus.  Okay no, well, yes, mostly on weekends, when the big hatha yoga groups come.   In front of the room I house this body in at the Ashram is a litter of shoes - that I keep meaning to organize.  Here in the office, I always have quite a few pairs underneath my desk.

Being an advertising producer, yogini, singer who likes to go out to different functions after work, I need many shoes to match my many hats.  In 1998, for my birthday at the first PR firm where I worked they told me I was "every woman" - and played the song for me.  Plus, I'm from the Philippines, where our crowned queen had an unbeatable shoe fetish. 

But honestly, it's much better to be barefoot - your toes - can dance when you are barefoot.  Hatha yoga is much easier.  Energy pulses from each toe into your major internal organs when you don't squish your tootsies in boots. 

But we live in the big city where we can't really walk around barefoot as we can on the beach.  And even at the Ashram - where barefoot is the highest of fashion dictates - we have cold, freezing winters to contend with.  So what's the solution?

Reflexology?  Yes.  Soaking the feet?  Yes.  Legs up the wall pose.  Absolutely.

But I think proper shoes are in order as well.  Some of my favorite brands are Merrells - they need smaller sizes!  And I'm a tiny little yoga person as my friend calls me (ever-expandingly huge spirit, small body) and I do like to wear my heels - especially when I'm wearing a fancy dress or like today, when I'm wearing a long skirt.  And it's incredibly difficult to find comfortable heels - but once in a while, I'll find a delightful pair.  Kenneth Cole makes super comfortable heeled shoes.

Perhaps A. Fashionista has some recommendations.