July 20, 2021

Shoe Fetish

Shoes. Over. Everything. 👟

Many of us will obsess about the right workout clothes but throw on “gardening” sneakers to go workout. THE HORROR 😱

Your #1 Fitness Accessory…

I Learned The Hard Way…
Our sneakers are the ONLY protection we have to protect our feet from gravity and the hard floor. It’s not to be taken lightly. When I first started teaching, I suffered two  injuries related to worn sneakers – a broken metatarsal and plantar fasciitis –  before I started taking my athletic shoes more seriously. Since then, I’ve become a bit of a shoe vigilante. 

Our shoes are the only protection we have to diffuse the impact of gravity to our bodies. If you are experiencing any knee, back or foot pain, your sneakers are the #1 culprit.

If you were to tell a store clerk you are buying shoes for a “Zumba” or dance class, they will likely give you a cross trainer or court shoe. These types of shoes  provide support moving side to side, but not enough cushion to protect your body from an hour of HIIT Mojo. 

Hoka’s have been a popular choice with our Mojo community because of their thick sole which helps decrease pressure to the foot and knee.

Did you know this common advice from orthopedists?

Your sneakers may still might look like new.
They can be expensive and it may seem like you JUST got them.

Holding on to old shoes is the most preventable reason for sustaining a sports injury.

Shoes age from the inside out. If your shoes look old on the outside, they’re long overdue. If you are experiencing knee or back aches, it could be your shoes.

*Instead of buying expensive shoes you change out once a year, buy less expensive shoes and change them out more often.

As a a high impact, over pronator, On Cloud’s “Cloud Flyer” is one of my fave shoes.

What type of shoe is best?

Tennis shoes or running shoes? If you were to tell a store clerk you are buying shoes for a “Zumba” or dance class, they will very likely give you a cross trainer or court shoe which provides support moving side to side, but not enough cushion to protect your body from an hour of HIIT Mojo. 
 
Most dance classes have lots of turns, and sudden changes in direction. Mojo choreography is fairly straight forward – for good reason. I choose to avoid tricky, unsafe movements so we can focus on intensity. In the end it’s your personal preference what shoes are best for you. 

 

Running or cross trainer shoes?  

Even if you’re doing low impact Mojo, one hour of Mojo is a lot on your joints. Any foot expert will tell you that doing over 20 minutes of on going cardio requires a running shoe – which is designed to help minimize the impact on your joints. 

Which running shoe? It could not hurt to have your foot “diagnosed” as to what type of shoe might be best for you. I am an “over pronator” which I hit the ground on the outside of my foot first. Because of this, I try to get running shoes that are built up on the outside so that I don’t roll my ankle.

How often should you replace your shoes?  You should replace your running shoes as often per year as you work out per week. If you work out 4 days a week, you should change your shoes every season. If you wear them outside of exercising, you should change them more often.

Another way to tell the age of your shoes…Shoes age from the inside out. If your shoes look old on the outside, it’s likely they’re long overdue!

 

Over the counter orthotics help preserve our joints and precious feet

The newest doctor recommended accessory – Shoe Orthotics!

A majority of our Mojo community have started wearing over-the-counter “sport” orthotics, designed to absorb shock. These inserts provide better cushion and arch support than the original sneaker manufacturer.

I used to think orthotics were for people who were already experiencing pain, but this is not the case. It’s for preventative reasons too. (Love them!). Another misnomer is that they are expensive or need to be custom made. False.

Even if you have expensive sneakers, the insert is typically a razor thin. Personally, I replace the insert inside all my sneakers with over the counter orthotics. My fave is Dr. Scholls Sport Inserts, but there are lots of options out there 

Key Tip: Make sure you remove the previous shoe insert before putting in the orthotic.

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