November 2025: Think your balanced? Think again!

Welcome to 'The Vibrant Life' – a monthly newsletter where muscle health takes center stage, alongside movement, wellness, nutrition, and all the elements that contribute to a strong, vibrant you.

Think your balance is all in your legs? Your brain, feet, and even eyes would disagree. Balance isn’t just about standing on one foot—it’s a conversation between your muscles, joints, and nervous system.

As we move, subtle weaknesses in our feet or hips can throw off this conversation, leading to falls, fatigue, or pain.

The good news? Small, intentional exercises—like the ones below—can rewire your system to keep you steady and confident at any age. (And if this sparks your curiosity, there’s even more to explore in the Back to Barefoot course.)

Try This: Feel Your Balance in Action

Step 1:Stand up and slip off your shoes if you have any on. While standing barefoot, slowly lift one foot off the floor. (Use a chair, desk, or wall for support if needed.)Notice how your body responds to maintain balance.

Now close your eyes. Without your visual cues, your muscles and the signals coming from your feet have to step up to keep you steady. Can you feel the difference?

Step 2:Place your index fingers lightly on the outsides of your hips. Raise one foot off the ground and feel how your glutes and hip muscles engage. The foot is “talking” to the hips, sending messages about what’s happening below, and the hips respond by holding you steady.

Step 3:Stand with your feet together. Slightly lean forward a couple of inches, then back a couple of inches. Can you feel your spine and core kick in to keep you upright?

Balance isn’t rigid—it’s a fluid movement where all areas of your body communicate to keep you steady.

Why It’s All Connected

Now that you can feel how interconnected these systems are—it really is all connected—it’s easier to see why strong muscles, consistent balance practice, and healthy feet matter so much.

Consider this: what happens when you limit your feet’s ability to “talk” to your body by wearing cushioned shoes?

Did you know you can lose up to 40% of your balance just by putting on a pair of “supportive” shoes? This simple act can create chaos in your system, stress your muscles, and fatigue your body without even moving.

Over time, cushioned shoes can weaken your feet, compounding the problem.

Here’s a tip: consistently wearing barefoot shoes without changing anything else for six months can increase foot strength by up to 60%.

Want to Go Deeper?

Balance is just one piece of the puzzle. If you’re curious about how your feet, muscles, and overall movement connect—and want practical ways to feel stronger and steadier—my Back to Barefoot course dives into it all.

November enrollment is now open!

Early enrollers can submit their questions, and I’ll answer them in a special Q&A—your chance to get personalized guidance as you strengthen your balance, feet, and overall movement.