I hope everyone is having a lovely summer. It’s always such a pack-it-in time of year for those of us on the Third Coast– we revel in the good weather, and fill these (too-short) months with outdoor concerts, al fresco dining, camping, swimming, you name it! It is my personal favorite time of the year because it means I can resume my practice of barefoot walking at the beach. It has been a particularly great year because instead of walking on the sand (which means I have to keep a vigilant eye to the ground to avoid stepping on glass), I’ve been walking in the water on the sand bar that stretches the entire length of the beach. It’s really a pleasure, and with the resistance that walking in water provides, it has an additional health/strengthening benefit!  And, walking barefoot may have even farther reaching benefits: A client recently told me about the growing movement called “Earthing”– that apparently there is great value in having direct contact with the Earth on a daily basis– sans shoes or other interference.-DSC_0205http://easyhealthoptions.com/barefoot-and-healthy-join-the-earthing-movement/.  Although I have just started hearing about this, and I cannot support or debunk it’s value professionally, I CAN say that I absolutely feel worlds better after my barefoot walks at the beach! Could this be the sound of the waves, the cool water on my skin, the sunshine and infusion of Vitamin D, the happy children splashing about? All of these things contribute to my sense of well-being, but no doubt it must be good for we Earthlings to connect with our Mother Earth!