It's called the MBT shoe, which stands for Masai Barefoot Technology. The design of the shoe and the sole are based around the way members or the Masai Tribe in Africa walk tall and barefoot on the desert sand.
The shoes aren't about fashion, but function.
The secret of the shoe is in the sole. It's curved like a mini canoe. Bellevue Chiropractor Carl Jelstrup says that design helps your posture and stride.
"The construction of the shoe helps your posture so you gradually start to straighten your posture," he says. "Your shoulders come in, and the gait itself changes into a more primitive gait."
Jelstrup also adds that change in your posture helps cure back, hip and foot pain. Add he says the shoe helps build up muscle and can help get rid of dimple fat close to your skin known as cellulite.
"When you increase muscular strength, you will invariably increase circulation and thereby decrease cellulite," he said. "Cellulite is simply an inflammatory condition of the circulation system."
A Big Buzz
As the owner of the Seattle store "MJ Feet," Melanie Grimes knows about shoes. She founded the store 30 years ago, and was the first shoe store in the state to sell Birkenstocks.
When she heard about MBT's and what they do for your overall health, she picked up the line and started selling them.
"It does what no other shoe or exercise routine does," Grimes said. "When you are walking in the course of your day, you are able to be improving your posture and increasing your circulation, and they are rumored to help fight cellulite, that's some of the big buzz."
In fact, a British test showed a 50 percent reduction in cellulite in women who wore the shoe for just one month.
And that's not all. Grimes says, "It reduces varicose veins, and tends to tone the muscle and increases the circulation and the posture and the main way it does that is by allowing your foot to move completely."
Classes For Shoes?
But when you buy the shoe, you simply can't just take them out of the box and lace them up. The sole of the shoe changes your center of gravity. So, the shoe comes with an instructional DVD, or you can take a free class to learn how they work.
"Not everyone has time, to buy a shoe and take a class and learn how to walk again," Grimes said.
Also, the price might be steep for everyone who doesn't want to pay around $250 for a pair. But, Jelstrup says he's never come across patient in pain who has said "no way."
"If I have a solution to solve pain, $250 is chicken feed," he said, adding: "In the medical community today, trust me, that's just for shaking the doctors hand and letting him use his stethoscope."
More about the Masai Barefoot Technology
Swiss Masai introduces a revolutionary new fitness aid that will change the way most of us use our muscles as well as reduce shock forces to the entire skeletal system. MBT® or Masai Barefoot Technology® is not just a shoe, but an amazing training tool for everyone.
Through its multi layered sole MBT® transforms flat, hard, artificial surfaces into natural, uneven ground. Wearing MBT® is like walking in sand. Unlike most conventional training shoes that only support and cushion your feet, the unique uplifting lever spring action of the MBT® sole challenges the core strengthening muscles to be more active. This reactive, more supportive muscle action creates good posture and increases shock absorption for all the joints, significantly reducing musculo-skeletal compression.
Walking more upright not only looks good, it makes us healthier and stronger, and we feel younger. The back and joints are strengthened, circulation is increased and breathing is more efficient. MBT® lengthens and strengthens the whole body while standing, walking and in gentle running.
Walking, Jogging and Power Rocking in MBT® are popular and fun techniques to develop good posture while getting in shape through aerobic exercise. This is why many call MBT® "the smallest gym in the world".
What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~
