There are thousands of nerve endings in the skin, on the bottom of the foot and these nerve endings are sensitive to different stimuli such as texture, vibration, pressure and skin stretch.
The What – You work out barefoot.
The Why – Footwear has cushion and therefore dampens vibrations that are felt under your feet as you move.
That vibration stimulus when your foot strikes the ground, detects how hard you strike and can affect your balance. Think of the vibration as noise. That noise or vibration sends information to your brain letting it know that your foot has struck the ground. For example, if you walk on a pebble road with shoes, the vibration will be dampened and the sensory input you receive minimal. Now imagine the same scenario without shoes. All those tiny nerve endings will be screaming at you because there is no dampening. The feeling you get will be quite different. You will feel a lot more. There are times you need to pump up the volume or enhance your sensory input in order to get better information. So, this is where working out (training) barefoot comes into play.
Another Reason Why – As a fitness coach I cannot see through your shoes. Being able to see your feet, how you stand/walk and all other types of movements, allows me to better serve you and coach you. You will also be amazed of how much more you can feel barefoot vs in shoes.
In addition, take a look at Naboso insoles. They have developed the first-ever small nerve proprioceptive insoles and mats designed to stimulate the nervous system and enhance movement.