Interesting articles around a barefoot lifestyle.
Lawyer and athlete Katharina, 32 years old, loves her Leguano’s more than anything. We accompanied her through her first pregnancy. While not only her body, her sense of smell and taste changed during her pregnancy, she also “got over the insatiable need to just walk barefoot”. leguano : How did you get into running barefoot? Even before your pregnancy? KK: Before my pregnancy, I sporadically wore Leguano’s in my spare time. I found them comfortable and, for example, I liked to combine my leguano chester with a chic dress and dark leggings. That always looked good. Naturally, my body changed quite a bit during pregnancy. From the 3rd month it felt like a strange feeling to wear sturdy shoes on your feet. I was overcome by the insatiable need to only carry Leguano’s. I became almost addicted to walking through the forest in leguanos and enjoying the harmony with nature. It was like a primal feeling that suddenly broke out of me…. leguano: Are there any special advantages of leguanos during pregnancy? What are your experiences? KK: I felt a significant relief for my pelvis and my movements. As a happy, healthy human child, I had no discomfort or pain when walking before. But it was just like my inner voice was telling me "put on those barefoot shoes". I felt much more connected to nature, much more grounded and simply better embedded in the “environment” work of art. leguano: From this I hear a closeness to nature, the loving treatment of oneself, awareness, attention, mindfulness ... KK: Yes. I think that as a pregnant woman you listen to your gut feeling much better. The sensory perceptions become stronger so that one becomes clearly aware of what is good for one. You treat yourself more lovingly and more carefully. I think nature arranged this to protect the unborn life that one carries under one's heart. And leguanos were simply the means of choice to give me a beautiful pregnancy with every step. My friend Gina always says: If the mother is fine, the child in her tummy is also fine. And I was fine thanks to leguanos. I sometimes walked 8-10 km a day in the second and third trimesters. I couldn't have done that so easily in bad shoes. leguano: Did you also do sports during pregnancy? KK: Yeah of course. Of course, I only listened to my body. At the beginning of pregnancy, when you feel tired and are fighting against nausea, after 15 minutes on the stepper I had already satisfied my daily need for exercise because my body needed rest. In the second trimester, when you're as strong as a lioness, I could move for hours. And of course I then actively wore my sun-yellow leguano to the gym. Depending on my gut feeling, I did endurance sports or weight training (with significantly less weights) and always made sure that my son was doing well. I have to admit that I used to do 1.5 hours of sport at least 4-5 times a week. So it was completely normal that I had a strong need for exercise even during pregnancy. leguano: What are the biggest advantages of leguanos compared to conventional (sports) shoes? KK: You have a better, more natural grip and no foreign body sensation on your foot. If you specifically train your core muscles or your sense of balance with certain exercises, you can often leave your shoes on because you are practically barefoot in the leguanos, just with a little more protection for the soles of your feet. It is a good feeling. Once you've tasted blood, you don't wear anything else. leguano: You listen to your stomach in two ways. Can you tell pregnant women something from your experiences? KK: I think that every pregnant woman is different and has different needs in each moment. One of them urgently needs rest and sleep, the next one has a craving for meat, the third one doesn't want to sit still and go for a walk through nature all the time. I believe that one should primarily listen to oneself. Nature takes over and shows you the right way. leguano: How do you experience the barefoot feeling yourself? Has that changed anything for you? KK: Walking barefoot makes you more grounded and more or less merges with the ground. It's just a wonderful feeling that makes you feel happy. I also noticed in my circle of friends that leguano carriers are already doing more for their health and inner balance anyway. The Leguano’s are another way for you to live in harmony with nature and also on your feet without foreign objects. leguano : leguanos give you support and stability on your feet. What gives you a hold in life? KK: My family, my friends and my sport. I am incredibly grateful that I had such an ideal childhood and such a great home. So I'm all the more happy to soon be doing the wonderful things with my own child that I loved in my childhood: catching the first rays of sunshine in spring, going swimming in summer, making chestnut men in autumn and baking cookies for Christmas ... leguano: Will you dress your children with leguanos too? KK: Yes of course. I want my child to have as healthy a childhood as I do and to be as good as me. Therefore: a lot of motherly love for his heart, leguanitos for his feet. This strengthens his ankle, trains the foot muscles and protects against foot misalignments . leguano: Which leguano is your favorite shoe right now? KK: I love the leguano style flamingo. The hold is optimal, you can combine it with almost any dress and this fresh orange border ensures that you are in a good mood when you put it on. If it has to be a bit more subtle, I wear the leguano style rose. It has the same excellent hold, but goes better with dark clothes. leguano: Finish the sentence: I wear leguano barefoot shoes… KK: … because life is too short for bad shoes. If I can be so happy with so little effort, why should I choose something else? That would be like not eating a chocolate cake anymore, although with every bite you can get a little closer to heaven.
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 It’s far from Yoga I was reared!
by Rhea Peel Work outs in my house were the chores, walking to the supermarkets (and walking back laden down with a weeks’ worth of shopping), playing outdoors, the odd time going with your mam to that weird aerobics class in the church hall, or attempting to follow her Jane Fonda cassette tape… yes… cassette tape, not even a video! Yoga was not a word I would have heard growing up, and certainly didn’t seem to feature in the society around me. It seemed to me that yoga exploded into existence some time in my teens. Now, I know that it has existed for thousands of years, but not in my little world. Even when it did start edging into the corners of the society I grew up in, it was regarded with a great degree of scepticism and a nice helping of ridicule! It was something that was just for bendy, wealthy, ‘yummy mummy’s with too much time on their hands - (also, side note, I’m a mother now and there is no such thing as a mother with too much time on their hands, there could never be enough!) - or those with hippie notions that just came back from their gap year in India with baggy pants, and a new religion. I’ve since learned that yoga was first popularised in the west as early as the 1920s, and 30s, with yoga gurus and their disciples bringing the knowledge with them as they emigrated to the US, and Europe – however, it was still a small niche, nothing like the booming trend we see today. Through my teens, and early 20s I engaged in no formal exercise, people that formally worked out, went to classes, or certainly, did YOGA, were a different breed from me… surely? It was then recommended to me as part of my recovery programme for mental health, and it had a lot of coverage in popular media at the time. Celebs were shooting off to Ashrams left right and centre, and yoga studios were popping up in places where they would have been laughed out of town previously. I still felt that it just wasn’t for me. It’s funny how we’re brought up with certain ideas about what is ‘for us’ and what isn’t. The truth is you can try anything, well you know, within reason and legality, and if you like it – hooray, it is for you! I read a bit about it, looked at a few DVDs and instructions, and just huffed and puffed… and pushed it away. Just LOOK at those people, they look like ballerinas, and contortionists! Their bodies bend like pipe cleaners, and they don’t even break a sweat, no, no, that’s NOT ME. The rise of YouTube was a phenomenal help in my personal journey with Yoga - doesn’t that even seem like such a notion ridden thing to say - (hello internalised judgements) - but there it is. YouTube is brilliant, you can now find any number of people – all different shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and of different levels of abilities, engaging in yoga, and instructing. My personal favourite is Yoga with Adriene, I find her tutorials easy to follow, and she always offers alternative movements for different levels of mobility. I also love Jessamyn Stanley – she has absolutely smashed the stereotypes around what kind of ‘body’ you need for yoga. Then there is Dean Pohlman over at Man Flow Yoga – an impressive athlete and yoga instructor, and the fabulous Ben Clark at Adapt to Perform, proving that a wheelchair is no barrier to enjoying yoga; Age is also no excuse, which was beautifully shown by the late Tao Porchon – Lynch, who was still teaching classes aged 98! It’s so accessible, with such a variety of teachers, and types of yoga practice to choose from, and we have an absolute wealth of information on its benefits. Yoga can help improve: posture, joint pain, balance, heart health, mental health, sleep, muscle strength, and self-esteem – just to name a few! It is incredibly useful in the treatment of high stress levels, trauma, and anxiety. The powerful impact that a yoga practice can have on individuals has been recognised widely at this stage, and we see it being employed at so many levels of society. It has been used in education, as therapy for those with additional needs, in prisons, even by NASA, and the US military, the list goes on. And me, personally? I love it. It is such a relaxing contrast to the HIT workouts, or aerobics classes – although yoga can be intense too, whatever your preference – I find it gives me space in my mind, and I feel, tangibly, the space it creates in my body. It is also so encouraging to see improvement, you’ll do a pose one way, and maybe get frustrated that you can’t go further, only to find that as time goes by – doing nothing more than carrying on, breathing deep, and following the instructions – suddenly, you can! I remember my friend showing me her ‘crow pose’ a few years ago. My immediate reaction, again, was ‘no, no, not for me – I’ll never be able to do that’ – it looked impossible! Yet, a year or so later, and at the time improving by also attending physical yoga classes in my locality (how’ya mammy, too much time on your hands?) – I did it. No, it wasn’t perfect, it may not have looked impressive, but I did it, and it was good enough for me. I also have to give a big thumbs up to doing yoga outdoors, there is a totally different energy, and life to it – if you can find a peaceful spot outside, even just the back garden – or on the beach, or in a forest if you’re feeling adventurous (and if lockdown ever ends, yawn!). Trust me, you’ll know exactly what I mean. I also highly recommend the Leguano shoes as an option for outdoor practice – Yoga for me is a barefoot activity, it’s the best way to enjoy it and feel the feedback from your body – but if you are an outdoors yoga enthusiast, these are the perfect fit. You get almost the same feedback as being totally barefoot, and 100% of the same mobility, whilst protecting your precious feet from the elements, and no need to cart your yoga mat with you! Speaking of equipment, for Yoga you need very little! All I have is a simple mat, two blocks, and a strap. I would always recommend investing in a good mat – as this helps protect your knees, hips and other areas when practising indoors, on hard floors. Also, the blocks, and straps, are quite cheap to pick up, and will last years! I thought Yoga was, well, just a notion! My mind has been permanently changed, and if this inspires even one person to get on the mat, I’ll be delighted. Trust me, you will not be disappointed, just find the practice, and the instructor, that works for you. The Leguano Production Story
We often get asked about the price of our products – and yes, we totally get it, they are at the higher end! The fact is, that unfortunately, you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to clothes, and shoes. Leguano was founded in 2004, the brainchild of long-distance runner, and journalist, Helmuth Ohlhoff – in Sankt Augustin Germany. Helmuth’s vision was not only to create a running shoe that supported the natural movement and development of the feet, but also, to create a shoe of superior quality, and produce them in Germany. Leguano were not designed by a fashion designer, but rather, by professionals in sport, who knew first-hand the down sides of standard running shoes on their health, and sporting activities. The experience and expertise that has gone into their design is so far beyond your average shoe. A large number of shoes on the international market are mass produced, and the goal is to keep costs low, and production levels high. Helmuth blazed a new trail, re training local people in the art of hand crafting, and sewing, to realise his dream - of a more sustainable, high quality, artisan product. Hand made takes time, precision, and our workers are paid a fair wage! Leguano shoes have been hand made in Germany since 2004, and still are to this day, in a town called Buchholz in the Westerwald, a region between Cologne and Frankfurt. Their materials are also sourced in Germany. We all know that ‘German made’ is synonymous with ‘well made’ – they are market leaders in quality production. Many models of the Leguano are made of a specially selected textile, this is woven in one fluid piece, eliminating unnecessary seems and disturbance to the feet. They are flexible, breathable, but they are also humidity resistant. Most of our shoes are made from microfibre – a combination of polyamid, elastan, lyocell and/or polyester. Some, the Demin for instance, include large percentages of cotton (70%). The sole is our own patented design, made from LIFOLIT, a rubber composition. This is the only element of the shoe that is made by machine, for ultimate durability. They are non-slip, super flexible, and resistant to modern daily life. High quality design, high quality materials, handmade, and all of the materials sourced within Germany, this is their ethos, and it is a commendable one! One of the major milestones in the Leguano story was the opening of the first barefoot shoe store in Bad Zwischenahn in 2013. Now there are 180 stores throughout Germany, and providers throughout the EU and worldwide – from Ireland to China, and Australia! This just goes to show the growing movement toward wearing barefoot shoes, and the unquestionable success of the brand. Now several years into development, Leguano shoes give the wearer their full range of motion, whilst still providing year-round protection from the elements, and dangers of modern life. The upper material is designed to hold in heat, whilst not causing any restriction to movement. They are also machine washable, so no need to fret about messy excursions! What price do you put on your physical health? This is really the question we should also be asking ourselves – what will years of back pain, hip pain, knee pain, cost you in the long run? We have several articles in the blog that go into more detail about the benefits of barefoot shoes, and I would urge you to give them a read. They are suitable for everyone, from childhood to old age. They are also suitable for many foot shapes and sizes, due to their flexibility. Whether walking the dogs, climbing mountains, doing yoga, parkour, or just the daily shop – Leguano stands up to the challenge, every time. Instead of needing 10 pairs of shoes for different activities – and having to replace them on a regular basis – your Leguanos are a sound investment piece, that will also protect your physical well-being. Our production story is one of expertise, ethical thinking, and a focus on health and well-being, and personally, I think they are worth every penny (and my once cranky knees, well, they are in full agreement!). |
Archives
March 2021
CategoriesAktiv black
€139.99
Set yourself up for success with the sporty Aktiv. leguano’s most popular model has all the classic qualities of the traditional barefoot shoe with a few added features. Enjoying a slightly thicker sole and complete with a lace-up finish, these multi-purpose shoes are simply ideal for walking, hiking, running or springing into your lunch break with agility. What’s more, possessing a bespoke anti-slip and non-marking sole these gems are rapidly becoming the shoe of choice for boaters setting their sights on the high seas. So if you’re looking for a quality barefoot experience, with the traditional look of a tie-up shoe, all you have to do is strap yourself in for the ride! Please note that the Aktiv is a unisex model. Aktiv Yellow
€139.99
Introducing the sporty Aktivs – A true necessity for the dedicated barefooter! This latest style has the same classic qualities with a few added features; First, they have a slightly thicker sole making them ideal for walking and hiking longer distances. Second, they have a stylish lace-up look. They are truly a multi-purpose shoe that can be worn for an infinite amount of activities, especially barefoot running/training, outdoor adventure, and travel. They are also quickly becoming the shoe of choice for boaters because of their anti-slip and non-marking sole. If you are craving the feeling of being barefoot but prefer the look of a tie-up shoe, then this is the style for you!! Whether you’re dressing them up or wearing them casually, the Active style is a go-to for any occasion! Aktiv Blue
€139.99
Introducing the sporty Actives – A true necessity for the dedicated barefooter! This latest style has the same classic qualities with a few added features; First, they have a slightly thicker sole making them ideal for walking and hiking longer distances. Second, they have a stylish lace-up look. They are truly a multi-purpose shoe that can be worn for an infinite amount of activities, especially barefoot running/training, outdoor adventure, and travel. They are also quickly becoming the shoe of choice for boaters because of their anti-slip and non-marking sole. If you are craving the feeling of being barefoot but prefer the look of a tie-up shoe, then this is the style for you!! Whether you’re dressing them up or wearing them casually, the Active style is a go-to for any occasion! Aktiv White
€139.99
Introducing the sporty Aktiv – A true necessity for the dedicated barefooter! This latest style has the same classic qualities with a few added features; First, they have a slightly thicker sole making them ideal for walking and hiking longer distances. Second, they have a stylish lace-up look. They are truly a multi-purpose shoe that can be worn for an infinite amount of activities, especially barefoot running/training, outdoor adventure, and travel. They are also quickly becoming the shoe of choice for boaters because of their anti-slip and non-marking sole. If you are craving the feeling of being barefoot but prefer the look of a tie-up shoe, then this is the style for you!! Whether you’re dressing them up or wearing them casually, the Active style is a go-to for any occasion! Gift Card
€20.00 - €200.00
Surprise someone special with a Gift Card! Gift Cards are delivered to the recipient by email and include instructions on how to redeem them at checkout. Our Gift Cards have no additional processing fees and never expire.
Aktiv Pink
€139.99
Introducing the sporty Actives – A true necessity for the dedicated barefooter! This latest style has the same classic qualities with a few added features; First, they have a slightly thicker sole making them ideal for walking and hiking longer distances. Second, they have a stylish lace-up look. They are truly a multi-purpose shoe that can be worn for an infinite amount of activities, especially barefoot running/training, outdoor adventure, and travel. They are also quickly becoming the shoe of choice for boaters because of their anti-slip and non-marking sole. If you are craving the feeling of being barefoot but prefer the look of a tie-up shoe, then this is the style for you!! Whether you’re dressing them up or wearing them casually, the Active style is a go-to for any occasion! Aktiv Magma Orange
€139.99
Introducing the sporty Aktivs – A true necessity for the dedicated barefooter! This latest style has the same classic qualities with a few added features; First, they have a slightly thicker sole making them ideal for walking and hiking longer distances. Second, they have a stylish lace-up look. They are truly a multi-purpose shoe that can be worn for an infinite amount of activities, especially barefoot running/training, outdoor adventure, and travel. They are also quickly becoming the shoe of choice for boaters because of their anti-slip and non-marking sole. If you are craving the feeling of being barefoot but prefer the look of a tie-up shoe, then this is the style for you!! Whether you’re dressing them up or wearing them casually, the Active style is a go-to for any occasion! Aktiv Winter - Black
€149.99
Equipped with a microfibre lining for that extra warm and ultra-comfortable feeling, the Aktiv black Winter will add warmth and a cosy feeling to those cooler times. They are truly a multi-purpose shoe that can be worn for an infinite amount of activities, especially barefoot running/training, outdoor adventure, and travel. And depending on the weather and your own personal preference, the Aktiv black Winter can be worn with or without socks. Aktiv lava black
€139.99
Set yourself up for success with the sporty Aktiv. leguano’s most popular model has all the classic qualities of the traditional barefoot shoe with a few added features. Enjoying a slightly thicker sole and complete with a lace-up finish, these multi-purpose shoes are simply ideal for walking, hiking, running or springing into your lunch break with agility. What’s more, possessing a bespoke anti-slip and non-marking sole these gems are rapidly becoming the shoe of choice for boaters setting their sights on the high seas. So if you’re looking for a quality barefoot experience, with the traditional look of a tie-up shoe, all you have to do is strap yourself in for the ride! Please note that the Aktiv is a unisex model. Aktiv Plus - Black
€159.00
The leguano aktiv plus in lava black: Our all-rounder high-cut model. The leguano aktiv plus offers plenty of freedom to the feet, is ultra comfortable and wearable all year round. The upper part of the fabric provides airy comfort, the leguano-typical sole allows a feather-light feeling on any terrain. The leguano aktiv plus is just as suitable for leisure and outdoor activities as it is for various indoor sports. Wash Bag
€9.95
The leguano laundry net bag protects your leguano's when washing and rinsing. Easy handling thanks to the practical zip. The large-mesh network is permeable to water and mild detergents. Aktiv Red
€139.99
Introducing the sporty Aktiv Red – A true necessity for the dedicated barefooter! This latest style has the same classic qualities with a few added features; First, they have a slightly thicker sole making them ideal for walking and hiking longer distances. Second, they have a stylish lace-up look. They are truly a multi-purpose shoe that can be worn for an infinite amount of activities, especially barefoot running/training, outdoor adventure, and travel. They are also quickly becoming the shoe of choice for boaters because of their anti-slip and non-marking sole. If you are craving the feeling of being barefoot but prefer the look of a tie-up shoe, then this is the style for you!! Whether you’re dressing them up or wearing them casually, the Active style is a go-to for any occasion! |
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