indicated<\/a> that grounding could benefit inflammation an autoimmune diseases, and could even help you sleep better.<\/p>\nThe plot is simple: Take your shoes off, dip your toes in the mud, and allow your feet to surrender to the sensations of the surrounding ponderosa pine forest. The one-mile manicured trail is littered with muddy foot baths, rainbow ribbon tunnels, child-sized ziplines, and a handful of gnomes that, if you count them correctly, will gift you a secret prize at the end of your journey.<\/p>\n
Okay, this is undeniably a venture for young children and school groups\u2014but you\u2019re only as old as you feel, right?<\/p>\n
The Barefoot Trail Foundation, which maintains the trail, is a nonprofit dedicated to getting families outdoors for exercise and to ground themselves on the manicured trails.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re starting a barefoot revolution,\u201d park manager Betzy Spiro told me. \u201cWe have a bunch of adventure stations, reflexology segments; it\u2019s just a way to connect with Mother Nature and disconnect with all the chaos in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
For those like me whose feet couldn\u2019t bear the thought of donning confining shoes for another outdoor excursion, the Barefoot Trail was a welcome relief. Walking through the cool waters and smelling the fresh Arizona air during a rainstorm was exactly what my friends and I needed\u2014a way to wind down, relax, and be present with one another in a low-energy, low-stakes environment.<\/p>\n
The crew cleans the trail every morning, but be mindful that you may encounter rocks or poky pinecones along the trail. Walking barefoot, with all its potential aches and pains, requires attention and awareness to the environment around you\u2014and that\u2019s kind of the whole point of the Barefoot Trail.<\/p>\n
In addition to sensory stimulation, the Barefoot Trail also has monthly live music and food trucks.<\/p>\n