* I am currently updating my blog with posts and newsletters from the past year. This is a newsletter from May 2025.
Hi All,
"Never Take Away Forefoot Splay” has been the theme this May!
The most recent Functional Feet & Fall Prevention workshop was a fantastic success, and to those of you who were able to attend, thank you for bringing such vibrant energy and curiosity. I’m truly grateful!
Yes, it’s true—I’m moderately obsessed with foot function. Why? Because our feet are often the most neglected and hidden parts of the body. I like to describe most shoes as “sensory deprivation chambers.” Not all shoes are created equal, of course—some (though only a few) offer a wide enough toe box to allow for healthy forefoot splay.
Why is that important? Forefoot splay activates the tie-bar mechanism of the foot, which plays a key role in preventing pain, maintaining balance, and enabling efficient propulsion.
Want to check if your shoes pass the “toe box test”? Remove the factory insoles, lay them flat on the ground, and stand on them. Do the insoles taper at the toes? Do your feet spill over the edges? If so, it’s a thumbs down from me. That’s not to say you can’t enjoy your fun, fashionable shoes now and then—but this winter, consider investing in functional footwear and pairing it with a solid foot training program. Your body (and confidence) will thank you!
P.S. I’ve still got some comfy toe spacers and my homemade Kawakawa balm available—but stock is running low! I’m also planning to experiment with a comfrey balm soon—stay tuned.
In the meantime, take good care and if you are travelling which I know some of you are, be safe and I'm just a zoom call away to help keep you “on your toes’. :-)
Yours in health & movement,
Fem.