From turning up the Torq at Flywheel to hitting the mat at FlyBarre, we often pay extra attention to our muscles and joints, but overlook one very important area – our feet. Turns out, we vastly underestimate the TLC they need.
Given that our FLYers put in a lot of hard work, we turned to Camila Pierotti, Brazilian Beauty Ambassador for Sol de Janeiro and Jacob Neely, Professional Triathlete and NASM-certified personal trainer, for their best achy feet fixes. Read on to see why doing some sole searching can leave you stronger, injury-free, and a lot more comfortable.
First thing's first. Why is it important for athletes to pay attention to our feet?
Jacob: Peak performance starts at your feet. As you train, make sure you have comfortable shoes. Choose sneakers or cycling shoes that give your feet the proper support and use inserts to help with alignment if your ankles pronate or supinate. If your feet are out of alignment, the rest of your body will follow. During your rides, make sure your bike is properly adjusted. If it's not, your foot will not come through the pedal stroke properly which will potentially create imbalances and cause injury to the feet.
What's the best way to give our feet some extra TLC?
Camila: In Brazil, where everyone has a foot fetish, it's all about keeping your feet soft, smooth and touchable. But your feet can get beat up during a workout! Sol de Janeiro's Samba 2-Step Foot Fetish Care is the most convenient way to care for your feet. First, rub the foot-smoothing board on dry soles to exfoliate rough skin. Then, massage the Foot Fetish Cream onto feet. It's formulated with nutrient-rich ingredients from the Amazon such as cupuaçu butter, açaí and coconut oil. The fast absorbing, non-slip formula will ensure you don't slide around in your workout shoes. Plus, its refreshing Açaí fragrance will put a little extra bounce to your step (and mood!).
What are some ways to de-stress our achy feet?
Camila: Resting is just as important as training, so make sure you get plenty of rest. Some of you may have the luxury of taking long walks on the beach, and sand is a great natural exfoliant. For those who don't have access to a beach all year long, simply go for a great foot massage.
What else can we do to keep our feet in shape?
Jacob: It's important to strengthen our feet so they provide support during everyday activities. The constant pedaling during a cycling session can leave the plantar fascia (located beneath the foot) very bound up, making your feet feel sore and tight. Every morning and evening, take a golf ball or tennis ball and roll out your plantar fascia. And if you can, release your calves with a foam roller. Both exercises will help prevent injury and provide you with more foot mobility.
Meet The Experts
Camila Pierotti
Claim to Fame: As the Brazilian Beauty Ambassador for Sol de Janeiro, I work to develop products inspired by Brazilian's favorite body parts: The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, Samba 2-Step Foot Fetish Care and Brazilian Golden Body Veil.
Brazilian Beauty Secret: Love and flaunt your best features. There's nothing more beautiful than confidence!
Her Body TLC Tip: From a very young age, I've wanted to keep my feet looking beautiful (I cannot live without foot files or foot cream). But it wasn't until I trained for the 2012 Lavaman Triathlon that I learned the important of keeping them healthy and injury-free. Now, I care for my feet whether I wear stilettos or sneakers.
Jacob Neely
Claim To Fame: For the past 5 years, I've run a private personal training business in NYC fostering countless success stories with elite and celebrity clientele. Since 2007, I have been a Certified Personal Trainer via NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and ISSA (International Sports Science Association) and have found an enormous amount of gratitude in helping the lives of the people I work with.
His Specialties: Growing up, I was a very competitive athlete in many disciplines. I've since had an incredible journey mastering athletic performance, corrective exercise, boxing, Muay Thai kickboxing, sports nutrition, and numerous triathlons.
