Here’s why they are so comfy:

And here’s the history.

Founded in the Black Forest region of Southern Germany in 1874, Rieker originally produced shoes for the affluent citizens of Northern Italy.

The company soon gained a reputation for quality and has built itself into a household name in Central Europe. The company has been family owned for 5 generations and its commitment to uality and style has ensured continuous growth for 30 years.

At the beginning of the 1970′s new headquarters were set up in Switzerland and production moved away from Europe. Today Rieker employs approximately 12,000 people worldwide in 5 production units, 3 design units and 15 wholesales units.

We provide Rieker shoes and accessories to around 7,500 independent retailers, mainly in Europe.

Rieker antistress footwear is unique. To maintain the integrity of its special constructions, together with the flexibility to respond quickly to fashion trends, virtually everything Rieker sells is made by Rieker.

These guys have some seriously impressive technology built into them – feel free to check it all out at their website

If you’re not so into technology, here’s a few reasons why these shoes are good for your feet, and by, extension your body. In particular they are perfect for anyone spending a lot of time on their feet. They are also suitable for travellers planning an extended trip because you can walk in them all day and they still look good enough to go out at night.

The first reason, is the fit. Aetrex come in multiple widths to ensure they are comfortable and perform at their best. I can vouch for that claim as the first size I tried on kindof fit but didn’t feel right. I went up a halfsize and the whole thing seemed to come together.

The second reason is that Aetrex lynco orthodics are designed to provide support and stability. (If you want the fancy definition feel free to visit this page)

The third reason is that they have a patented Moziac Customization Insole which is a fancy way of saying that we can balance your forefoot. Some people’s feet are uneven at the toes and by removing the gel plugs that are designed for exactly that purpose, the pain in many instances can be alleviated.

As anyone who’s been following this blog for a while already knows, we (and about 2000 of Eastern philosophy) believe that grounding is a very important element in our health and the right shoes need to be the right weight for a person’s body. The nice thing about Aetrex is that they provide that grounding without being overly heavy themselves

And a fifth reason that we think they are great is that they look really good as well. The most wholesome shoes in the world won’t allow your spirit to soar if you hate the way they look.

In the same way we bet you never appreciated your mum packing you healthy school lunches, we bet you’ve never thought how lucky you are to have healthy feet

As soon as you’ve called your mum to thank her (she won’t mind its taken so long) we’d like you to think about this.

Your feet are like the foundations of a skyscraper. When they are strong, balanced and in position, they allow your body to function the way it is designed to.

But mess with those foundations and suddenly all kinds of dodgy things start to happen with your structure.

Think about a building with a lean. It is considered structurally unsound.

When our bodies have a “lean” we too are structural unsound and something has to give.

We are designed for minimum gravitational thrust. – in other words our bodies are largely up and down. When we are leaning, we increase the gravitational pressure on our body (side/forward/back) and there is suddenly an enormous imbalance that our muscles need to compensate for.

That compensation results in a wearing of the bones. Maybe it is the knees, the hips, the spine, or the neck.

The good news is many fabulous shoes these days are designed with exactly this in mind and can help give you back your grounding.

Because that’s what its all about. (We bet your mum tried to tell you that as well.)

It seems, we have struck a chord by suggesting more attention needs to be paid to how we connect with the earth and how good footwear can improve posture, wellbeing and balance.

Sally has been talking about this for years (which is why the shop is so beloved) so it is great to use the blog as a forum for her passion.

So today, I will focus on the physiology of the foot.

What are the facts about foot health?

In a single day, feet absorb nearly 500 kilograms of force. They are crammed into badly fitting shoes and used to walk and stand on unyielding surfaces. It is no surprise then, that four out of five adults eventually wind up with foot problems.

Our feet are precision instruments, with each one made up of 52 bones, 66 joints, 19 muscles and a complex network of ligaments, muscles and nerves. Conventional science has identified that the hands, feet and lips have more sensory nerve endings than the rest of the whole body put together

Much of the foot pain adults experience is a result of lower limbs being overworked. The foot is controlled by four groups of muscles in the leg. These muscles are used, not only when our feet are moving, but even when we stand still, because they help keep us balanced and upright. And like nearly all muscles, these muscles can become tired, decreasing their ability to properly support the feet and causing discomfort. Standing in place for long periods also tends to result in a pooling of blood in the lower extremities, which can cause uncomfortable swelling.

Next blog: Why do my feet hurt when I get up in the morning?

]]> http://childrenoftherevolution.com.au/2010/01/okay-you-asked-for-it-back-to-shoe-stuff-and-posture-and-health-and-wellbeing/feed/ 0 http://childrenoftherevolution.com.au/2009/12/earth-shoes/ http://childrenoftherevolution.com.au/2009/12/earth-shoes/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:17:03 +0000 kathy http://childrenoftherevolution.com.au/?p=328

Earth shoes are one of our most popular lines.

They are extremely lightweight. Earth footwear’s concept is that the heel is lower than your toes, which naturally improves your posture and helps eliminate back pain.

It is called Negative Heel Technology and is designed to gently stimulate and invigorate muscles.

This improves endurance and the company claims wearers bun more calories due to the 3.7 incline.

The Negative Heel is a part of every shoe they design.

So that’s my take on these beautiful shoes. Probably better we go right to the horse’s mouth and get it straight from the source.

What does it mean to be an Earthling™? Some say it’s a way of being. Others say it’s a state of mind. Truth is being an Earthling is whatever you want it to be. It’s about feeling free to express yourself – however, and in whatever way, you choose.

An Earthling takes inspiration from the offbeat, independent – and different – nature of our footwear, to wherever she/he wants to go. Along the way, it’s all about being healthy, fit, and true to yourself.

Here’s where you’ll see what Earthlings are up to – from the media showcasing our latest seasonal products, to celebrities attracted to our innovative footwear, to others – like you – who are benefiting from our technology, reading our e-newsletter, and generating testimonials with thoughts on our blog.

Here’s where you can learn more about Earth – our Company – with a section of Frequently Asked Questions about our Technology, our Products, and our Environmental Commitment. You’ll even see how you can get more involved by becoming an Earthling yourself, and apply for a position to join us here and work alongside us.

Greetings Earthlings!

And if you need to know more – they have a really cool website. Check it out.

I know, I know, the last couple of blogs have been a bit deep. Seriously though, couldn’t we all do with some more balance in our lives?

Just wanted to share another fabulous Brisbane company that is doing their thang and doing it well. Mary Ryan is fast becoming a Brisbane institution and I love them!

Great coffee, great books, great staff. What’s not to like?

And just for the record, I reckon books are one of the best presents you can give. Personalised, beautiful …….and that smell………

Now take that body and add a pair of traditional high heels. Move all the weight forward, throw the spine out of line and squash up the diaphragm. How does that sound now? Poorly fitting and poorly designed shoes can change the entire balance of the body.

Balance is a bit like breathing. Seems kind of dumb to even talk about breathing. Everyone knows how to do it, right? You just breathe in, then you breathe out. Nothing to it.  Except that now, most people agree that breathing is the basis of our whole wellbeing. It is one of the most fundamental building blocks to our health.

Balance is the same because, everyone assumes that as long as you are not falling down all the time, you have your balance sorted. If you can stand upright, you must be balanced.

Except there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that the way you are positioned on the earth can affect everything about your body, from your breathing to your bones.

Our feet are precision instruments, with each one made up of 52 bones, 66 joints, 19 muscles and a complex network of ligaments, muscles and nerves. Conventional science has identified that the hands, feet and lips have more nerve endings than the rest of the whole body put together.

Many eastern traditions have long acknowledged the power of posture to improve health and wellbeing. Disciplines like Yoga and chi gong regularly focus on centering and grounding exercises designed to reconnect the body with the earth’s energy flow.

And yet every day, people buy – sometimes at enormous cost- shoes that are literally making them unhealthy. Some studies indicate that more almost 9 out of 10 women wear shoes that don’t fit. Fashion can be a culprit as can be buying a pair you love even though they aren’t really your size. But often it comes down to a lack of knowledge about feet, how they are different and how looking after them can be one of the most powerful things you can do for your health.

As a podiatrist of more than fifteen years, I saw the effect of poorly designed and poorly fitted footwear on hundreds of clients. I saw corns, calluses, structural damage and other disabling foot problems. But I also started to notice that poorly designed and poorly fitted shoes can also affect overall health and happiness..

Next time you are in bare feet walk, out onto the grass, close your eyes for a moment and think about how you feel. We are creatures of the earth and from the earth comes much our energy.

Over the last fifteen years, the health movement has undergone enormous growth and change. No longer is it good enough for us to get sick and then wait for the system to fix it.

And increasingly it is no longer good enough to ignore our connection with the ground and imagine it doesn’t matter.

And if you are reading this thinking “yes, but, I don’t want to look like someone’s Nana…..” think again. The days where you could have comfort or style but not both have long gone.

Companies like Earth, Think! And Birkenstock know how important shoes are to your overall wellbeing. They know a person has more nerve endings in their hands, feet and lips than in the rest of the body combined. And they knew that shoes that are designed right and fit right, can help your posture, your breathing, your balance and even your sense of grounding.

And they look fantastic.

In stillness, be like the pine

In movement be like clouds and water

Now I’d like to see anyone doing that in dodgy high heels!

I know, I know, the last couple of blogs have been a bit deep. Seriously though, couldn’t we all do with some more balance in our lives?

Just wanted to share another fabulous Brisbane company that is doing their thang and doing it well. Mary Ryan is fast becoming a Brisbane institution and I love them!

Great coffee, great books, great staff. What’s not to like?

And just for the record, I reckon books are one of the best presents you can give. Personalised, beautiful …….and that smell………

Diabetes. It is a a diagnosis that can change everything about your life – the way you eat, the way you live and the way you feel. The good news is that diabetes does not mean you have to wear ugly shoes. I have been a podiatrist for more than 15 years and I’m sure! However you have to wear sensible shoes or you could develop serious foot problems. There are two main issues:

1. Diabetes can damage your blood vessels, thickening the lining so not as much blood can get through them. If the vessels to your feet are clogged, less blood can get through. This means that your feet are less able to fight infection and heal themselves.

2. People with diabetes can also develop nerve damage. This can mean your feet can become numb and you don’t feel pain. While this may sound good, that pain is there for a reason. It tells your brain if something is wrong – for example, you get a blister, splinter or cut. Pain tells you to stop before things get worse. So if your feet are numb, you might not know when a problem is starting.

Combine the two and you are starting to look at really big problems.

So, let’s get back to the good news. If you have diabetes, there are lots of things you can do to look after your feet such as:

• washing and carefully drying your feet every day.
• Inspecting your feet everyday to check they look healthy and normal
• having regular foot checks by your doctor, podiatrist or diabetes educator
• Always checking inside your shoes before putting them on to make sure there are no objects inside them.
• Avoiding going barefoot, even int he house – many serious problems start with injuries such as standing on a pin.
• Wearing well fitting sensible shoes

Ah ha, there are those words again…sensible shoes! Shoes have changed significantly over the last 20 years. Companies like Earth, Think! and Birkenstock know how important shoes are to your overall wellbeing, especially if you have diabetes. They know a person has more nerve endings in their hands, feet and lips than int he rest of the body combined and they know that well designed and well fitting shoes can help your posture, breathing, balance and even your sense of grounding.

Searching for balance and wellness from the ground up

1. Find a good shoe retailer who will take the time to discuss your footwear preferences, lifestyle habits, profession and type of feet.

2. Really think about how you feel when you put a pair of shoes on. Is your spine upright and your lungs open? Doe the whole base of your foot touch the ground the way it is designed to ? If there is a heel, does the shoe provide extra support and padding?

3. Learn about your own feet. Are they narrow or wide? Do you have flat or high arches?

4. Find a style that suits you and stick with it.

In the next edition of diabetesIQ I’ll help you find the right fit for you foot. Until next time. Sally

Blogging blows my mind. My first temptation is to run away fast with my hands over my ears murmuring the words “blah, blah, blah”. But I won’t.

And you know why I wont? Not because it would be childish (that’s never stopped me before but because Sally who owns and is the heartbeat of the store (have I mentioned Sally yet?) really has something to say.

Something that we should all be listening to…..

(How’s that for a cliffhanger? Can’t you tell I’m also a novelist in my spare time). Back soon.

Here’s another photo so you can get another fix.