Barefoot Walk in Wageningen!

Did you know that walking barefoot gives enormous health benefits? It can help control insomnia and blood pressure, increase energy levels, reduces chronic pain and help your posture. Furthermore, walking barefoot can help you feel more connected to nature. It's also a fun and new experience which can revitalize and breathe new life into your walks.

The Route

The barefoot walk explores the Arboretum Belmonte, located on the famous Wageningse Berg! Start your walk at the main entrance of the Arboretum. If you prefer, you can drop your shoes off behind the café. The arboretum provides a number of paths for you to follow. All these paths are well-maintained and won't contain anything to hurt your feet, except maybe a few sharp stones. If you are feeling extra adventurous, leave the paths and walk on the grass or among the plants and leaves.

Listen to the sounds of birds around you. Smell the blooming flowers. Evoke your five senses and discover a deeper connection to nature. Experience the different temperatures, textures and surfaces under your feet. Walking barefoot gives us a deeper appreciation of nature.

The Arboretum Belmonte is not the only place where you can walk barefoot! Find some barefoot walks near you: https://www.wikiloc.com/trails/barefoot/netherlands

The framework

Rethinking Nature wants each activity you undertake to touch upon the four pillars of SBO. Furthermore, we want to support nature in all of our activities.

Meaning: By tuning into your senses, you can evoke a sense of meaning to your life. This is done by gaining appreciation for nature and the many elements around you that prickle your senses. The feeling of earth underneath your feet will reconnect you with nature; something which might have been missing from your life.

Social: Whilst you can do the barefoot walk on your own, it may be nice to invite some friends along so that you can experience the sensations of walking barefoot together. Discussing what you experience and what you see, hear and smell can lead to meaningful and deep conversations.

Relaxation: A barefoot walk offers ultimate relaxation. It offers a moment to forget about your worries and to focus on being in nature and exploring your senses. Furthermore, by focusing your attention on your senses, you can eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress.

Movement: Walking barefoot is a form of exercise that has many benefits to your physical and mental health. It can lead to improvements in balance, proprioception and body awareness, which can help with pain relief. Furthermore, it can lead to better foot mechanics, as well as strengthening your muscles and ligaments in your feet.

Nature: This activity supports nature by creating appreciation for nature. Through increased appreciation of nature, more people will encourage nature to be placed in their surroundings by influencing local urban planners or planting nature themselves.