When I first heard about Boot Camp for High Heels my feet immediately began to feel phantom pain, recalling the days when I wore 2 and 3 inch heels everyday to the office. I imagined that a workshop with the words boot camp attached to it meant we would be standing and walking in our highest heels until we begged for mercy. After all I have seen the movie ‘GI Jane,’ and know that boot camp is all about toughing it out, right? Not this one. It was a lovely, lively, laughter-filled learning experience (no hurting required).

Walking for the first time in high heels with relative ease and comfort was just icing on the cake in a day filled with new friends, and thoughts, ideas and insight into walking. Who knew that walking with your whole body could be so much fun, and ultimately easier, both in and out of high heels?

Here is my own personal word association review of the Feldenkrais Boot Camp for High Heels Workshop:

Workshop Leader Marion Harris: Energetic, Enthusiastic, Engaging,
Warm, Wise, Wow! (gorgeous boots, fab outfit)

Lessons: Enlightening, Empowering, Instructive, Inspiring, Friendly and Fun (will willingly walk again in high heels and treasure my toe divider)

Venue: Comfortable, Calming, and Cozy

Snacks: Tempting and tasty (still trying to figure out what was in that mixed nut offering that I kept going back for)

Red Carpet: Fantastic Finale (YouTube ain’t seen nothing yet)

Let’s face it high heel shoes (the higher, the better) make us look elegant, edgy, savvy and sexy. And since their appearance on the shoe scene in the 1950’s, stilettos have been a symbol of status, style, and, of course, sex appeal. However, there is a downside to striking a pose, or strutting your stuff in your favourite 4 or 5 inch high heel shoe: an often less than graceful stride, painful urges to go barefoot, sore backs, knees, feet and heels (plantar facsciitis), bunions, and worst case scenario – a twisted or broken ankle following a stiletto stumble.

In this Feldenkrais bootcamp for high heels workshop, Marion Harris, a Feldenkrais practitioner for over 25 years (not to mention someone who at 78 can still wear 4 inch heels comfortably) will teach participants to move in new, safe and high heel complementary ways. She will also demonstrate exercises to strengthen your legs, feet and ankles to provide more control, stability and endurance. After this workshop you and your Jimmy Choos can have a long term love/love relationship (instead of the more typical love/hate one) gliding gracefully along with style and confidence.

BENEFITS

• More fluid and graceful stride
  
• Increased stability of ankles and feet
  
• Walk with greater ease and comfort
  
• Enhanced balance, stability and control when walking and standing
  
• Keep feet and ankles strong and injury free
  
• Improved posture
  
• Reduce or eliminate back, knee and heel pain attributable to high heel wearing
  
• Increased confidence and style    

Want to try some exercises? Click here