dear yoga yenta…(5)
Yoga Yenta
Dear Yoga Yenta,
I have been wanting to try yoga but I really don’t like to be barefoot in public. It’s partly a germ thing and partly because I’m self-conscious about my feet. Is it okay to wear socks during yoga? Will I be shunned?
Signed,
Icky foot
Dear Icky foot,
Totally hear you on this one. I suffered from major feet anxiety before I discovered the joy of the regular mani/pedi (which is not just a luxury for girls, by the way!) Practically speaking, practicing asanas (poses) bare footed on a mat works best so you have enough traction to stay in place and hold the poses without slipping. But if it’s foot coverage or bust for you, I’d go for socks, preferably some with rubber on the soles (or rubber-soled shoes that you don’t wear outside).
Fear of looking weird, or of some stranger making fun of your athlete’s foot, while totally natural, does not need to keep you from enjoying yoga. In fact, it can be yet another exercise in self-acceptance that yoga helps us to explore.
Om Shanti & Infinite gratitude,
Yoga Yenta
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