After posting my last blog article, “Barefoot Yogini Bliss”, my dear friend Jai Krishan (who is a vedic astrologer in India) posted several reasons for walking barefoot, and I liked them so much that I’m highlighting them here in today’s blog. Many thanks to Jai, who brings so much happiness, spark, and cheer to my life…

According to Jai, “There are so many reasons for walking barefoot, for an instance, grounding the body directly to the Earth and receiving energy from it.” As a Reiki energy healer, I agree with that reason wholeheartedly. When our feet directly touch the earth, we can tune in and actually feel the Earth energies traveling up into our bodies. One of my favorite ways to ground myself is by going out barefoot into my front yard and touching the pine tree. I can feel the root energies from the ground and from the tree going into my body.

Jai continued, “Another reason (for walking barefoot) is giving pain to the body or surrendering before HIM… Many Yogis and Saints walk barefoot for hundreds of miles journeys for reaching pilgrimage sites.” This reason touched a deep chord in me, and now when I am experiencing a little pain while walking barefoot to work, I immediately offer that pain to Lord Shiva, and start chanting “Om Namah Shivaya” over and over in my head.

Lastly, Jai pointed out, “According to Ayurveda (ancient medicinal healing system that began thousands of years ago in India), it is so beneficial if we walk barefoot on the grass at the time of the Sun rising.” After reading that one, I am very much looking forward to walking barefoot on the grass in the morning sun at Amma’s ashram in Castro Valley, California, in just a few weeks! Sharanam Amma, I take refuge in my Guru, Ammachi.

This morning (which is evening for him), I asked Jai if he had anything else to add, and he said, “Very simple… we were not born with shoes.”

With so much gratitude for my bare feet, and for my dear friend Jai, I’m sending out waves of happiness to you all this sunny day!

May all beings know Peace and Happiness. 

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Teja’s bare feet this morning by Teja Shankara.