I'm into doing exercise dvd's, I like the idea of being in private when I exercise, but also I cannot afford a gym membership at the moment, nor do I have the time. Anyway, my dilemma is that I live in an apartment with a light beige rug now so I don't want to dirty the rug (plus I have a little bit of a germ phobia because of my little one). My questions... is it bad for my feet or my body to exercise barefoot? For some reason I believe it to be so, I know it's probably because I heard or read it somewhere a million years ago but I can't remember. Mostly I use Jillian Michaels dvd's which usually involve a considerable amount of jumping. I guess I can buy a pair of sneakers just for exercising in the house, but I would much rather just do it barefoot if there is no harm...

I can't imagine why it would be bad for you. I never wear shoes with any of the DVD's or other workouts I do except for the treadmill and on that I wear my barefoot running shoes!

I guess it depends on what you're doing. If it's lots of cardio and jumping I think that having the support of sneakers would help protect ankle, knee and hip joints. But you should also listen to your body. If you're feeling ok, then keep doing what you're doing. But if you have pain then try using sneakers that are designated for just inside the house.

as long as you are okay with it. Not dropping anything. maybe just get a cheap pair at walmart for just exercise to cover your feet.

I know some are done barefoot and you mentioned Jillian, you're okay. No quick turning and tourking (sp) etc. so no foot burns. Congratulations on moving.

I do some workouts barefoot and some in sneakers. Jillian I'm usually okay barefoot, but I wear sneakers for FIRM workouts, Cathe Friedrich, and anything that involves sustained jumping (like not just Jillian's little jumping jack segments) or climbing onto steps or other pieces of furniture. I will sometimes do walking/Leslie Sansone videos in socks if I'm too cold to do them barefoot (but only if there is literally NO impact or complex choreography). I do all my yoga/pilates/ballet stuff barefoot.

If you have no pain, I don't think there would be a problem.

I‘ve had a number of small fractures in my feet frrom doing exactly this sort of thing, and the pain doesn‘t always show up immediately, it‘s something that gradually builds up from repetition injury. Cost of a pair of sneakers compared to a medical bill? I‘d take the sneakers every time. If it is a well sprung floor such as a suspended wood floor then that is a bit different as it‘s the sort of floor that is constructed for ballet and gymnastics, but this is why ballet companies invest thousands in a portable floor to bring to theaters on tour, as they cannot risk repeated jumping on hard floors.

If you are going to do this for a very short time on a good floor then you may well be fine, but the damage builds over repetition.

I go barefoot too! Im a closet hippie I think so its even hard for me to run/walk in shoes but I DO put shoes on for that. Any dvd I do is barefoot though. Honestly, I get foot pain from walking in shoes and Im totally fine when barefoot. I had a friend tell me (not an expert but a very active person) that she runs/walks/dvds in crocs. I was thinking of getting myself an indoor pair and an outdoor pair when the weather permits. Good luck and I like what tyt said Congrats on moving!

In the past, I've bought shoes specifically for exercising indoors.

I used to do impact cardio at home all the time until the one morning where I woke up and couldn't sit up in bed. My back was out of whack and it took it a few months and chiropractic care to be pain free.

I go barefoot at home if I'm not doing any impact cardio. If I'm doing jumping jacks or running in place, I'm wearing shoes.

Exercising barefoot can actually be good for your feet, increasing strength and flexibility (hence the whole barefoot running craze). But if you are experiencing pain from it, you may want to get some shoes (especially for jumping).

You could try getting a yoga mat or puzzle mats to put down over the carpet to protect it from dirt. I also have a pair of sneakers that I only wear to exercise indoors.

Hi patchwork. I know you from VF. (waving)

Hi, Tyt! I thought that was you. Your smile still brightened up the WWW! Glad to see you here

I run on my treadmill in slippers or stocking feet. (Bare feet on the belt is a little *too* rough to handle!) Yeah I wear holes in them ... but they're cheap and I just buy more.

I dunno why, but shoes make me feel clumsy on the treadmill.

Darway, get the vibra five fingers. I'm loving mine. Just got a pair. Now I know I'll only wear these indoors to exercise. Even when I don't want to put on the exercise bra. Lol..