Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science of Healthy Feet [Paperback]

Katy Bowman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 20, 2011

Foot pain isn’t just pain—it’s a symptom of serious problems that will only get worse if you ignore it. One in four women in the United States is suffering from debilitating foot pain, which can affect the function of other body parts, from knees and hips to the pelvis and spine. But foot pain - and the underlying problems it reveals - can be eliminated.

Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief will show you how to not only prevent pain but how fix your feet and halt damage to the rest of your body. Through the scientific approach of biomechanics, which looks at the gravity, friction and pressure of our bodies, expert Katy Bowman offers an innovative set of exercises; her easy-to-follow program will help you to eliminate unnecessary foot and lower-leg pain. Bowman, a science advisory member for Earth Footwear, also walks you through the shoes you should (and should not) be wearing at different life stages—without sacrificing fashion.

Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief will teach you how a healthy foot works optimally and put you on the road to prevention and recovery.

Katy Bowman, MS, is the creator and talent behind the Aligned and Well™ DVD program, the director of the Restorative Exercise Institute, and the creator of the Restorative Exercise™ DVD kits for Gaiam. She is a regular contributor and expert for national health, fitness, and wellness publications and TV segments.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“In Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief, Ms. Bowman skillfully blends scientific research with everyday application in an understandable and entertaining format. She shares abundant advice for overall health. Read it and apply it! Your feet, and whole body, will say ‘thank you.’”
— William C. Whiting, Ph.D., author of Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injury and Dynatomy: Dynamic Human Anatomy

"From the simplicity of finding the right shoe fit to the complexity of the interaction of the dozens of muscles, tendons and bones of the human foot, Katy Bowman's Every Woman’s Guide to Foot Pain Relief addresses the issues that face today's woman from the ankles down. Writing in an easy, user-friendly manner, she brings forward the problems that are seen daily, explanations of why they are occurring, and simple yet productive approaches to solutions and preventions - all to finally dispel the myth that ‘Feet are supposed to hurt!’”
—David B. Alper, DPM, podiatrist and past-president of the Massachusetts Podiatric Medical Society

“[Bowman] sensibly helps readers to recognize the consequences of our conscious and unconscious foot behavior by offering direct, accessible and effective foot solutions that anyone can adopt and incorporate with their private clients, group classes and personal self-care.“
—Jill Miller, creator of Yoga Tune Up®

“Katy Bowman's effort is breezy and informal about anatomy and biomechanics, but bright and informative about 'foot gym' – what to do to restore movement health and 'under-standing' in those poor souls still banging their heels and jamming their toes into the sensory deprivation chambers we call shoes.”
—Thomas Myers, author of Anatomy Trains and director of Kinesis, Inc.

“Katy Bowman’s book is an honest examination and careful explanation of what women as a culture have done to our feet. This is helpful to anyone suffering from foot (and knee and hip) pain who is interested in the root of the problem and motivated to do simple exercises and postural adjustments to fix it. While anatomy can be overly-complex, Bowman does a great job making the science very accessible, and the solutions straightforward.”
—Esther Gokhale, author of 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back

“For too long all of us—and women in particular—have been slaves to shoe fashion, and the price we have paid is far more than a new pair Jimmy Choos. As Katy Bowman explains in Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief, poor footwear choices have weakened our feet, impaired our alignment, and damaged our joints, leading to a host of physical problems from head to toe. Bowman offers simple solutions to improving your health by helping you understand the impact shoes have on your body, showing you how to make smarter footwear choices and describing fun and simple exercises you can do to strengthen your feet. This book is definitely a step in the right direction.”
—Daniel Howell, Ph.D., “The Barefoot Professor,” author of The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons To Kick Off Your Shoes

About the Author

Biomechanist Katy Bowman, MS, has become a leading voice for the science of wellness. The creator and talent behind the Aligned and Well™ DVD program, the Director of the Restorative Exercise Institute, and the creator of the Restorative Exercise™ DVD kits for Gaiam, Bowman’s goal is to educate the public about correct exercise prescription, traditional movement, and how modern living impacts the human machine.

Long before becoming a international health celebrity, Bowman opened a small studio - now a very large institute - utilizing her studies in biomechanics and kinesiology to design safe exercise programs for injured or post-rehab patients. Dedicated to the teaching the ABCs of movement, she developed a reputation for achieving unprecedented results in pain reduction, increased bone density, and improved metabolic health. She is a regular contributor and expert for national health, fitness, and wellness publications and TV segments.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: BenBella Books; Original edition (December 20, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1936661071
• ISBN-13: 978-1936661077
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.6 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Katy Bowman, MS a biomechanical scientist and the director of the Restorative Exercise Institute -- a facility dedicated to educating the population on the mechanical causes of disease and how to reverse poor health by uncovering their reflex-driven body.

Katy teaches from a unique platform, which is truly holistic, unfailingly scientific and with the compassion necessary to truly open people's minds. Combined with her advanced science education, Katy has brought to thousands of people the insight necessary to see the mechanical--as opposed to hormonal or genetic--causes of female pelvic floor disorder, bone regeneration, and foot disease; and the simple corrective program that has provided the sort of relief generally considered impossible.

You can find Katy (complete with her husband and two under two) lecturing throughout the world on alignment and the natural movement solution to chronic pain and blogging regularly at www.katysays.com. She is the author of Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science of Healthy Feet (Benbella, 2011) and a new title on restoring your reflex-driven body, coming Spring 2014.

In addition to directing the Institute (www.restorativeexercise.com) in Ventura, California, Katy is the producer and talent of the Aligned and Well DVD line (www.alignedandwell.com), scientist/talent for Gaiam's Restorative Exercise series, and sits on the science advisory board for various product lines.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Never Too Late... January 11, 2012

By Joan A.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's never too late to learn and apply new information. In my 70s, I started practicing the exercises set forth in Katy's new book. When I began, I had to wear orthotics in all my shoes to walk comfortably. I had been unable to walk barefoot for at least 15 years. After following the exercises for a matter of months and using my Earth Shoes, I was able to throw away my orthotics, walk several miles daily without any discomfort, and return to the joys of walking barefoot - especially at the beach. This book gives the information needed to make a significant difference in healthy living. The rest is up to you:)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Healthy Feet Are a Birthright! June 4, 2012

By Joyce Faber

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm in my mid seventies; never occurred to me that my stiff feet,overly high arches, bunions, curled toes, and bent over little toes were that way due to neglect not to aging. I considered the largely cosmetic practices of a monthly toe nail polish, daily foot bath and occasional foot massage the outer limits of foot care. Bowman's book has brought me to understand that actually, using her easily understood teaching, how I choose to shoe my feet or not, how I give my feet and toes specific exercises during the day makes the difference in foot health. Also positively affected are my all over body and spirit health, and ability to enjoy the benefits of daily whole body walking. I encourage anyone wishing this treasure to go for it and read Bowman's book as a first step. Then apply her teachings. Good luck!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful for Men, Too April 27, 2012

By Lance and Lindy Cummings

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book has a unique approach to foot pain with a mixture between physics and common sense. Since traditional methods have not helped my foot pain, I found this book very helpful. Oh, and by the way, men can read this, too. Just skip the parts about style :-). I found this helpful, even though I don't wear cute women's shoes.