August 2018 – Page 3 – Andrea Arthur Owan

Knowing Your Socks—Materials Matter

Ever spend much time considering the socks you wear, especially the ones you put on for exercise walking, running or hiking? If not, you should. They’re critical to your foot health and exercise enjoyment. And the all-important blister prevention.

4 Basic Functions of Socks—

Socks do have some important functions, besides just keeping your feet warm and comfy, and maybe adding extra padding. The functions are:

Protection

Warmth

Cushioning

Absorbing or wicking moisture from the feet

While you may head to the ubiquitous white, six-pack tube socks for every need, those might not be the best choice for your feet or your activity. A shapeless cotton sock may be more harmful than helpful.

There’s much to consider when selecting a sock, something I’m really just beginning to appreciate.

My experience—

Growing up in Hawaii, socks were not a go-to wardrobe item. At least not often. Open-toed shoes and slippers were clothing staples, and Keds for physical education classes were the norm, which were often worn sans socks. And as a gymnast, bare feet or little white Peds anchored on the feet and ankles by elastic were the norm. I spent hours stitching quarter-inch elastic in crisscross fashion on my peds; and when they got holes in the balls of the feet, I’d use those as top layers to two or three (or more) bottom layers. Even back then, I wanted as much padding as I could get on my feet. Having all that cushion also helped when I ground my socks in resin to keep my feet well-anchored to the balance beam.

But what’s available now is light years away from what you could find on the shelves several decades ago.

Sock materials and construction—

Cotton. Silk. Spandex. Nylon. Wool. Blends. A ton of choices. What works for someone else may not work for you. What works for one type of activity and shoe may not work for others.

Dense weaves provide more cushion and often more warmth, which may not be ideal if you’re out running or hiking in hot temperatures. Double layers of socks (as I used to wear as a gymnast) provide cushion and the added benefit of reducing friction, critical to longer days of walking or hiking. (Can anyway say blister prevention?!)

Different benefits from different materials—

Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of each type of material, so you can get an idea what you might want or need.

Cotton—While these might be your first and cheapest selection, it is probably best to avoid them. Cotton socks, especially 100% cotton, provide no moisture wicking, so when you sweat, your feet are more likely to get wet, possibly cold, and blistered.

Cotton blends—Anything containing cotton plus spandex, rayon, acrylic, or nylon provides some stretch, better conforming to the foot, and some advantages over the 100% cotton models.

Silk—Once a man and woman’s staple, and primary choice, silk socks are now most often used as liners. I have a pair of silk liners I LOVE! I wear them between my wool hiking socks and boots. They reduce friction and have the added benefit of allowing me to slide my thick hiking socks on without much effort. I also wear them between my ski socks and ski boots. Very comfy! I have to replace them, though; I’ve worn them so much they have runs in them. Can’t bring myself to toss them out!

Wool—The advantages of wool are that it usually provides more cushioning, definitely provides more warmth, and wicks moisture away from your sweaty foot. But it’s also a comfortable sock to wear in the heat.

Wool blends—Again, comfortable in temperature extremes. They can also be soft and long lasting.

Fleece socks—Fleece is soft and warm and dries faster than wool. Fleece socks can be baggy, though. I like to wear fleece as ankle warmers—they roll down around the ankle and keep me warm.

Synthetic blends—The majority of synthetic sock materials are blended with cotton, nylon, spandex, or acrylic. They can offer protection against a wide range of problems, such as moisture-driven blisters, friction hot spots, and droopy socks that just don’t want to stay up. Many are moisture wicking, which is great for reducing blisters. Some have good insulation properties to keep you warm (such as ski socks). You can find them in single or double layer (now my favorite type of sock to wear).

Check your drawers—

Pull out all of your socks. What kind of blend do you have the most pairs of? Can you remember why you bought the socks? (They were cute and stylish? On sale? Cheap?)

Ask yourself what kind of activities you do on a regular basis. What kinds of needs you, and your feet, have for socks. What your budget is. (Try not to skimp in the sock department.)

Go window shopping—

Go to your department store and look around to see what they carry. Inspect the package to see what the material content is.

Head to your local outdoor activity or shoe store, particularly the stores specializing in walking or running, to see what they carry. Get with the professional staff at these stores to see what they recommend, what they wear when they’re out for a day hike.

Change your shopping approach—

It may be time for you to start being a little more need-based than utilitarian in your approach to buying and wearing socks!

NEXT WEEK: We’ll look at the different kinds of socks available for exercise.

Until then,

take care of your feet!

Blessings,

Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Was Jesus a Philosopher?

Lots of people refer to Christianity as a philosophy. But is it, and was its namesake a philosopher?

It’s been a while since we’ve looked at the definition of philosophy, so let’s refresh our memories, so we can all be on the same page. Stay with me as we slug through some of the terms and definitions. (And you’ll want to stay with the entire post to get to the great YouTube video I’ve included at the end!)

Merriam-Webster online provides five definitions:

a (1) : all learning exclusive of technical preceptsand practical arts

(2) : the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine, law, and theology

a doctor of philosophy

(3) : the 4-year college course of a major seminary

b (1) archaic : physical science

(2) : ethics

c : a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology

2a : pursuit of wisdom

b : a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means

c : an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs

3a : a system of philosophical concepts

b : a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought

the philosophyof war

4a : the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group

b : calmness of temper and judgment befitting a philosopher

Let’s begin at number 1.

Would Christianity be considered “all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts”? Does Christianity notconcern itself with technical precepts, with precepts defined as a general rule to guide or regulate thought and behavior? I think it would depend upon how you define technical, but it certainly does provide general rules that guide our thought and behavior. Or should.

We can dismiss definition 1(2) because it specifically excludes theology, which Christianity most definitely is.

Since Christianity is sometimes offered as a 4-year course in a seminary, so we can say, “yes” to 1 a. (3).

Christianity certainly falls into the definition found in 1. c. “a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology.” Epistemology being the study of uncovering what’s justified belief and what’s merely opinion.

And in a tangential way, it can be considered a pursuit of wisdom, because believers study Christ and the Bible in order to gain knowledge, wisdom and discernment. So let’s give a thumbs up to 2a.

A breakdown—

When we arrive at definition 2 b. though, I think we see a crack. Christianity is not speculative. At least, fundamental Christians don’t believe it to be. More liberal thinkers might agree with this definition, though. Many of them consider much of Scripture to be speculative, hinging on man’s definition throughout the centuries and open to modern interpretations. Kind of like a “living” constitution, where people believe it means what it should mean for a particular time and generation. Fluid.

I don’t see Christianity as fluid, although I will say that our understanding of some of God’s words may be full of holes and based on ignorance or bias.

Christianity can also be an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs that we see in definition 2 c.

But it’s not a system, and I would argue vehemently that it’s not a theory. A theory is a supposition, an idea, or principles that mandate a particular action. You could say that Christianity and The Bible present principles to guide us, but that’s not what the foundation of Christianity, or God-focused belief is. You can look to many other religions for that type of structure or belief.

And then we arrive at the definition we can’t deny fits into the Christianity construct— 4a.

“The most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group.”

If someone narrowed down a Christian’s beliefs, concepts, and attitudes, or did that with the church as a whole, they should be able to unearth the core principles a believer attests to. The non-negotiables that categorize you as a follower of Christ. Or The Way, as the first believers originally called it.

I only wish more Christians could be referred to as philosophers, with corresponding calm temperaments and judgment as the final definition states.

Conclusions—What about Jesus?

So, if we come to the conclusion that in some ways Christianity can be defined as and studied as a philosophy, can we make the statement that Jesus was a philosopher?

If he was a philosopher, was Jesus a different kind of philosopher?

Take a moment to listen to what Christian speaker, George Haraksin—from Reasons to Believe—has to say about it in this YouTube video. It’s less than four minutes and may challenge and broaden your thinking.

What do you think? And does it matter?

NEXT WEEK: I’ll take a break to celebrate and discuss a special occasion in my life, from a meditation perspective. (This is an update and change from the original published post.)

Until then,

Keep growing and challenging yourself in your faith and understanding of God’s truth!

Blessings,

Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Photo by Simeon Jacobsen

Jesus in the Garden: Body, Mind and Spirit

The moonlight filtering through the garden’s ancient, gnarled olive trees casts dancing shadows on the ground. A young man, muscled and toned from years of outdoor living, frequent walking and laboring as a carpenter kneels alone on the cool soil, a few yards from three friends who have fallen asleep.

Just minutes before, the young man’s festive mood had changed from one of peace and strength to sorrow and deep distress. He expresses as much to his friends and asks them to sit and watch with him while he goes to pray. But they can’t. They’re tired after the long day, and their full stomachs following the special celebration meal have made them sleepy.

The young man’s distress is verbalized in his prayer. “Please, Lord, take this cup from me.” Clearly he would rather not do what he’s being asked to do. He prays, and then, agitated, rises to check on his friends, or be encouraged by their presence.

But they are sleeping, and the young man chastises one of them for not being able to stay awake with him, to support him and keep watch. Danger is lurking. The young man knows it’s only a matter of time before it arrives, and he doesn’t want his dearest friends to be blindsided by it. They don’t have a clue what’s about to happen. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” he tells them.

He again admonishes them to watch and pray, and then returns to his spot to continue his beseeching conversation with God. Then he checks on his friends again, who have once again fallen asleep. Again he admonishes them and warns them to stay awake before he returns one more time to his prayer.

This time his distress becomes severe, and he sweats so profusely that his pores ooze drops of blood. It looks as though the life is draining out of him, weakening him physically. But he makes his decision, accepts his fate, and rises to meet his friends for the final time before being grabbed and arrested in front of them and dragged away for trial.

A closer look—

Most of you are probably familiar with this story—Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples after their Passover meal. Jesus selecting three of his closest disciples to follow him farther into the garden to sit, watch, and pray while He beseeches His Father to remove the punishment and suffering of the cross that he’ll soon have to endure.

In this story, Jesus displays both his physical and spiritual sides. Acutely. But can you tell what he is more of—physical or spiritual?

Body, Mind, Spirit? Or all three—

He craves the physical closeness and emotional support of his friends. He seems to crave assurance that they have his back. When he discovers—two times—that they don’t, he is angry and calls them out for their weakness. Their physical weakness, not their spiritual deficiency. He recognizes them for what they are—weak men who have difficulty overcoming their body’s physical needs and desires. And he warns them about the dangers of letting the physical overrule and control the spiritual.

By the third time, he confronts them again, but essentially tells them it doesn’t matter anymore. The peace of the night (for them) is over. Indeed, life as they have been living it will abruptly cease within hours.

Being God incarnate, Jesus was spirit, The Word itself. But He was also physical, that spirit encased in flesh. On this night, he demonstrates both the body and the spirit to the extremes.

What about us?

Is it realistic to expect us to do any less? Especially since we are not God in the flesh—we are not God at all—and we are more likely to battle with our body’s frailties, shortcomings and demands than Jesus.

On that night He demonstrated both body and spirit. Yes, the Spirit won the battle over the body for Him, but that does not detract from the fact that His body suffered immeasurably, and would suffer even more when it is beaten, pierced and hung soon after His arrest.

Our Lord suffered physically, emotionally and spiritually, a triad of pain.

Body, mind and spirit.

If our Lord suffered so, how can we expect to be spared from sometimes being more body than spirit, not an equal balance of both, or times when we manage to be more spirit than body?

And you?

What has your experience been?

Until next week,

Rejoice in the complexity of being both body and spirit!

Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Photo by Antoine Perier

Want to Keep Your Feet Happy? Get to Know Them!

When you begin a walking, hiking or running program, what’s the first thing you need to take into consideration, after making sure you’re ready, willing and able to partake in one of those activities?

If you’ve been reading Workout Wednesdays for a while, you’ll probably hit on the right answer.

Your feet.

And if your feet are so important, it’s critical that you know them well, so you’ll be able to take better care of them and reduce your your chance of suffering injuries from the toes all the way up to the ankle, legs, knees, hips and back!

What do I mean by knowing them well?

Give them a close examination—

Sit down with your favorite pair of walking or exercise shoes and really take a good look at the shoes and your feet.

Examine how narrow or wide your foot is.
Do you have a high arch when your foot is relaxed? Or is it flat? There are lots of technical names for the kind of arch you might have, like a functional flat foot, a rigid, pes equinus (where the arch doesn’t flatten out when you stand on your feet, so all of the pressure is on your heel and ball of your foot; and you have limited ankle range of motion).
Where do you tend to get calluses on your feet and toes? On the side of your big toe? The heel, or ball of the foot?
Do your calluses get really thick and then crack and bleed? Where does that happen most often on your feet?
Is your second toe longer than your great toe? (Something that may indicate you are prone to having a balance problem.)
Do you have bunions or corns, plantar warts, or any other issues you need to address?
Are you prone to getting ingrown toenails? Blisters anywhere on the foot?
Examine your toenails. Do they run into the toe of the shoe when you’re walking? Have they thickened?
Is the structure (and size) of one foot drastically different from the other, requiring different treatments or support material for each foot?
Stand on a piece of paper and trace outlines of both feet. Do they look identical? What’s the length and width difference?

*A good way to determine if you have a compensating arch that drops a little when your foot gets loaded with weight is to get a brown paper bag that’s bigger than your foot. Get the bottom of your foot wet and then rest your foot on the flattened bag for a second. Then stand on the paper bag for a couple of seconds. Look at the foot form left on the bag. Is it flat? Is there an arch? Did it change when you went from non-weight bearing to full weight bearing? Where does it look as though your foot is not making any contact with the ground?

Knowing these aspects of your feet will help you when you head to the store to purchase shoes and any supportive insoles you think you need or just want to add for some cushion to your feet.

Now for the shoes—

Take a really good look at your shoes—tops, bottoms, sides, toes and heels. And the insides.

What kind of wear patterns do you see?
When you hold your shoe up and look at it from the back, does the heel look worn down on either side? A wearing down of the inside ankle bone side indicates that your heels tend to pronate (roll in) when your foot strikes the ground? If they lean to the outside ankle bone, then you might have what’s called hind foot supination.
What does the toe box area of the shoe look like on top and underneath the shoe? Does the toe box look as though it leans to the outside or inside, giving you an indication of the pressure your foot exerts on the material or sole when you’re walking? Is there a more pronounced wear pattern on the outside of the toe area, indicating your foot rolls to the outside and you tend to push off the fourth and fifth toes (supinate) during push off?
Does the insole provide sufficient padding for your feet, or did it break down quickly and leave you with little or no arch support?

Case study—

In the pictures below, you can see the dramatic wear patterns of my Altra road shoes, with the distinct medial breakdown of the right shoe in the heel area and the outside (fourth and fifth toes) in the toe area.

I have significant rear or hind foot pronation and forefoot supination. For some reason, the right shoe has taken a particularly hard beating and already—after six weeks—needs to be replaced because it’s no longer giving me the support I need.

Two possibilities come to mind:

I wore the shoes on both blacktop and trail, which may have stressed the shoe material too much; or
The shoes simply don’t provide me with the arch support I need in my right foot, which is a problem for me. I suffered a severe fracture (segmental, displaced) of the outside leg bone (fibula), which caused my right leg to be slightly shortened and twisted. I already had foot problems. This may have worsened the condition.

Clearly I need some kind of posting, or support, on the right foot.

What’s frustrating is that when I walk, I can feel the broken down shoe actually shifting my foot more severely to the inside, which creates more problems and causes me to try to reposition my foot in the shoe while I’m walking! Not good or efficient.

My trail shoes have not shown such severe wear patterns, so I think the material and lighter support in these road shoes may be the culprit for me.

These are all critical questions to ask yourself when you’re going out to buy new athletic shoes. Take notes with you, or take the shoes with you to show the shoe salesperson. They can better recommend shoes and insoles for your particular needs.

And when you go, take the socks you are most likely to wear with you to try on the shoes. That will help you decide which shoes will fit and be most comfortable.

And speaking of socks! We’ll be discussing those next week. They’re a critical component of exercise and can make or break an otherwise enjoyable hike or walking outing. One experienced hiker said he’d lean toward buying a cheaper pair of boots and an expensive pair of socks for his trips.

Yes, they’re that important!

So until next week,

Keep those feet happy and moving!

Blessings,

Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).