A minimalist big-headed giant

The other day we celebrated my son's communion.

I don't follow any religion, but my wife does. She also likes to follow traditions, that's why she lives in a village.

The thing is that between the high temperatures, the holidays and the covid hanging around, a lot of people cancelled out. And until the last minute we didn't know if the event would take place.

We finally celebrated, but so many ups and downs have taken their toll on me.

The next day I woke up with such a neck pain that I look like a big-headed giant. Those who walk straighter than a candle. Without being able to look sideways, only in front.

It's strange, but it only happens when I change my pillow (I did it for travel reasons) and I have something on my mind that worries me.

If I'm relaxing, even if I change my pillow, it doesn't happen to me.

Another point that I usually stress a lot is my feet. Or the neck, or the feet.

In the extremes, there goes my tension, my excess stress.

I'm not able to cope with my neck. It hurts at the slightest lateral movement and is stiffer than a mojama.

If this has ever happened to you, you know what I mean.

Something better in the feet, that's why I'm a 24-hour minimalist.

Even so, I have them rigid, without movement, as if I were a hoof. Like Zabri's (our pet that eats cushioned shoes).

They lose their flexibility. And the contact with the ground is minimised to two areas, heel and toe, which starts to bother my heels.

If I measure my foot, it is around 27.5 cm, when in situations of deep relaxation (several days of walking in the mountains without a mobile phone) it exceeds 28 cm.

In both cases, neck and feet, I am doing the same to try and relax the areas:

• Circular movements

• Self-massages with your hands

The neck gets better throughout the day with movement and daily work.

As I don't put anything stiff around it, it's easy, there's nothing stopping it from moving.

Imagine yourself all day with a neck brace. Ufff.... what a pain just thinking about it!

Something similar happens with the feet.

I don't wear rigid, narrow and heavy shoes on my feet.

I try to stay barefoot as long as possible and walk on different surfaces. Slowly and slowly, trying to get my feet to adapt to the ground.

And if not, I have it easy with the pure minimalist shoes I usually wear in summer.

For day-to-day use, the Zauri Hanami sandals or the Vivobarefoot Ultra.

And for hiking and running in the mountains I exchange the Merrell Trail Glove with the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FG, depending on the sensations you want to experience.

Have a good summer and take care of your stress, don't do what I do.