Walks prove a bare necessity for men’s mental health group

Men’s Odyssey promotes mental health through barefoot walking and cold water swimming, creating a space for men to get together in nature and distress through grounding and rewilding.

The group now meets twice a month and on Sunday took a walk around the St Saviour’s Reservoir before going swimming at Vazon.

Tom Leale, who founded the group, said there were a host of benefits to walking barefoot.

‘It connects you to the earth, it can improve posture, mood and help regulate the nervous system,’ he said.

‘There is a lot of solid research about the benefits it can bring.’

Mr Leale started the group after attending a men’s retreat in Lisbon last spring and it has been meeting regularly since June.

‘It made me realise how powerful being heard by other men can be,’ he said.

‘We did have eight to 10 people but it had dropped off over the winter.

'It would be good to see a few new faces, and this is actually a really good time to walk as that cold makes your feet feel even more alive.’

As well as walking at the reservoir, the group has also walked at the bluebell woods, on footpaths close to Le Val des Terres and on beaches, combining walking with a cold water swim.

‘We are here every two weeks, whether it’s one person or 50,’ he said.

Regular walker Myles Foale found the group on Facebook just after he had moved back to the island.

‘It’s been a life-changer for me,’ he said.

‘It’s allowed me to meet new people and been great for my mental health. Walking barefoot makes you slow down and think about the pressure under your feet.’

Timothy Rowe started barefoot walking after having problems with his back and being told he needed spinal surgery.

‘It benefits you in so many ways. It strengthens your arches and lower spine,’ he said.

‘There are so many nerves on your feet, if you look at Chinese medicine so much is connected to the feet and how it affects the rest of the body.’

And as for anyone’s worries about hurting their feet walking outside, the group says no one has encountered anything more than a splinter.

‘We don’t worry about kids getting a little muddy and this is no different,’ said Mr Rowe.

‘People are scared of it but really it’s about using your feet for what they were naturally meant to do.’