Our Story

The Movement Academy was founded by Dina, a Rehab Specialist from London, who you may have previously known as Studio Manager at Vivobarefoot™ Austria.

By combining 15+ years of experience in the fields of biomechanics, medicine and footwear, Move Barefoot is creating a new standard in the fitness industry that promotes a multi-disciplined approach to well-being.

Our services are aimed at deepening your understanding of movement, whether you are on a journey to improve yourself (personal training) or you are a coach/practitioner who wants to evolve how you work with your clients (educational workshops).

Movement Philosophy

All movement is composed of a series of carefully synchronised muscle contractions, supported by networks of fascia which all need to work symbiotically with each other for us to move in a way that is both safe and efficient.

This can apply to something as simple as walking, or as complex as barbell deadlifts.

As we all have different demands from our bodies, it is important to have a training program that not only helps us look and feel better, but also allows us to perform better in our day-to-day duties outside of our training time.

By training and mastering our most essential movement patterns, we are preparing our bodies for routine physical stress and creating the foundations to truly thrive.

Why Barefoot?

The evolution of the human foot is arguably one of the biggest contributing factors to our success as a species. The structures of our arches not only support our whole body but also allow us to be extremely effective at running and jumping.

• The soles of our feet are filled with nerve endings which are responsible for sending vital information to the brain, allowing our body to react to our environment faster than we can perceive it consciously
• The mid-foot is capable of twisting in a way that allows our ankles to freely adjust to varying terrain, whilst maintaining stable 3-point contact between the ground and our feet.
• The extension of our big toe uses our plantar fascia to turn our foot into a rigid lever, strong enough to heave our entire body forward on one foot as we walk.

When we wear stiff and compact shoes that provide us with too much support and cushioning, we take away the foot’s ability to function in the way that it is best designed. With time, this can lead to weakness, instability or even dysfunction, causing compensations at other parts of the body, particularly the knees and lower back.

Because of this, all training programs and workshops at The Movement Academy serve as a reminder that the feet are the foundation of all movement.

Partners

Vivobarefoot

Founder Dina had previously worked as an advisor for VIVOBAREFOOT Austria between 2018 and 2024, helping thousands of people transition safely into barefoot shoes by providing the necessary education and explaining the step-by-step process required to adapt comfortably.

As minimal shoes put a demand on the feet to be able to function naturally, training is highly recommended during the early stages of wearing them.

This is why Move Barefoot continues to have a close relationship with VIVOBAREFOOT, and aims to provide you, the customer, with a more complete experience.