Although many people do their tai chi movements barefoot, it is usually recommended to get some kind of footwear for traction and comfort. A lot of people who perform tai chi barefoot have the benefit of a yoga or small athletic mat that their feet can get easily grip. Some tai chi movements need you to have a secure balance which might be very hard to do barefoot on a floor or lawn, especially for a beginner trying to determine their balance points. So, you need to get your feet into tai chi shoes.

They Cost WHAT?

There are tai chi shoes specifically marketed for tai chi. These tend to be designer shoes and very expensive. They come in many colors, but black or white is the norm. They are available online or in real world stores that sell sporting goods, martial arts supplies and tai chi supplies. Sometimes, you find them in shoe stores. But do you need to get a specifically designed pair labeled “tai chi shoes”.

Nope

If you look through a tai chi book, website or attend a class, you’ll see a variety of tai chi shoes. They range from “Korean slippers”, tennis shoes to those designer tai chi shoes previously mentioned. You don’t need a specific brand or label to fins you ideal pair of tai chi shoes. What you do need is patience and a willingness to have comfort predominate over fashion.

The Important Points

Tai chi class is not the place to break in a new pair of shoes. You might even want to dig up an old pair sitting quietly in the back of the closet because they will be comfortable and broken in already. Your ideal pair of tai chi shoes will have the following:

Great arch and ankle support (they will be taking a lot of weight that they may not be used to taking).

The amount of heel you are used to.

A very flexible sole so you can feel the floor or mat or lawn underneath you.

Comfort when you bend down.

Either no laces or firmly tied laces.

If you do eventually decide to go barefoot, be sure you go barefoot in other activities, too or it may be a shock on your body. You also will definitely need a small athletic mat. These are usually called “yoga mats”. They feel like the mats you had in gym class.