Latest news with #BearIntentions
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I'm going barefoot for a YEAR... I've suffered gruesome injuries on my feet and have been thrown out of stores
A man who has been barefoot for the last nine months has opened up about the gruesome injuries that he's endured and the brutal backlash that he's faced over the experiment. Bear Intentions, 34, a personal trainer, yoga teacher and massage therapist from the UK, made it his goal to walk around without any footwear on for an entire year. He began the project in October, and over the last nine months, he has gone completely shoe-less. That means he's gone without shoes on public transportation, on dirty streets in New York, and even in public toilets. Now, he has spoken exclusively with the Daily Mail about the bizarre endeavor, and he admitted that he's faced a slew of challenges along the way - like getting 'glass, stones and countess thorns' stuck in his feet and being thrown out of stores. But he insisted that it's been incredibly 'liberating' and totally worth the discomfort. 'When I get past those moments of discomfort (i.e. public toilets, gravel tracks, London Underground, glass alleyways, New York City etc.), it's radically shaped how I engage with the world,' he dished. 'I've had very novel and fascinating conversations with strangers that I wouldn't have had otherwise, I pay more attention to my environment, I feel more confident somehow. 'It's been a rollercoaster. A seemingly minor change such as not wearing shoes or socks for almost a year has changed my life in many - mostly positive - ways.' The UK-native explained that in addition to constantly stepping on sharp objects, he has developed multiple serious conditions over the last nine months. He battled something called trench-foot, which develops after prolonged exposure of the feet to cold, wet conditions. 'Living in Portugal in the winter led to some unexpected trench-foot - two weeks of solid rain in which I had to walk my dog a few times a day, plus surfing and not drying or taking proper care of my feet,' he explained. 'The soles of my feet started to disintegrate. I had to spend another couple of weeks with zero moisture to dry them out.' He also developed tendinitis, which is the inflammation, irritation, or swelling of a tendon, which is the tissue connecting muscle to bone. But he confessed that the biggest risk has nothing to do with injuries. 'One of the biggest hazards that's keep my eyes to the ground is dog s**t,' he joked. He insisted that it's been incredibly 'liberating' and totally worth the discomfort. 'When I get past those moments of discomfort, it's radically shaped how I engage with the world,' he said Bear admitted to the Daily Mail that he often faces cruel judgement from strangers and has been kicked out of stores on multiple occasions. 'I'm used to people staring at me but with being barefoot, it's frequently a look of disgust which can grate on me sometimes,' he said. 'I've had no problems with restaurants but I've been told I'm not allowed inside multiple supermarkets. 'A few of those times I'd be in the middle of my shopping and be asked to leave.' Arguably one of most dramatic moments was when he was almost thrown off a flight after he boarded with no shoes on. 'I had already boarded the flight (as I had done on the previous three flights I'd flown on to get there),' he recalled. 'The cabin crew saw I was shoeless and told me I couldn't be on the plane barefooted. 'So myself and my friend got off the plane and quickly went to speak to the flight manager at the gate desk.' After explaining the situation and 'a few minutes of back and forth,' Bear said the manager told him he 'could embark on the plane as long as he told them it was for religious purposes.' As for why he's doing it, Bear explained that it's part of a bigger 'project' he's working on that involves multiple year-long challenges 'Thankfully I was allowed back on moments before they ended boarding. There was a lot riding on that flight, with two connecting flights back to Europe,' he added. 'They were all doing their jobs and I respect their policies however, it was an emotional moment.' As for why he's doing it, Bear explained that it's part of a bigger 'project' he's working on that involves multiple year-long challenges. 'I'm a wellbeing artist, which basically means I look for creative ways to live a healthy life,' he explained. 'This year-long challenge of being barefoot is a part of four years of consecutive challenges that I've set myself in order to study the relationship between intention and tension. 'The previous challenges have consisted of 365 day-long vow of silence, 365 days wearing only fancy dress costumes, and 365 days of service (asking "how can I help"). 'My plan is to take all of my experiences and findings over the last four years and place them in a book about why purpose matters now more than ever. 'I grew up without my father present so these four years can also be seen as a "rite of passage." 'I want to be a caring husband and stable father one day and felt this would be a good way for me to learn what I didn't as a child.' He's now setting out to walk all the way from Italy to London while barefoot - which is a whopping 745 miles. He expects it to take six to eight weeks and plans to walk anywhere from 10-25 miles per day depending on weather. 'I want to use it as a time to reflect on my experiences and process the past four years,' he said. 'I'm also fundraising for two UK charities: CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and Medical Detection Dogs.' In the end, he said he's learned so much from the endeavor, and he's impressed by his own dedication. 'I sold my house to afford to go through these challenges and dedicated the last six years of my life to this project,' he dished. 'So if there's one thing I've learnt is that having and fulfilling ones purpose is a matter of dedication - sacrifice.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet the man who is spending a whole year barefoot - walking from Italy to London
Meet the man who is spending every day barefoot - for a whole year. Bear Intentions, 34, gave up his shoes and socks back in October and has been going through life barefoot ever since. The challenge is due to end this October but to mark its completion, Bear is planning to walk 1,200km from Italy all the way to the UK. He is taking no footwear at all on the six to eight week journey - even though he'll be crossing difficult and mountainous terrain. But the wellbeing artist has become used to things not being easy over the past year. He has faced social judgement, been kicked out of supermarkets, and even nearly barred from boarding a flight, he claims. READ MORE: London's 'most beautiful walk' that's right next to 'most underrated park' you've probably not heard of READ MORE: UK's 'most underrated city' is less than two hours away from London – and it's beautiful And, he's suffered from injuries - including trench foot from spending too much time in the rain and tendonitis from straining his muscles. But Bear is still positive about the challenge - which he says has been "liberating". Bear, from the New Forest in the UK, said: "The barefoot challenge is part of me challenging myself to live with intention - and particularly to live authentically and stand up for what I believe in. "It's been really liberating and helped with my confidence - especially as socially it weirds people out and physically it's uncomfortable. "And it's also helped teach me about how to choose a different path for myself. Admittedly, there have been some difficulties - like getting kicked out of supermarkets. "And in May, I was in the US, and I was trying to fly from LA to New York, and they kicked me off the flight because I didn't have any shoes on. "I had to talk to loads of people, and explain that I couldn't wear socks or shoes, and eventually they allowed me back on. "The hardest thing though has been getting over people's looks of disgust. Because that is the main reaction." Soon, Bear will be walking from Aosta Valley in northern Italy to London in the UK - as a way to finish off his challenge. He'll be accompanied by his dog, a four-year-old German Shepherd called Thor. Bear said: "I wanted to do something that would mark the end of the year and help me reflect on what I've done. "I am feeling like the odds are stacked against me though, when it comes to completing it. I've had injuries thanks to repetitive strain on a tendon in my foot - and that flared up recently after just a 5km walk. I'm aiming to walk 25km a day - so I'm hoping I can do it." Bear will be using his challenge to raise money for two charities: CALM and Medical Detection Dogs, which trains dogs to support people with life-threatening health conditions. "One charity for me, one charity for Thor," Bear said. Interestingly, this is not the first time Bear has tackled a unique year-long challenge. From October 2021 to October 2022, he spent an entire year in silence - not speaking once. In the same period the following year, he wore fancy dress costumes every single day. And last year, he focused on a year of 'volunteering', where he would ask people how he could help them. Speaking about his year of silence, Bear said: "For the first six months, I had to wake up every day and remind myself, 'Don't speak today.' "Then, around the half way point, it just became the norm for me. I actually enjoyed not speaking. I found that very peaceful. But the impact it had on being social was really intense on my mental health." You can donate to Bear's fundraiser for CALM here: And you can donate to Bear's fundraiser for Medical Detection Dogs here: Stay up to date about London's hottest events, latest restaurant openings, and best deals with our Going Out Out newsletter. Sign up HERE!
New York Post
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
UK man challenges himself to walk barefoot for a year: ‘It's been really liberating'
Meet the man who is spending every day barefoot – for a whole year. Bear Intentions, 34, gave up his shoes and socks back in October and has been going through life barefoot ever since. The challenge is due to end this October, but to mark its completion, Bear is planning to walk 746 miles from Italy all the way to the UK. He is taking no footwear at all on the six to eight-week journey – even though he'll be crossing difficult and mountainous terrain. 5 Bear Intentions, 34, gave up his shoes and socks back in October and has been going through life barefoot ever since. Bear Intentions / SWNS But the well-being artist has become used to things not being easy over the past year. He has faced social judgment, been kicked out of supermarkets, and even nearly barred from boarding a flight, he claims. And, he's suffered from injuries – including trench foot from spending too much time in the rain and tendonitis from straining his muscles. But Bear is still positive about the challenge, which he says has been 'liberating.' 5 Bear is planning to walk 746 miles from Italy to the UK by the end of October. Bear Intentions / SWNS Bear, from the New Forest in the UK, said: 'The barefoot challenge is part of me challenging myself to live with intention – and particularly to live authentically and stand up for what I believe in. 'It's been really liberating and helped with my confidence – especially as socially it weirds people out and physically it's uncomfortable. 'And it's also helped teach me about how to choose a different path for myself. 'Admittedly, there have been some difficulties – like getting kicked out of supermarkets. 'And in May, I was in the US, and I was trying to fly from LA to New York, and they kicked me off the flight because I didn't have any shoes on. 'I had to talk to loads of people, and explain that I couldn't wear socks or shoes, and eventually they allowed me back on. 'The hardest thing though has been getting over people's looks of disgust. Because that is the main reaction.' Soon, Bear will be walking from Aosta Valley in northern Italy to London in the UK – as a way to finish off his challenge. He'll be accompanied by his dog, a four-year-old German Shepherd called Thor. Bear said: 'I wanted to do something that would mark the end of the year and help me reflect on what I've done. 'I am feeling like the odds are stacked against me though, when it comes to completing it. 'I've had injuries thanks to repetitive strain on a tendon in my foot, and that flared up recently after just a 3-mile walk. 5 'The barefoot challenge is part of me challenging myself to live with intention – and particularly to live authentically and stand up for what I believe in,' Bear said. Bear Intentions / SWNS 'I'm aiming to walk 15 miles a day – so I'm hoping I can do it.' Bear will be using his challenge to raise money for two charities: CALM and Medical Detection Dogs, which trains dogs to support people with life-threatening health conditions. 'One charity for me, one charity for Thor,' Bear said. Interestingly, this is not the first time Bear has tackled a unique year-long challenge. 5 'The hardest thing, though, has been getting over people's looks of disgust. Because that is the main reaction,' the man continued. Bear Intentions / SWNS From October 2021 to October 2022, he spent an entire year in silence – not speaking once. In the same period the following year, he wore fancy dress costumes every single day. And last year, he focused on a year of 'volunteering', where he would ask people how he could help them. Speaking about his year of silence, Bear said: 'For the first six months, I had to wake up every day and remind myself, 'Don't speak today.' 5 Bear is still positive about the challenge, which he says has been 'liberating.' Bear Intentions / SWNS 'Then, around the halfway point, it just became the norm for me. 'I actually enjoyed not speaking. I found that very peaceful. But the impact it had on being social was really intense on my mental health.' You can donate to Bear's fundraiser for CALM, and you can donate to Bear's fundraiser for Medical Detection Dogs.
