At the Barefit blog, we want to guide you on your journey to a healthier lifestyle. Our commitment begins with offering you high-quality, supportive footwear designed to care for your feet as they deserve. However, we know that overall foot health depends on more than just shoes: it also requires attention, awareness, and training. Even among athletes, feet are often the most neglected part of the body.
Health rests on multiple pillars, and that's why we believe the best complement to our proposal is to include expert voices in key areas such as training, nutrition, and mental health—in short, everything related to well-being, which is ultimately what we all want: to be well, to feel good. Little by little, we will be giving space on our website to leading professionals who contribute value and knowledge, so that their message inspires and resonates with our community.
Today we inaugurate this new stage of interviews with Pedro Sageras, a leading figure in the world of movement, rehabilitation and conscious connection with the body.
Pedro Sageras ( @sageraslab ) holds a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, lives in Asturias, and has turned his passion for the human body, movement, and nature into a way of life. He trains people who want to get in shape, but also supports complex rehabilitation processes following injuries and mobility issues. Furthermore, he has established himself as one of the most recognized influencers in the barefoot movement in Spain, promoting a more natural and conscious relationship with the body, starting with the feet. Pedro lives in a privileged environment, surrounded by greenery, mountains, and fresh air, embracing a lifestyle that many dream of but few dare to pursue. This interview aims to delve deeper into his philosophy, his daily life, his professional experience… and also his more personal side.
Pedro, to begin with, tell us a little about yourself: how did you get into the world of training, rehabilitation and conscious movement?
Movement has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Both my parents studied Physical Education (the equivalent of Sports Science) and have been a huge influence on my decision. Organically, after playing many sports and having movement in my daily life, I realized that I would like to not only practice it myself but also teach it.
You live in Asturias, near the mountains and in a very green area. What's it like living in such an environment? What do you think it offers you personally and professionally compared to life in more hectic cities like Madrid?
For me, it's everything. When my daughter Vera was born, I knew I didn't want her to grow up amidst the noise and frenetic pace of a city. Daily contact with nature, silence, and calm are things I consider fundamental for her development and for the overall well-being of my family.
You have a young daughter. How has the experience of being a father changed your life? How does it influence your work and your understanding of happiness?
It's been a radical change. Being a father has always been a priority in my life. Luckily, I met a fantastic woman who shared that priority, and I was able to start a family relatively young (I'm 28). Spending quality time with my daughter is a priority, so I adapt my work schedule to the times when she's at school or naptime. As for happiness, it's hard to explain. Viktor Frankl said that many people continue through life because they have "anchors" to it, and for me, Vera is my greatest anchor, the main driving force behind many of my daily actions. I always keep her in mind in everything I do. She's my daughter.
You are one of the most recognized figures in the barefoot movement in Spain. How did you discover this approach and why do you think it has resonated so much with people?
Honestly, I'm becoming less and less of a barefoot runner, and that's a good thing. I don't like being associated with a movement that has become radical, lacking nuance, and tinged with arrogance and excessive ego. In my case, to be honest, I don't remember how I discovered barefoot running. My physiotherapist in Madrid was already running marathons with FiveFingers, and the idea sounded familiar, but I'd never actually tried them. I think I started using barefoot shoes around 2020, and things were very different then than they are now. There were practically no brands. Connecting with people who give anatomical footwear a chance is natural; using conventional shoes every day just doesn't make sense. I haven't had any foot problems related to calluses, blisters, ingrown toenails, corns, and a long list of other issues that arise from wearing shoes that don't fit the human foot, that are "too small."
Do you think barefooting is for everyone? Why or why not?
Except in specific contexts (climbing, soccer, sprinters, and some pathologies I may not be aware of), anatomical footwear is for everyone. However, anatomical and minimalist footwear is not. Do people who have spent 30 or 40 years developing a dysfunctional foot have the potential to run a half marathon (along with the necessary training) using FiveFingers with high benefits and low risk by the age of 50? I doubt it. This is where arrogance, the desire for attention, ego, the powerful but misguided "ancestral" message, etc., come into play.
The reality is that most people have terrible feet, and with the modern comfort mindset, they want to fix everything simply by wearing minimalist shoes. Without doing anything else.
The foot, like any structure, requires specific training to develop certain functions. Because I don't think they'd put you on the bench press with 150 kg on your first day at the gym if you've never held a barbell in your life.
Why is a smooth transition to barefoot swimming so important? What are the most common mistakes you see among beginners?
Because most people can't even maintain their balance while standing on one leg due to the significant dysfunction of their feet. They shouldn't believe everything they read and hear on social media from non-professionals trying to sell them a course or gain more attention.
What benefits can young people without pathologies experience if they start using barefoot footwear early on and strengthen their feet?
They will find certain capabilities (greater proprioception, stability, mobility, sensitivity) that will occur "naturally" simply by allowing the structure (in this case the foot) to develop "as it should".
You also work with people who have had accidents or significant mobility problems. Could you tell us about some rehabilitation cases that you are particularly proud of?
I have several stories, but I want to focus on one in particular: a woman with ALS in its early stages who, heartbroken and with little hope, asked me for help to see if we could achieve anything. Today, she is 100% functional and never imagined she could achieve what she is doing. She attributed certain aspects, like lack of strength and stiffness, to the disease, but little by little she realized that her body has much more potential despite the circumstances. It's truly inspiring to see her videos and her progress.
What would you say is your main focus when working with someone with pain or physical limitations?
Teach them the reason for that limitation or that pain. That's key. First explain the WHY, and then teach the HOW. I don't like to treat people as if they were stupid or robots. I like them to understand things.
You're becoming increasingly influential on social media. How are you experiencing this growth, and what opportunities is it opening up for you?
Ugh. Social media. Blessed or cursed dilemma. That's where we are. I think I'm someone with a very powerful message, with good communication skills, but I don't want to be clowning around just to grab anyone's attention. I want people to intentionally choose to listen to me because they realize that what I have to say can change their lives (through movement).
I'm looking for other ways to communicate with those who want to listen to me and to put social media in the background.
You're someone who has clearly found a lifestyle that's very much in line with you: you live in a peaceful environment, spend time with your family, help improve the lives of others, and on top of that, you're making an ever-increasing impact. What would you say is the best thing about your day-to-day life?
Being able to spend time with my daughter. Looking up and seeing nature (whether from my living room or when we go outside). For me, seeing my daughter having a snack by the window, with the Cantabrian Sea and the mountains in the background, fills me with equal parts pride and happiness.
Now for a Proust Questionnaire-style question—and we're letting you know that we're huge fans of Javier Aznar's Hotel Jorge Juan podcast—: what is your idea of perfect happiness?
It's the combination of having free time to dedicate to whatever I want and having the passion to create something. In my case, creating "things" to help people ENJOY a functional body.
I'll confess something personal: I've always loved sports, but the stress of office work has gradually distanced me from that lifestyle that used to make me feel free. I increasingly see it as an obligation rather than a passion. How do you get people to fall in love with movement again, like when we were children?
Be an inspiration to them and listen to them. Suggest things that interest them, tailored to their circumstances. Often, people set out to achieve a goal, but the steps to reach it aren't adapted to their abilities, which frustrates them and leads them to give up. That's why it's crucial to trust a professional who knows how to adapt things to you so you can simply focus on ENJOYING the process.
And to wrap up: what motivates you every day to keep helping others? What would you like people to feel after working with you?
The satisfaction of seeing how it changes the lives of the people who are already working with me. Training/movement is a vehicle to happiness and personal development if done properly. Gratitude for having taught them that movement and happiness are two sides of the same coin because without movement there is no life.
In the photo Pedro is wearing the Barefit Court Black and they look amazing on him.
If you enjoyed what Pedro shared and want to get moving, improve, and enjoy training with him, check out his website and contact him. While healthy footwear like the kind we sell at Barefit is important for maintaining healthy feet, training is essential.
https://sageraslab.com/