Forget hightailing it up the side of the Alps, girls. The Swiss Masai company offers Masai Barefoot Technology (mBT). Your very own stairmaste inside a pair of shoes. You’ve heard of the anti-cellulite sneakers, no doubt. If you haven’t tried a pair, you’re missing something amazing.

First of all, they come in sneakers, sandals and high-top boot styles…so none of that “sneakers don’t go with this” crap. When I got mine, I strapped them on and was immediately impressed with how comfortable they were. They feel a bit like a platform shoe within a sneaker, but who minds being another inch and a half taller? Not me.

Instantaneously I could feel my posture change. As advised, I practiced walking in them around my apartment, making sure I would avoid any surprises that would land me face-first on a Manhattan sidewalk. I was surprised at how natural it felt to be wearing them, so I headed out. I spent the better part of a Saturday in the shoes, not knowing if they were doing anything special or whether I was just on some sort of high (being taller than usual and wearing expensive footwear can sometimes give a girl a burst of energy).

The next morning I got my answer. The back of my calves felt taught and slightly tender, as if I’d been doing calf raises, and the rest of my backside followed suit. The shoes were definitely having an effect. Over the next few weeks I wore the shoes intermittently. One of the best things that has come out of having them (I think it’ll take a bit more time to notice any reduction in cellulite) is that my posture is much different when wearing the shoes and that carries over, little by little, to how I walk without them…or when wearing other shoes.

The design of the shoe is intended to utilize muscles that form your posture, while also increasing shock absorption on joints and discs (not as glam as anti-cellulite, but way more important to your long term health). The back and joints are strengthened and circulation is increased (this is the part that helps reduce the appearance of cellulite AND varicose veins).

Be good to your lower half and get yourself a pair of mBTs. You’ll be glad you did, and your legs will be singing their own “Yodel-leh-hee-hoooooooo”!

Available at http://www.swissmasaius.com or at any Bliss location.