Vivobarefoot ™ Training Clinic

Coaching Testimonials

Jaclyn Reifschneider

PT, DPT

As a physical therapist who practices evidence based medicine, I tried to teach myself how to run barefoot by applying all of the knowledge that I learned from the most current research articles. I tried for 16 months with minimal success. That all changed when I met Lee Saxby.
Lee looks at the human body as a whole and goes back to the basics of physics, biomechanics, and natural history. His unbiased and unfiltered speeches on human evolution are mind blowing. He challenges your perception of reality and debunks myths related to fitness and health. The course was only 5 days, but I felt as if I had learned years worth of information. I would highly recommend this course to anyone- not just runners or coaches.

Andy Petranek

CrossFit Los Angeles, Owner & Head Coach

I highly recommend this course with Lee. It is, without question, the most complete, comprehensive and authoritative program anywhere, and provides each participant with the tools they need to run correctly for the rest of their lives and coach others through that process.

I’ve been running for fun and competitively my whole adult life. I never had any formal training in it until a few years ago, when I attended several seminars on running mechanics and learned dozens of drills that would help give me the perfect running position and form. And then I practiced, and ran, and practiced, and ran, always bumping up against this wall, unable to ‘feel’ what it was supposed to feel like, never really able to make the connection between the drills and running in real life.

And then I attended a VIVOBAREFOOT Training Clinic Technique Course with Lee Saxby. It changed everything. Suddenly I could connect the dots, feeling what it was supposed to feel like, and actually seeing the results in my running, sometimes even in a matter of minutes. It was truly remarkable – using his process, learning the proper posture and rhythm, doing the drills and then seeing a difference. My running would never again be the same.

Neither would my coaching. The course, while fun and relaxed, was also extremely detailed, diving into the science, mechanics and physics of running and answering many of the “Whys”. It broadened my base of knowledge and gave me facility with jargon, concepts, and drills that have become essential in teaching/training/coaching of others. I’m now able to teach a client a completely new ‘barefoot’ gait in less than an hour, and have it ‘stick’ (as long as they practice). Prior to this course, for me, that was out of the question.

Erwan Le Corre

Founder of MovNat

“Because running is natural to every human being, anyone can run. But can anyone run with efficiency? In other words, can you run skillfully?
The next time you think running, think skill. Lee Saxby possesses not only the skill of running but also the skill of teaching it with patience and exactitude. Lee is the most skillful expert I know at sharing how to effectively teach proper running.
At MovNat, we highly emphasize movement efficiency and strongly believe in the necessity of transforming our basic natural movement aptitudes into mastered movement skills. I am the founder of MovNat, and I highly recommend the VIVOBAREFOOT running certification by Lee Saxby.”

Stefan Lee Andermann

Owner, RealPerfoamance

“Very rarely in one’s life does one happen upon an experience that is truly life changing in the most positive of ways. After 16 years of being in the fitness industry I had been exposed to many so called “Experts,” I was becoming reluctant to spend the money and, most importantly, time on another seminar that espoused a system of accessing and training that improved performance, only to be disappointed with its lack of results and its avoidance of true movement. Enter Lee Saxby…. yes, I was skeptical and question/ challenged him thoroughly. After the first hour Lee had gained my trust and confidence. His understanding of biomechanics and the ease with which he teaches complex subjects is unequalled. Lee is not simply a barefoot running coach, he is a movement expert with the ability to teach 5 year of knowledge in 5 days. This was by far the best use of all my resources.”

Andrew Wallace

Owner, Upstream Fitness


“Out of any fitness certification program available to the public, the VIVOBAREFOOT Certified Coaching program is the most thorough, organized, interactive, and fun course today. As a former Special Operations soldier, CrossFit Coach, and business owner, I found the 5-day course to cover an enormous amount of material, both in terms of science and the principles of effective coaching. Lee Saxby’s wealth of knowledge and amicable demeanor facilitated a wonderful learning environment, coupled with a comprehensive written and practical exam ensuring an adherence to high standards. I have now successfully held over 15 VIVOBAREFOOT Running Clinics in just 3 short months, and anticipate many more. Having attended alternative running certifications before, I will attest that the VIVOBAREFOOT Certified Coaching Program is the premier running certification program today.”

Kyle Thorne

NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach

“I was a bit skeptical about the VIVOBAREFOOT Certification Course when I first heard about it. I wasn’t entirely sure how I would apply it to my discipline within professional sports. After the first session, listening to Lee Saxby, I knew that I needed to absorb as much from him as possible. As a tremendous teacher and brilliant mind, Lee has so much to offer. I was challenged and humbled more than in any other education setting. The quality of the content and process was outstanding. Lee literally squeezes a year-long course concisely into a week. His practical testing process then demands that you have internalized the concepts and can apply them. I recommend this course without hesitation to any professional of any level. Lee shares his knowledge with the attendees with a genuine heart to improve their abilities to affect others.”

Sam Murphy

Runner’s World Columnistand Running Coach

“The VIVOBAREFOOT Certification programme is simply one of the best courses I’ve been on. With a degree in exercise & sport science and numerous run coaching and personal training qualifications, I am accustomed to going on courses where the bulk of what I am taught is what I already know. But this 5-day course enhanced both the breadth and depth of my knowledge, opening up fresh perspectives on common issues and challenging norms. Lee Saxby is a great teacher and an excellent coach. I found the course stimulating, demanding and hugely enjoyable. To gain certification, there is an exam on the final day (not multiple choice!) which you need to pass, along with submission of 3 video case studies of runners whose technique you have changed using your newfound skills. I feel more confident as a running coach as a result of getting this certification, whether clients want to run barefoot or not. It’s given me more ‘tools’ to use in order to help someone improve. “

Dale Turrell

Native Tours


“I recently attended the VIVOVBAREFOOT Coaching Program, hosted by Lee Saxby. I was amazed at how much there was to learn on the biomechanics of Barefoot running. I had done a lot of research prior to the course but Lee manages to explain it so well. It is different trying to coach or teach as opposed to just knowing facts. We were a group of 10 ranging from academics to passionate runners and I can safely say we all took a lot out of the course. When it comes to putting what the course taught us into practice it has been pretty easy as Lee gives great exercises and coaching cues. I am already racking up my coaching hours and am looking forward to doing the next course. So if you are interested in injury free running then this course is a must.”

Tina Dubois

“Attending the VIVOBAREFOOT Coaching Program not only transformed my running form but also changed my perception of movement altogether. Lee Saxby possesses a profound depth of knowledge in human movement and the skill to communicate that knowledge clearly and effectively to his students. Equipped with our new education in the biomechanics of human locomotion, we were taught how to diagnose inefficient and/or potentially injurious running form and coach clients to achieve a skilled running form through video analysis and a series of drills designed to teach the three fundamental skills of running: posture, rhythm, relax.”

Catherine Dupont

“A great week, with great people, wearing great shoes!
The course is five days of really interesting training designed to teach the fundamentals of barefoot running biomechanics. Lee Saxby’s goal is to make it simple to understand yet based on scientific background facts and figures. Saxby has impressive experience and biography.
His approach is to start from the experience of barefoot walking, jumping and running, before flooding the understanding of it with complicated theories.
The scientific background is there (for ex. Dan Lieberman’s work) but you’re not overwhelmed with it. First try and test, then think. First free your heels, than you’ll naturally free your mind… It makes it really enjoyable and simple to share afterwards with barefoot running beginners or trained runners.”

Michael Lynch

“I highly recommend this coaching course as it is a truly amazing experience to learn the truth about the way your body moves; if you ever get the opportunity to take part in it, you would be a fool to say no. VIVOBAREFOOT has pushed forward to heading the barefoot running movement and Lee Saxby is on their side which is a gigantic plus as he is the mad genius behind it all. I am very grateful to have been invited to become a part of this as well as very impressed with the wealth of knowledge I have been given the ability to learn throughout the course.
Thank you.”

Natalia Wojnar

“In June 2011 I attended the VIVOBAREFOOT Coaching Program to try and become Barefoot Running Coach. This was the first time for this training class in the UK and was “run” by Lee Saxby. The course is divided into two parts- theory (a five day course with written test) and a practical exam. As I have no background in sports related science I was quite apprehensive about the program but also very excited about learning new skills and techniques.

The first day of the training was practical assessment of everyone’s running form and Lee “fixed” our bad habits. It was fun and we learned a lot from each other. The next day was much harder as we studied basic biomechanics and I learned a lot new words I never knew existed! After that day I felt a little insecure about my presence there but as the course progressed, it all started to make sense.

After biomechanics, days three and four consisted of Motor control Theory, Evolutionary Anatomy and Coaching principles. That was followed by practical coaching I found the most enjoyable because by then I felt I had all necessary knowledge to assess and help others.

At the beginning of day five, we had written theory test. I was very nervous about the exam but I felt that even if I did not pass it, my knowledge on Barefoot Running had grown hugely and that I would be much more confident dealing with my customers. Fortunately I passed and I was over the moon!

Following on from the written exam came the practical exam. That consisted of 3 video case studies of ‘converted’ runners, both before and after coaching sessions with me. I didn’t want to rush it so it took me about 2 months to complete the videos but I got to practice my new skills in between the case studies.

I am now VIVOBAREFOOT Certified Barefoot Running Coach and I am extremely grateful I was able to be part of the Program. As the VIVOBAREFOOT Flagship Store Manager, I am able to use some of the best gait analysis software and with my knowledge now I can help many people to enjoy injury free movement.”

Daniel Nascimento

NSG LLC
“5 days – 10 hours a day with Lee Saxby in NY. What was pitched as a barefoot running clinic with injury prevention in mind, ended up being SOOO much more: After demystifying barefoot running, we continued in an education in “The Evolution of human movement” respecting natural laws and biological laws.

Lee Saxby is Logical, sensible, driven to convey the truth.. NOT once did he give us “his” opinion – everything he taught us was grounded in evolution, the laws of physics, logic and understanding of research.. You will not encounter a better teacher/coach that can weed through the “BS, noise, marketing, excuses” and get to the facts by simply explaining evolution and physics with a sense of humor and passion of the facts. I left cheated that we only got 5 days with Lee..”