I did a fair bit of research before purchasing these with the original intention of using them for Tae Kwon do.  Having had foot surgery 5 months ago, I did not feel safe taking on new sport totally barefoot.  Pulled a hip muscle shortly after starting the class and decided that a middle aged physical therapist does not need to risk injury performing martial arts!  Using them instead for yoga, weight lifting, balance work and low impact cardio. As long as I avoid jarring movements (like running!)these are the most comfortable pair of athletic shoes I have ever used.  I love using them when balancing on the physioball or the Bosu and can really feel the intrinsic muscles of the foot working.  I know these are marketed for running - recommend caution - most of us do not have the perfect foot alignment required to run successfully in minimalist footwear. Otherwise I cannot say enough about these great shoes!