“Mastering Foot Mechanics” with Riccardo Galeotti – A Practitioner’s Perspective

If you had told me a few years ago that a deep-dive into foot mechanics would become one of the most engaging, practical, and enjoyable professional development days I’ve attended—well, I might’ve raised an arch (pun intended). But after spending a full weekend with Riccardo Galeotti at his Mastering Foot Mechanics workshop in Sydney, I’m walking away (literally and figuratively) with a renewed appreciation for just how critical foot function is in our clinical work.

Let me share a few highlights, takeaways, and impressions—for those of you sitting on the fence about whether this course is worth your time (spoiler alert: it is).

First Impressions: Organised, Engaging & Packed with Value

From the moment we arrived, Riccardo made it clear we were in good hands—pun intended again, and honestly, it won’t be the last. The workshop was incredibly well-organised, with a workbook that laid out the flow of the day, and all the tools we’d need to apply what we learned.

Riccardo was polite, respectful, and a strong communicator. He welcomed questions at any point and made sure everyone felt comfortable to speak up. In fact, one of the standout features of the day was his dedication to making sure we all actually understood the material. He didn’t just power through a slide deck—he circled back, repeated key concepts (without ever sounding repetitive), and invited discussion throughout.

And that’s no small feat—he held our attention for 6 full hours without feeling like he was dragging. It was a steady, well-paced delivery of information—layered and clear, without ever feeling like we were getting overloaded.

Practical, Effective, and Immediately Applicable

Let’s talk about the exercises. Because these were not your run-of-the-mill, throw-a-toe-spacer-in-it exercises. These were powerful, simple interventions based on real-time movement assessment.

And the results? Practically instant.

We saw arch height change, hip alignment shift, and gait patterns smooth out—all with just a few repetitions of the right movement, in the right context. There was a collective “whoa” moment multiple times during the day as people felt the changes happening in their own bodies. No fluff, no gimmicks—just effective strategies that worked, and worked fast.

Riccardo’s Teaching Style: A Rare Blend of Knowledge + Humour

Riccardo has a real gift for teaching. He’s one of those presenters you could listen to for hours—easygoing but deeply informed, serious about the material but light enough to keep the vibe relaxed and open. His style is practical, relatable, and—honestly—a breath of fresh air in a world full of overly complex jargon.

He makes functional anatomy feel tangible. He moves seamlessly between theory and hands-on practice. And he doesn’t just “teach the foot”—he shows you how the foot connects to everything else we treat: knees, hips, back, posture, gait, even breathing patterns.

This isn’t just a foot course. This is a whole-body rethink that starts from the ground up.

Why This Course Matters

Let’s face it: feet are often overlooked. They’re shoved into shoes, ignored in assessments, and blamed when things go wrong—but rarely understood for the powerhouses they are. Riccardo’s workshop brings the foot back into focus—where it belongs.

He shows you how dysfunctional feet can create or maintain issues in the hips, spine, and nervous system. And then he gives you the tools to start changing that—right away.

If you work in manual therapy, movement, acupuncture, or any clinical modality that involves the lower limb or spine—this course is a must-attend. It’s not just CPD. It’s clinical gold.

Final Thoughts: Grateful and Inspired

As someone who attends a lot of workshops, I can confidently say that this one stands out—not just for the quality of the information, but for the way it was delivered. Riccardo was thorough, expressive, and incredibly knowledgeable, yet always down-to-earth and generous with his time.

This was his first live ATMS event, and you’d never know it. He presented like a pro, kept the room engaged, and clearly has a passion for this material that’s contagious.

If you’re considering attending a future workshop or watching one of his online webinars—don’t hesitate. You’ll walk away with tools you can use the next day and insights that’ll stick with you for years.

Thank you, Riccardo, for a genuinely enriching experience. I’m already looking forward to your next course!

Written by: A very happy practitioner

Sydney, 2024

Riccardo’s Reply

Hey Stephen,(and to everyone reading this),

I’m genuinely touched by this write-up—thank you so much for taking the time to reflect and share your experience. I always say, if your foot moves well, everything else starts to follow, but it’s the people in the room who make the magic happen. You were an awesome, curious, and engaged group—and the kind of energy you brought made it easy to teach (and fun too).

I’m especially glad the exercises landed well. It doesn’t take 1,000 reps when the joint mechanics are right and the nervous system’s tuned in—just a little precision and a lot of play.

Thank you again for your kind words. And yes—more workshops, more biomechanics, more nerdy foot chats are coming your way.

Keep walking weird (until it becomes normal),

Riccardo

Founder, The Body Lab | Foot nerd, movement lover, and eternal student