Ralitsa Malcheva

Ralitsa Malcheva

Personal trainer, fitness coach, foot mobility coach

About our Foot Health Expert

Ralitsa Malcheva

Based in England, United Kingdom

Personal trainer for over 13 years. Ralitsa works with people experiencing foot, knee, hip, and back issues, helping them regain mobility, strength, and confidence so they can move better in everyday life and get back to enjoying the sports, training, and activities they love.

Ralitsa began her career in 2013 as a gym and group fitness instructor, and in 2014 she qualified as a personal trainer. Over the years, she has completed a range of certifications, including Pre- and Post-Natal Personal Training, as well as group training disciplines such as Indoor Cycling, kettlebells, Supple Strength, Bootcamp, and Circuit training. However, the biggest shift in how she coaches came after studying with Gary Ward, followed by mentorship with Katie St Clair, which deeply influenced her approach to movement.

Since 2021, Ralitsa has been coaching clients online, working with people from all over the world, and in 2023, she launched a 5-week online Functional Foot Course for professionals who want to understand foot biomechanics and develop the skills to coach the foot more effectively. The course has now run for 10 rounds.

Her day-to-day work with clients, along with the foot course, inspired her to collaborate on a new program designed to benefit a wide range of people – from movement professionals to anyone who wants to move better and stay active.

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Ralitsa Malcheva, personal trainer, fitness coach, foot mobility coach
From my perspective, Be Lenka stands out for its quality, comfort, customer care and fair pricing.
It is a brand that understands what feet need and creates footwear people can feel good in every day.

Ralitsa recommends

“I love how light and comfortable the Velore trainers are. The breathable material is flexible, which makes them perfect for walking and training. I also like the Grace 2.0 — it is a very pretty and comfortable shoe, and I think it is a great option for everyday wear. Personally, I prefer shoes without cushioning, although I can understand that the new cushioned sole will probably be more appealing to most people. And finally, the Barebarics winter shoes — I simply love them.”

Why does barefoot matter?

Feet that work naturally

Overall, I really like the feeling of having my feet work more naturally. Barefoot shoes are definitely different from traditional ones, but for me, that’s kind of the point.

Room to move

What I appreciate most about the barefoot shoes is how natural they feel. The wide toe box gives my toes room to spread out, while the flat, flexible sole allows my feet to move properly instead of feeling restricted by the shoe.

Light and grounded

Barefoot shoes feel really lightweight, and you may enjoy having more awareness of the ground beneath you. They can feel especially good for everyday walking and training.

Give your feet time

The truth is you have to get used to them. If you’re coming from heavily cushioned shoes, your feet and calves might need some time to adapt.

Backed by experts

Insights from foot health specialists

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Dr. Courtney Conley with Gait Happens experts