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Over the past few years, toning shoes have become all the rage as a great way to reap the muscle-firming benefits of exercise by just going about your daily activities. Just about every major footwear brand has jumped on the toning shoe bandwagon, so styles range from traditional sneakers and shoes to boots, sandals and flip flops. The basic technology that gives this type of footwear its magical toning powers is either a rocker bottom or balance pod soles which create instability with a person's walking stride. This recruits muscles in the legs and feet to keep balance. Simple and effective, toning shoes are a perfect way for people to fit in a great workout that they will barely notice every day.One of the first brands to develop the science behind toning shoes is MBT. Formed in 1996, the name MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology because the company's founders based their shoes on the agility of the Swiss Masai people as they walked barefoot on uneven ground. MBT designed their footwear so that a person's stride would mimic this. Their shoes have a curved sole that makes walking a rolling motion which promotes balance, tones legs and feet and improves posture. MBT's shoes come in a variety of styles for both men and women, including sneakers, boots and sandals.Popular MBT styles for women include the Tataga Chill Oxford Leather. Made of tan leather, the Tataga has white laces and a sporty dark toe detail. Perfect with jeans and perfectly stylish, the Tataga is like a sneaker disguised as a cool casual shoe.Another great women's style from MBT is the Tenga High Black Leather boot. One look at these slick kicks and you'll swear they could pass muster at the coolest of nightclubs. So whether you're dancing the night away or toe tapping to the beat, the Tenga will be toning your legs in stealthy style. Clearly, these boots were made for more than just walking.Like MBT, Skechers' Shape Ups line of toning shoes also uses the rocker bottom technology. Over the past few years Shape Ups have become one of the more popular lines of toning shoes for women because of their effectiveness, youthful styles and their affordable pricing. Though they come in boot, Mary Jane and sandal styles, the most popular of Skechers' women's toning shoes are their sneaker varieties.One such shoe is the Action Packed, in navy blue with silver leather. This is a hip, stylish option that looks great with any casual clothing. The Action Packed has metallic synthetic overlays and edging detail with contrast color mesh panels to go with a lace-up front. It features Skechers' patented Kinetic Wedge foam midsole for shock absorption and their sculpted rubber rocker bottom for maximum toning capabilities.Women who want a toning shoe that looks more like a traditional sneaker will love Skechers' Kinetix Response in black and pink leather. The Kinetix has all of the same great toning properties as the Action Packed, but the design makes the rocker bottom less pronounced, so you can tone your body in secret as you stride in style.Another brand that is now gaining steam among the toning shoe ranks is Alegria; a new line of fun, innovative footwear from California's PG Lite Company. Alegria's shoes are perfect for women who want a toning shoe that doesn't remotely resemble a sneaker. With hip designs and vibrant colors, these shoes are perfect for the gal who wants a workout without sacrificing style or having to sweat it out in the gym. Alegria's shoe styles range from clogs and shoes to boots and sandals. All have their patented rocker bottoms and anatomically correct interlocking footbeds. Women who want less rock in their bottom can choose varieties with mini-rocker bottoms that have less of the rolling motion.Popular styles in the Alegria line include the Feliz Mary Jane, the Classic Clog and the Asp Boot. The Feliz Mary Jane features a mini-rocker bottom, adjustable Velcro strap and a playful button detail. It comes in plain styles such as black leather or funkier varieties like gold metallic snake leather.The Classic Clog is a closed toe clog with a rocker bottom. It also comes in plain or patent leather in a variety of colors, or for a walk on the wild side, prints such as the 60's – inspired Peace and Love.For toning in colder weather, the Asp is a suede women's water repellent mini-boot with a mini bottom outsole. It is hand sewn and has a leather lining. This boot is available in black, chestnut or sand suede.Whether you are a gym rat looking for extra exercise outside of your regular workouts, or a fitness-phobe who detests the treadmill, toning shoes are a great addition to your footwear collection. With their unique balance technology, these shoes recruit muscles, helping you tone your legs and feet just by walking and going about your regular daily activities. So no more excuses about not having time to exercise! All you need is a pair of toning shoes for a workout you'll barely notice…at least until you look in the mirror and see the results. LunarHaze+ Mens Running Shoe blue and black Retro Running Shoes