Don’t feel like you have time to workout at the gym, retreat to a spa, or retool your chakras?  Try these on for size.

MBTs, short for Masai Barefoot Technology, are the ugliest footwear on Earth. They look as if someone crossbred an orthopedic sneaker and a clown shoe. And yet, athletes, supermodels and cellulite-afflicted moms alike supposedly covet this so-called “physiological” footwear.

The promise? A tighter caboose and a tune-up for the entire body: better posture, toned muscles, increased blood flow, lymphatic drainage and reduced water retention. All you need to do is shell out $245-$265 and lace ‘em up.

For years, my feet hurt from plantar fasciitis. I tried taping them, physical therapy, massage and even steroid injections. Then, I walked for a week in MBTs. Once a down-and-out cynic (after all, the shoes come with a DVD), I have been reborn,  proselytizing wherever I go about this mini gym-spa-combo underfoot.

MBTs give the impression of walking on sand. The concept?  Natural instability. According to the company, the human skeleton is designed to walk barefoot on soft, natural ground. And yet, we walk almost exclusively on hard, flat surfaces. So Karl Muller, a Swiss engineer, designed a sole that ensures a natural rolling movement. Kind of like Earth Shoes to the gazillionth degree.

The resulting instability in the entire skeletal system must be compensated by activating neglected muscles throughout the body. Other claims include joint relief, increased coordination, burnt calories and improved gait.