Grandmaster JinBodhi: In a hot area, you will feel more comfortable and stable practicing barefoot on ceramic tiles or stone slabs. It gets a little slippery if you practice with socks on. Southerners prefer to go barefoot on slippery floors; I am not against this, but I do not recommend doing so either.
I suggest practicing Energy Bagua wearing socks and sports shoes for the purpose of safety. You can run barefoot on a treadmill, but it may hurt the skin on your feet. So, to protect your feet, it is better to wear socks and shoes while practicing Energy Bagua.