Are you a walking for exercise lover or hater?
Walking is so fundamental and beneficial. It isn’t glamorous but boy is it great for many things.
Because we evolved on two legs, our bodies require walking in order to be efficient: our pelvic floors, digestion, breathing, bone density, joints, low backs and more all depend on walking to function at their best!
Although we don’t think walking technique matters – it really does. Poor walking technique is ineffective and can create more problems instead of healing them.
LET’S LOOK AT THE KNEES
It’s really important to step and land with a straight knee. A bent knee landing simply placed too much load on our knee joints and also feels a bit strange. Check it out try taking a few steps today landing with a bent knee and see what you feel!
There are many ways to deconstruct and construct walking technique, however for the most part, it’s a functional movement and when you use a full body approach, walking does become better.
To walk better the full body approach comprises of these questions:
These are all foundational moves I cover in my Pilates classes. If you’re missing these simple foundations, it makes sense to work on them or continue to work on them before you focus on deconstructing and constructing your walking technique. Otherwise, your walking will continue to be a style of basically stopping you from falling.
Hopefully you’re working on the 5 foundational exercises I start each class with!
Here’s what I always think about when I walk on flat and level ground.
#1 First, plant gently with your heel.
#2 Then, think about your weight rolling through the ball of your foot juicing a lemon as your body travels forward.
#3 Finally, allow your toes on the back foot to bend and push you off into your next step.
This toe-off on the back foot should come primarily from your big toe (hello big toe lifts) and second toe area, and it should be reflexive – you don’t need to use muscles to push. It’ll just happen if your stride is the right length.
When you nail this toe push off it allows your body to work in optimal gait, which in turn is strengthening your pelvic floor. Win win!
Try these three simple tips out as you’re walking this week and let me know what you think!
Doing the foundational exercises weekly in each class will significantly increase your foot mobility and gait.
Come and join us at a class near you or online.
Please get in touch if you have any further questions.
Sam x
