Believe it or not you could be walking all wrong.
If you suffer lower back pain and swollen ankles don’t blame your footwear, health experts say it could be that you simply don’t know how to walk properly.
Enter: walking lessons.
If your doctor recommends walking lessons to relieve your pain don’t be insulted. According to health experts, walking classes really work. Most walking classes are offered through yoga centers and include private instruction by a trained professional.
For example, the Yoga Center of Brooklyn in Brooklyn, New York offers a 10-session program that runs about six months. Students in the class learn helpful techniques such as walking with their feet parallel, their weight evenly distributed, and their bodies properly aligned.
Most walking teachers say in general Americans are clueless when it comes to proper stepping. They note that most adults have poor posture, which affects the way they stroll. For example, if you suffer from back pain there is a good possibility that you lean away from the pain. That in turn affects the way you hold your body and the way you walk. In such cases, walking instructors say they would encourage their students to place the weight on all four corners of their feet rather than leaning in the direction of the pain.
Doctors say most postural problems happen when the body’s muscles don’t perform their intended job. For example, people who don’t use their stomach muscles when they walk often suffer pain because they are forcing their back muscles to compensate. The goal of the walking classes is to make subtle realignments in the rest of the body, like pushing the inner thighs back and untucking the tailbone. Such adjustments may seem minor, but walking teachers say they can make a big difference for some individuals.
Would you consider taking a walking class?
Related Articles:
Bad Things Happen When You Stop Going to the Gym
Creating a Challenging Workout Routine
Exercising on the Road: No Excuses
Why You Want to Build Muscle as You Age
Creating a Fitness Routine that Works for You
Taking Advantage of Fall’s Cool Weather
Ways to Integrate Exercise into Your Life