A Walk in the Park

While the local daisy’s are not in bloom quite yet — between the flora and fauna, there is still plenty to see on your daily walks. Embrace the season, and experience the changes in the gardens and parks along your favourite recreational or commuter trails. Psychology Today has identified eighteen different types of walking styles to attend to your mental and physical health. Learn more about the holistic ways to move about your daily activities or specialized routines here.

A Walk in the Park

Slowing down her breath — in and out of the nose, attending to everything all the way down to her toes, Lauryn was walking backwards up a small incline in the park. She was just about finished, but others in the park were starting to notice her particular, or maybe — a peculiar striding style. Checking over her shoulder, two dogs, and their owner were approaching. Then without barking, a polite voice asked, “excuse me for asking, but why and what are you doing?” 

Lauryn went on to explain that after a run, she likes to finish walking backwards to mix it up, slow things down, and to let the joints of the body unwind by taking forces and creating actions the other way — not the wrong way. What is routine for her, was a memorable movement for this patron of the park who said they would practice — albeit, privately at home.

In the studio, training bare foot to let our own dogs breathe, attending to balancing tasks, and potential muscle imbalances — we practice movements that emphasize a strong posterior chain — those originating on the back of the body — are integral to a strength and workout practice. Hip hinges, bird dogs sit-back-rows among other specialized movements are performed for strength and endurance. But, starting things off, the backwards walking series as part of our feet articulation and strong walks warmups enhance focus for a fitness session, and provide gentle interventions to explore core strength of the body. Doing things a little differently allows patrons to explore diverse gait patterns to increase resilience, enhance focus and unleash a creative and memorable lifting experience.

Walking backwards can help strengthen the quadriceps and ankles to help you do more conventional ways of locomotion like the stairs. No! don’t walk backwards down the stairs… or at least, not just yet. Explore this novel gait strategy on softer ground and with the assistance of a balance aid first, implement simple strategies to ward off impediments to your independence and locomotive ways.

ut, don’t just take our word for it. Via my propensity to search the web for intriguing articles that corroborate, or challenge our unique approaches to exercise, and a consequence of my dad’s voracious reading and sharing habits — over the past week, two articles emerged that inform the reader of the physical and mental benefits readily available by engaging in a backwards approach to slowing or stopping the aging process. Embracing the weird and wonderful opportunities to move with strength everyday does not always have to require a unique practice time or location, but instead — the dedication to make walking a wellness habit integral to each and every day. 

Take care,

Ian and Lauryn