3 movement hacks to improve how you stand and walk!
This is something I encourage clients to do before a bout of standing - perhaps at a desk to work - or when off out for a walk/run.
It helps to acquaint your feet with the floor, gets you moving more evenly across both feet (which gets you using muscles around the rest of your body more evenly and effectively), helps to improve your posture, helps how you move through space, and is good for your feet too.
SHIFT YOUR WEIGHT FOOT TO FOOT - some of us have a preference for leaning on one leg. A little shifty-shifty goes a long way! Sway side to side feeling more weight on the left and then the right, and then balance it out.
SWIFT YOUR WEIGHT FRONT AND BACK OF EACH FOOT - you may find that when standing you have more weight in the front of the feet (perhaps your heels don’t feel like they touch at all - hello most shoes!). To acquaint your heels with the floor, and to get the backs of your legs working a bit more, transfer your weight to the heels (your toes will lift) and then to your toes (your heels may lift). Do this a few times and stop when you feel both ends pressing down.
ROLL TO THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF YOUR FEET - rolling out and in and settling in the middle. You will feel the ball of your baby toe and the ball of your big toe on each foot pressing down.
Once you’ve tried the above check in that you can feel weight under:
Each heel
The balls of your baby toes
The balls of your big toes
Like a tripod on each foot!
WANT TO LEARN SOME OWN BODY STANDING PILATES EXERCISES THAT WILL REALLY IMPROVE HOW YOU WALK AND RUN?
Sunday 27th March 10-11.30am I am hosting a workshop that will teach you:
how to stand to improve your posture
standing Piilates exercises to do to improve how you walk and run
exercises to do before/after a long walk/run
special guest talk from Verity Bell on why toes matter and how to use them properly
how to use a chair as a prop for exercise
breathing techniques you can use
The session will be recorded and will be made available afterwards. If you would like to join for the session, or wish to purchase the video the price is:
FREE Move At Your Desk Members (£18 per month access to all videos. Cancel after the month if you do not wish to continue)
£25 non-members
This includes the workshop and the recording. Click on whichever option you fancy below.