Do you find yourself walking like an old lady (or old man)?
You know, tilted forward from the hips up?
I call it “The Tilt.”
People often walk like this when their backs hurt.
They also do it when they get up and feel stiff in the hips. Sometimes people tilt forward when they are afraid of falling.
My mom Beatrice does it when she’s in a hurry, or when she’s tired.
Click on the video to learn what to do about it, or keep reading below for two strategies, including a simple hip stretch for walking.
Strategy #1 – Slow Down
The first strategy is to slow down. When we are in a hurry, we often lean forward. This might help us walk faster, but it doesn’t help our posture, bones, or joints. It’s best to start walking more slowly and let your hips loosen up. Then you can pick up speed later.
Strategy #2 – Simple Hip Stretch for Walking
Take a step as if you were going to walk. Now press down firmly with your back heel and straighten your back knee. You can squeeze the glute muscle on the back leg too. Lift your belly muscles in and up so that your torso is upright over your pelvis. Hold for 3 breaths on each side.
Why it Matters
It matters because no matter how old and stiff we feel, we don’t want to look that way!
Second, it matters because when our joints are aligned, we experience less wear and tear. They are able to bend as designed without contributing to uneven pressure on one side.
Third, posture and alignment contribute to ideal vertical impact for our bones. Standing and walking tall helps us build bone density and decreases the risk of posture-related fractures.