Have you ever noticed that your lower back feels more sore after a long walk than after a run? You're not alone! Running activates the big muscle groups in your hips and legs more than walking. If you're like me, you might be happy using those big muscles, but when it comes to walking, particularly slowly, you feel you need to bend forwards from time to time or stop completely because it is painful. But there's a solution that can improve your walking experience: walking backwards. Why Walk Backwards? I first discovered the benefits of walking backwards during a Feldenkrais lesson. Interestingly, this concept isn't new in the ancient practice of Tai Chi. In fact, backwards walking has been a staple in Chinese exercise routines for centuries. With growing research supporting its benefits, it's about time this practice became more common in the Western world. Here’s why you should consider adding backwards walking to your routine: Improves Balance and Coordination : W...
It’s funny how one study can make headline news while countless others collect digital dust in academic archives. Case in point: "Standing desks are bad for your health" or "Standing desks do not reduce risk of stroke and heart failure"—based on one study albeit with 83,000 participants. Let’s delve deeper, shall we? Before you toss out your standing desks, consider what this study actually reveals about how sitting and standing impact your health. The study aimed to examine daily sitting, standing, and stationary time in relation to cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. It also looked at orthostatic circulatory diseases such as hypotension, varicose veins, and venous ulcers. Key findings? The first graph (fig.1) shows that standing for just 2 hours increases the risk of orthostatic circulatory disease (think vein issues), while sitting only increases this risk after 10 hours. Seems clear that lack of blood flow while sta...