Running and walking are those two activities which we mostly can do, and its free (no gym membership required). We have been given arms and legs, glutes (bum) and feet which give us the opportunity to move in a forward fashion between destinations either for work, or for fun in the forms of some exercise, activity or sports.
Most of us do this action without really thinking about how we do it ……we just do it. That is what humans, homo-sapiens were designed to do….walk and run on two legs, although history shows that we also ran on four legs once upon a time. Evolution led us to being the most advanced species on two legs.
Never have we really stopped to think whether we are doing it correctly or not. The impact of not doing so often results in some form of injury, back pain, leg pain…..some form of pain…..that tells the brain “This isn’t for me”. So the natural reaction is we just quit and we never think about it again whilst sitting on the couch with a ben and jerry’s ice cream watching the next big thing on Netflix. Believe me we know it as we are there time and time again. We set new goals and we are enthusiastic for a period of time and then it stops due to one or two setbacks.
When you were a kid it is likely you probably ran around like a crazy little terror in bare feet. Little did we know at the time that our feet were made for walking and running and we did it probably the best that we ever did. Now that you are older you are probably wearing a fancy pair of Nike’s or ASIC’s with the latest cushioning and technology that will no doubt make you run faster and longer…all for a price. Fancy marketing will tell you that you need these devices in order to improve your running, your posture….improve your life.
Did you know that our feet have two hundred thousand sensory receptors that are responsible for our position and balance. Wearing shoes inhibits the foots receptors impacting our posture and balance…..something most of us don’t think about. When was the last time you walked or ran in bare feet.
The fact of the matter which we are going to explore is that anyone can run or walk, because that is what we were designed to do. Once upon a time as hunter-gatherers that was all we did….walk, run and hunt….then rest. We would then wake up and repeat this.
The modern man and woman is now more sedentary than ever and as a result our abilities to walk and run are inhibited by a simple lack of regular movement. Over the coming months we will dive into posture and simple things that will make running and walking so much easier.
Simple things include:
- Stopping to really understand your posture. As a result of sitting down all day we naturally slouch and sit with a curved spine, and slouched shoulders.
- Wall stance. Stand up against the wall, shoulders touching the wall, bum and ankles touching the wall. Straighten or roll your shoulders back, pelvic tilt and a small gap between your back and the wall.
- Simple balancing drills in bare feet. One legged balance, one legged squat..leg swings.
- Hip raises and pelvic tilts will help you engage your core and glute muscles, which will help stabilise your frame. Doing this in bare feet will also help you engage those receptors in your feet to help with balance.
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