Awareness Through Movement #354

Walking backward - FUNCTION - you will need a chair, with a back.

Tonight we have a functional lesson for anybody interesting in walking - we do it backwards to get our bodies used to involve more of the areas that generally ache because we’ve not been moving the way we’re designed.

Going backwards causes our bodies to work out ways to keep us safe, prevent falls which could and generally does alter the way we walk forwards.

There is quite a bit of talking in this one as Moshe gives detailed instructions for ways to distribute weight on to the toes, heels whilst holding on to a chair and then he watched the room intensely to see if what he’d been saying was put into effect.

When I ‘Grok’d’ this lesson, it came back with:

The lesson you've outlined focuses on a series of movements intended to teach the body to maintain lightness and ease, particularly in walking backward. Here's an analysis of the benefits of walking backward based on the lesson:

Benefits of Walking Backward:

1. Improved Balance and Coordination:

   • Walking backward requires different muscle activation and coordination compared to forward walking. By practicing these movements, you enhance your body's sense of balance, especially when focusing on not increasing the weight on the heel upon contact. This can help in daily activities and sports where balance is critical.

2. Enhanced Proprioception:

   • The lesson emphasizes awareness of body positioning (like the alignment of the spine, head, and heel). This heightened proprioception (the sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body) can improve overall body control and spatial awareness.

3. Muscle Symmetry and Strength:

   • Backward walking engages different muscles or uses familiar muscles in new ways, promoting muscle symmetry. This can be particularly beneficial for rehabilitation, as it works on muscles often underused in regular walking, potentially correcting muscle imbalances.

4. Joint Health:

   • The lesson's focus on reducing the load or weight on joints, particularly the knees and ankles, might reduce stress on these joints. This practice can be therapeutic for those with joint issues since it encourages a more even distribution of body weight.

5. Breath Control and Relaxation:

   • There's a significant emphasis on breathing freely during movement. Learning to move without holding the breath can decrease muscle tension, improve oxygenation, and promote relaxation, which is essential for any physical activity or even daily life.

6. Cognitive Benefits:

   • Walking backward challenges the brain in unique ways, potentially enhancing cognitive functions like memory and spatial awareness. This can be particularly beneficial for neurological health, offering a form of physical and mental exercise.

7. Reduction in Muscle Tension:

   • By learning to move with the body's weight not increasing on the legs, there's a focus on keeping muscles relaxed yet functional. This can reduce the habitual tension many carry in their daily movements, leading to less fatigue and more fluid movement patterns.

8. Enhanced Core Engagement:

   • The movements described involve the core in stabilizing the body in a less conventional way, which can lead to stronger, more flexible core muscles.

9. Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention:

   • For those recovering from injuries or looking to prevent them, walking backward can serve as a gentle yet effective exercise. It helps in retraining movement patterns in a controlled manner, potentially preventing compensatory movements that might lead to further injuries.

10. Posture Improvement:

    • The lesson promotes an alignment where the head, spine, and legs work in concert to maintain an elevated posture, which can correct habitual slouching or misalignment.

By systematically practicing these movements, individuals might not only learn to walk backward more efficiently but also apply these principles to forward walking and other activities, leading to an overall improvement in movement quality and physical health.

Personally I think Grok is grokking Moshe quite clearly :)

^^ In case you need to hear more ^^