Would you like to feel more confident when you’re out walking? Have you started noticing your balance when you walk? Do you sometimes feel unsteady on your feet (especially on uneven ground)?

If you’re starting to notice your balance when you walk, you’ll know how much this can affect your enjoyment of walking.

I’ve been a specialist exercise instructor for more than 15 years. During that time, I’ve helped hundreds of people to feel steadier on their feet and more confident with their walking.

I know what a difference it makes to our lives when we feel good about walking, and that’s why I’m sharing these 5 Tips to Walking Well with the Sixty and Me community.

What Is Walking Well?

Walking well means feeling confident when you walk. It means being able to enjoy your surroundings, looking up at trees or buildings, and talking to your walking companions (instead of worrying about where you’re putting your feet). It means feeling steady on your feet, even when you’re walking on uneven ground, e.g., in a garden, on cobblestones or broken paving stones.

Sometimes, it seems funny to think about ‘how’ we walk. I mean, we learnt how to walk such a long time ago!

However, spending a little bit of time learning how to walk well will be worth it. You’ll enjoy walking so much more. You’ll feel better about yourself and more optimistic about life!

In these short, easy-to-follow videos, I’m going to demonstrate five tips for walking well. Watch these videos and practise along with me to learn how to feel more confident and steadier on your feet.

How to Avoid Tripping on Uneven Ground or Broken Paving Stones

The way we place our feet on the ground can make a big difference to how well we walk.

Try this video tip now and notice how much more powerful your walking feels. You’ll feel more confident (and be much less likely to trip on uneven ground or broken pavements).

What Is Good Walking Posture, and How Does It Helps Us to Walk Well?

Our walking posture is very important.

Practice this now at home – even if you only have space to take a few steps back and forth! Then, when you’re next out for a walk, make a point of checking in on your posture regularly.

Do You Find Yourself Looking Down at the Ground When You Walk?

Looking ahead is so essential for walking well. If you find yourself looking down at the ground a lot when you walk, watch this video first!

Does It Matter What Your Arms Do When You’re Walking?

We usually think of walking as a lower-body activity, but what we do with our arms does matter. Watch this now to learn how arm swings can help you walk well (and what to think about when adding arm swings to your walking).

Do You Find Yourself Taking Smaller, More Cautious Steps?

One day you realise you’re taking smaller steps. It feels safer, but that’s not always the case. Watch this video to learn how taking longer strides can help us to walk better.

Exercising for Walking Well

In addition to practising these five tips for walking well, we will all benefit from doing exercises to improve our strength, balance and posture.

Performing a mix of strength and balance exercises helps to improve our balance and reduce our risk of trips and falls.

Many people think that starting an exercise programme involves high-intensity routines, loud music or over-enthusiastic instructors in shiny leggings. Indeed, this is often the case, but it doesn’t have to be that way!

You can get stronger and improve your balance in just 10-15 minutes a day. You get the best results when you’re doing exercises that are right for you (not ones designed for a 25-year-old who can do the splits!).

A good instructor encourages you to work at the right pace for you. They demonstrate the movements clearly, so you feel confident doing the exercises.

If you want help and support to exercise at home, look at the Vida Wellness Studio. It’s an online exercise studio for people who wish to improve their balance and posture, feel stronger, and move more easily.

How do you feel when you’re walking? Would you like to feel more confident? Which of these five tips will you practise at home and then think about on your next walk? Join the conversation below!