| The benefit of walking is you may vary your stride | | | | backward? The Tennessee Walking Show Horses |
| style. You can always advance and vary your | | | | proudly show off how they can go forward and then |
| experience so it is never boring and you can | | | | go backward. It is great exercise for man and beast. |
| accomplish the "whole body" experience of healthy | | | | To begin a backward walking endurance program, |
| benefits. | | | | start by walking backwards on a flat surface at a |
| One of styles you may want to try is the backward | | | | pace slightly reduced from your forward speed. This |
| walking. The simplest way to see if this exercise might | | | | should raise your heart rate 30-40 beats per minute |
| work for you is to take 10 steps forward and 9 steps | | | | over your resting rate. As you feel more comfortable |
| backwards to see if you experience discomfort in | | | | gradually increase your speed to match your forward |
| either direction. You can practice this in your home on | | | | pace. For an increased challenge, you can jump on a |
| a flat surface to determine if this is something you | | | | treadmill and raise the elevation level and practice walk |
| would like to try outdoors. If you have no pain going | | | | backwards up a moderate hill backwards. |
| forward and then backward go outdoor and find a flat | | | | When you are outdoors make sure when you walk |
| area clear of traffic and walk backward for 20-30 | | | | backwards that you check behind you regularly so you |
| yards. Once you can do that 5-6 times, you can look | | | | don't stumble over bikers, dogs, sticks, irregular |
| for a slight elevation and walk backward up the hill. | | | | pavement surfaces or other items in your path that |
| Kids are excited when they discover they can walk | | | | might cause you to fall. |
| backwards and have you ever seen a dog walk | | | | |