1. Stand Straight
Putting thought and time into developing a comfortable walking stride will pay off. You can walk further and longer, thereby getting more results from your walking, and it will be more enjoyable, perhaps extending your walking life over time. You need to start with your posture to really develop a comfortable walking stride that doesn't put excess pressure on your core. Raise your head, pull in your stomach and puff out your chest a little. Pull in your buttocks and let your arms hang loosely at your side. Pretend you are being photographed for a magazine and you are proud of your posture.
2. Swing it
Unless you are pumping while you're walking or carrying weights, your arms should always be relaxed when walking. Let them swing naturally as you move. Keep your head up and all the other body parts in line and let your arms move opposite your foot's stride. Let them bend at the elbow as they rise, keeping them at a 90-degree angle. Bending the arms uses up more calories, making your walk more efficient for weight loss and it allows you to move a little faster, add momentum to your forward stride. Keep your shoulders down and your arms close to your body. On the downswing, don't let your arms swing back further than your hips.
3. Stretch to Flex
Stretching will help you improve your stride by making your hips more flexible to rotate as you walk. Put a little swivel into every step. Bring one foot forward with the toes extended upwards and place the heel on the pavement. Allow your hips to follow smoothly and your body moves over your foot. Roll your weight on to the front of the foot to complete a step.
4. Walk in Place
Practice the posture and correct foot techniques until they become second nature. By developing the right habits you will avoid injury and stress from walking. Next look for a pace that is right for you. This will increase as you walk longer. Even though you may start out at a snail's pace, keep it even. Keep walking until you feel your breathing become a little heavier, then back off a bit. Set that pace and keep going. If you walk with a buddy, never walk so fast that you can't keep up an easy conversation. If you walk alone, try using headphones to listen to music to help you find and maintain a beat that puts you in the groove of a good stride.
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