“Bad Walking!”

How’s your walking? | Walking Technique | PPS Events

Hello Dancers,

Hope you’re making your steps count.

Look Daddy, Bad Walking!

I was driving around Petaluma when I passed a slow car with a “Student Driver” sticker.

I said aloud, “Jeez, that’s horrible driving!”

My kids were in the car.

For fun, I announced: “You kids are lucky that your Dad is literally the best driver in the world. Not race cars or trucks — just regular, everyday driving.”

My 9-year-old son Elias wasn’t having it. “No you’re not!”

“Yes I am. Literally the best.”

I started critiquing every car on the road, even ones stopped at red lights. “Oh my gosh, horrible driving.”

Elias fired back: “They are literally doing the same thing as you!”

I pulled out the authority card: “You don’t even drive, so you don’t know anything about driving.” (I could barely keep a straight face.)

That’s when my daughters Elena (7) and Genie (4) came to my support.

“Daddy, you ARE the best driver in the world!”

“See, Elias? Thank you, girls.”

It ended with the girls chanting “Daddy’s the best!” while Elias chanted in perfect unison — “No he’s not!”

— Bad Walking —

That was so fun, that the next day in the van, I spotted someone walking and announced: “Oh my goodness, that’s horrible walking technique.”

“You kids should feel lucky that your Dad is literally the best walker in the world. Not specialty walking like a runway model — just regular, everyday walking.”

Elias took the bait immediately.

I told the kids that universities have studied my walking technique, trying to understand it. Elias was outraged. The girls had my back.

We’ve kept the “bad walking/driving” game going for almost two months now.

There have been some embarrassing moments. When I’m out with Genie or Elena, they’ll spot a stranger and blurt out — loudly — “Oh Look Daddy, Bad Walking!”

Here’s the girls in action:

Technique ~

We tend to measure quantity. “Get 10,000 steps a day.”

But what about the quality of those steps?

I’d rather take 5,000 quality steps — good posture, intentional breathing, solid gait pattern — than 15,000 sloppy ones.

As dancers, we live in our instrument. Movement is our language. And what movement is more fundamental to being human than walking?

We all do it. We all want to keep doing it with ease for as long as possible.

(Check out the video in the PS for the walking technique I’ve been working on.)

At 50, one of the things that gets me out of bed is the chance to retrain and refine how I move.

Of course I’m not literally the best walker in the world — but I should aim to be excellent. I’ve got a reputation to back up.

Cheers,

Happy Dancing,

Garry

PS — Check out these videos on the GOATA system.

I don’t know if it’s the final word on walking, but the approach makes a lot of sense to me.

My mom has been dealing with some knee problems, and I’ve had her practicing these techniques — early results are promising. Maybe it’ll benefit you too.

PPS — Come dance with us at the gorgeous Hall of the Above on March 15th! And don’t miss the Rhythm and Choreography Workshop on March 21st — details below.