Easy to walk in high heels
Easy to walk in high heels...
...may seem complex, but by following the technique below and with a little practice you'll quickly become a high-altitude gait diva.
Your assertiveness, seductiveness and attractiveness will be all the stronger for it!
Carefully following the rules learning of walking in pumps and applying the correct healthcare you can only master the catwalk.
The crucial point: stand up straight, don't be out of position
Verticality is fundamental to your gait, not only for your physique but also for your look.
If you take small steps with your shoulders back and your chin up, you will experience neck and back pain.
If you take rough steps, open your thighs and bend your knees, you'll experience pain in your knees and hips.
If you take hesitant steps, shoulders drooping as you look down, then you'll have pain in your internal organs and knees.
To do this, you must not: tense your muscles, throw your shoulders back, push your chest forward and cut off your breathing.
Questions to ask when walking
If you ask yourself these questions during the walk, it will help you improve :
How do you feel the support points under your feet? Are they symmetrical? Do your toes have enough room? Are the arches of your feet supported lengthwise and widthwise? Are your ankles stable? Do they bend? Do you feel any pain in your calves? Cramps? Are knees free or locked? Are they turned inwards or outwards? Do your thighs tense up? Can you tilt your pelvis or is it blocked? Does the abdomen compress the organs? Tension in the lumbar region? Do your breasts feel higher? Lower? Tense shoulders? Can you move your shoulders without pain? Can you move your head easily? Loose jaws? Can you breathe freely?
If you want to improve any of the above, then you'll need to correct your posture.
1. Corrected posture, bare feet
To start with, stand barefoot in front of a mirror: locate the support points on the floor and distribute your weight evenly between your legs. Unlock your knees and tilt your pelvis slightly forward. Relax your shoulders and free your arms and hands. Align your head with your neck and spine, looking straight up at eye level. Relax your jaw and breathe freely and deeply. Imagine a thread running through your body, from your heels to the top of your head.
Now close your eyes and record each of the above points, your brain will get used to this new posture and become automatic. Repeat the exercise several times, regularly.
Once you've got the hang of it, move on to exercise 2.
2. Natural posture, in high heels
Put on your favorite pumps and stand in front of the mirror.
You may notice that your posture is different and that the thread running through your body is no longer straight. You'll probably feel small pains starting to appear, muscles activating, points of tension, and the weight tilting slightly forward.
To correct this, go to exercise 3.
3. Corrected posture, in high heels
Remember the corrections you made while barefoot.
Apply each correction to your body and align yourself upright.
Redirect your weight gently onto your heels, backwards, and push your feet towards the fulcrums. Pull your ribcage away from your hips, making yourself taller. Gently pull your spine so that it lines up like a taut wire from your coccyx to above your head. Stretch to grow, gently. Look straight ahead and breathe deeply. Relax your abdominal muscles, shoulders and knees. Hands slightly open and jaw relaxed.
Finish by admiring yourself in front of the mirror, noticing the difference and feeling proud of the way you look, your straight eyes, your self-confidence and your increased attractiveness.
Record your posture in your brain, point by point, scanning every part of your body. Do this by changing from the wrong posture to the correct, corrected one, like a slow-motion animation. This new posture will come automatically with a little practice.
To sum up these 3 exercises, you need to: know your body well, know your natural posture, correct it and then correct your posture in high heels. A little exercise and all this will quickly become automatic.
View vertical position
Verticality is always the most important part of your approach, allowing you to :
- grow taller by lengthening your spine, thus enhancing your presence
- distribute your weight more evenly on your feet, making you lighter
- certain muscles are no longer required, thus saving energy
- free up space in your joints for greater flexibility
- breathe easier, so more energy
Lots of benefits to reap!
Breathing well
Breathing is vital, all the more so when it comes to moving high up on your thin heels.
Open your mouth slightly, relaxing your jaws while standing with your arms at your sides. Inhale slowly through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Exhaling is much more important than inhaling, contrary to what some people say. Do it calmly and to the end, keeping the air out. Relax, let go and wait for the need for air. Breathe in through your nose, without forcing it. Don't forget verticality! Keep upright, and feel the energy flowing up your spine.
In everyday breathing, decrease the rhythm and increase the volume of your breaths. When walking in high heels, breathing more calmly will decrease your stride rhythm, so you'll walk more slowly as you increase your stride and wiggle. Your confidence will also improve, as will your seductive power.
Before each movement
When you're going to move around in high heels, the first thing to do is to analyze the route you're going to take, first of all in your mind: imagine your journey.
When scouting: look where you're going to put your heels, well before you get to the area. Always look straight and proud, and don't look at the ground because you've already found it. And, of course, verticality, again and again!
Breathe deeply and slowly to the rhythm of your steps.
Good progress
Before starting the movement, present your shoes like a dancer: turn the thigh slightly outwards to present the inside of the shoe. This lengthens the leg and presents the arch of the foot, a pleasing sight.
In a slow, confident movement, stretch and move the leg forward, slightly open. First, place the sole of the foot. The heel will touch first, but your mind, which is thinking of the ball of the foot, will prevent you from putting all your weight on the heel and avoid the loud popping sound. Then refocus your weight on the vertical of the shoe to regain your verticality. Your weight should not be in front of or behind your leg, but well above the shoe. Don't forget your verticality, lengthen your silhouette so that you're taller, lighter and prouder. At this point, the second foot leaves the ground, grazes the ankle of the first, points slightly open before landing on the ground. Between two steps, always vertical: pelvis above the knees, vertical line from coccyx to head, passing through the spine. To help you, imagine a hand gently pushing on your lower back, giving you a dynamic gait without dragging your heels. Keep your head supple and your gaze proudly straight ahead. Walking in a single line is only valid if you're striding down a catwalk. Walking in one line is a mistake; two lines very close together is ideal, as it's a much more natural gait.
Don't try to imitate the pro models - their gait is too fast, stressful, feet inwards, floor perfectly flat and free of obstacles, all to show off the fluidity of their clothes. A slow gait is inseparable from walking in high heels, so take your time and enjoy!
Lengthen your neck and free your head. To add fluidity and accentuate the wiggle, point the fingers of one hand diagonally towards the opposite thigh, imitating the infinity sign with your light, supple arms, without clenching your fists. Bring your thumbs slightly closer to your middle fingers for an even more feminine, seductive effect.
Stopping gently
Moving forward is good, but stopping with class is just as important.
Bring your feet together immediately below the pelvis and lengthen your silhouette to dissipate any remaining energy from the back leg. Stretch out like an exclamation point and distribute the weight evenly over both feet, bringing the ball of one foot towards the inside of the other. Your knees should be supple for good balance.
Don't hesitate to change support feet when necessary.
A more sensual approach
Walking in high heels is devilishly feminine, but for an even more sensual gait, the sinuous undulation of a woman's feline gait and her slow, rhythmic movements can bewitch any man, as long as you don't overdo the movement - it's all a question of dosage.
Slowly extend your leg and place the sole of your foot on the ground, presenting the inside to show the arch of your foot. Play with your hips a little, but not too much; don't force your weight on each of your hips.
Always vertical !
Let your hips follow your undulating dynamics, with a light, discreet yet effective gait.
Practice regularly if you're not yet comfortable with this, and your seductive power will increase, in front of your mirror for example.
Don't be in any doubt about the way men look at you, and don't forget that walking on high heels is delicate, and that it gives an impression of feminine fragility, a fragility that will prompt gentlemen to protect these ladies, terribly effective!
Down the stairs
Anodyne for those who wear flat shoes, descending stairs in high heels requires a certain technique.
Take a look and think before you go. Are the steps uniform or different? Is the surface flat? What is the material? Is it slippery? Is there a handrail? Can a gentleman help you? Once you've scouted it out and your brain has registered it in advance, you're ready to go.
Straight head and upright stance.
If there's a handrail, hold it lightly, not tightly. If not, find a strong arm to support you.
Turn slightly to your right (1pm on a dial), which will be easier and more flattering for your figure.
Take a deep breath! Lean back and bend your right leg, still vertical.
No forward tilting, place the left foot flat, slightly turned towards the handrail (right), on the first step.
Place your right foot flat on the second step, also facing the same direction. Keep your 2 thighs close together, crossing your legs slightly.
The right hand slides over the handrail, ahead of you and always with your head held high, to look at the steps lower your gaze, not your head.
Avoid the spring effect with your legs, as your thigh muscles will be working.
Climbing stairs
The other way up? Almost...
Stand in front of the stairs near the handrail, and turn slightly to your right (1pm on a dial).
Place your left foot on the first step, only the sole, not the heel, which will remain in the void horizontally from the sole, so as not to break the ankle and transfer your weight to the sole of the foot.
Extend your knee using your thigh muscles. Don't rush, but make a slow, continuous movement.
Follow with the back leg, which will make the same movement to land on the second step.
Always vertical, head up and eyes straight ahead.
To look at the stairs, use your eyes, not your head.
Move your hand every other step.
Take a deep breath!
Still moving slowly and surely, you can play with your wiggle by slightly lifting the hip of the moving foot.
Bad surfaces
Beware of these surfaces, which can be traps!
Grills, grass, cobblestones, gravel, sand, asphalt touch-ups, sidewalks, wooden planks (especially wet ones), escalators, thick carpets and slippery tiles.
The secret is to walk on tiptoe.
Shift your weight slightly to the balls of your feet and tilt your pelvis to restore balance. Lift your heels slightly off the ground and move forward with small, gentle steps. Take a good look at your path - a gentleman's arm is always welcome. A bag with a pair of flat shoes will be cumbersome but very helpful.
For slippery surfaces, place your foot flat to avoid slipping. Always take small, slow steps.
A few notches in the sole of your shoes will increase grip, or a non-slip sole glued on by your shoemaker.
Walk barefoot in the rain! Your shoes won't stand the water, and you risk damaging them.
Pivoting on yourself
Turning around also requires a bit of technique.
If you want to turn left with the right foot.
Looking straight ahead, turn your head slightly in the desired direction. Step in with your right foot and place it on the ground to transfer your weight to it. The heel of the left foot will lift slightly, keeping the ball of the left foot on the ground.
Begin the pivot first with the head to the left and continue with the body rotation by pivoting the right foot to the right with the outside of the heel.
At the same time, turn the left foot to the right with the inside of the heel.
Your weight will remain stable on the right foot, but at the end of the movement it will be slightly on the heel.
For the end of the spin, set a straight point in front of you and bring your left foot towards the support foot, centering your weight.
And never forget ... always vertical!
Sitting with style
Sitting with dignity and elegance is not complicated.
Approach the seat and place your fingertips gently on the top of the backrest to check stability. Position yourself in front of the chair, with the back of your knees touching the edge of the seat. Press your thighs together and slide the tip of your foot under the chair (the foot opposite your interlocutor). Turn your body slightly to the side of the person you're talking to (opposite the foot under the seat) and slowly bend your knees to lower yourself vertically. Don't lean against the backrest and...
... always vertical!
Keeping your knees together, cross your ankles. To cross your legs, keep your thighs together. You can move your hips up slightly to look more feminine.
If your dress is short, hold it with one hand...
Stand up in style
Same for getting up? Almost...
Move your foot back under the seat and place your 2 hands on either side of your thighs. Move towards the edge of the seat, lifting yourself just enough. Only if you're at the table, you can push the chair forward.
... always vertical!
Look in the direction of your exit and relax your shoulders, lengthening your neck. Push down on the ball of the foot under the seat and support yourself on the other foot. Use your thigh muscles to stand up.
Always look ahead...
Getting out of the car
With less space to get out of a car, here's how...
Once the door is open, keep your knees together and rotate your pelvis 45° towards the exit, lifting your knees. Place your feet together on the floor and move your right foot forward a little. Lengthen your spine and look forward without breaking your neck. Extend your right hand and lean on your driver's hand, which should remain steady.
ish yourself out by shifting your weight onto your right foot.
... and a slightly naughtier version:
Swivel your pelvis slightly towards the door and extend your right leg out of the car, placing the ball of your foot on the ground. Do this very slowly while squeezing your thighs together. Place your left foot on the ground towards your right foot and hold out your hand for support. Lift yourself out of the car.
All these tips can be found in the excellent book by Tina Karr, « L’Art de Porter les Talons Hauts "published by Béliveau Éditeur.