Walk Elegantly in High Heels

Formal occasions such as christenings, weddings and funerals often involve a lot of standing around; not an enjoyable prospect if you have a history of low back pain.

Standing is much less of a strain if your posture is good and your feet are comfortable.

When having to stand, focus on your posture. Lift up your chest, tuck your chin slightly, to stretch the back of your neck with your face straight (not looking up or down). Drop your shoulders down and back (flattening your shoulder blades onto your back; like folding your wings). Gently hold your tummy in and tighten your buttocks. This has the effect of lifting you up into a straight standing position.


Now rock your weight back over your heels.


If you lean forwards you will have your weight mainly on the balls of your feet and your toes. This creates a lot of tension in the muscles in your legs and will make you tired more quickly. Also if you are wearing heels and leaning forwards, your feet will be pushed more into the front of your shoes and your feet will start to burn. So keep your weight over your heels.

With your weight back over your heels you will look elegant and relaxed. Excellent, since you are about to have your picture taken.

Now let’s look at your feet. When was the last time you went to the chiropodist? You cannot expect to stand comfortably if you don’t take care of your feet. Have corns, hard skin and long nails sorted out. If you have bunions they, of course, need to be accommodated with comfortable shoes.

If you are going to be at a function all day, have an extra pair of shoes to match your outfit. Then you can swap your shoes back and forth during the day. (keep the spare pair in someone’s car).

If you are going to be standing around on lawns, don’t wear narrow heels. They are a nightmare for walking on grass. Wear wedge-heels on grass or gravel.

If you still think you will struggle to stand for as long as necessary, do what the marvelous late Queen Mother did. She had umbrellas which matched her outfits. The umbrellas were robust enough to act as walking sticks, but much more elegant.

And while we are on the subject of weddings, here’s a tip for the bride;

I was invited by a very dear friend to attend a fitting for her wedding dress. She is a very pretty girl and looked fabulous in her gown…until she started walking! She threw her shoulders forwards and pulled the heavy dress as if she were pulling a plough!

So brides please…stand up tall, clench your buttocks to hold a strong upright position. Gently hold in your stomach. Lift your chest and drop your shoulders down and back. Tuck your chin so your face is looking forwards, not up or down. You should feel a gentle stretch in the back of your neck. Now step forwards feeling the weight of the heavy skirt on your hips. Tighten your buttocks so you don’t tip forwards; and pull with your hips.

Elegant, fabulous.

Also, brides’ shoes need to be suitable for the surfaces she will walk on. If you have an old church with a flagstone aisle covered with a thin carpet, don’t wear narrow heels. She won’t look good staggering on heels that are catching between the flagstones. Wear wedge heels to stand on grass or gravel.

Also, file any rough burrs off new heels to stop them catching in the hem of the dress.
And good luck.



Here’s the exercise for walking well;

First test a ‘poor walk’ so you can recognize it when you catch yourself slouching.

Drop your chest down and slouch your shoulders.

Put your index fingers on the apples of your buttock cheeks, and walk.

You will feel that your buttocks stay soft.

Keep this position and put your fingers on the muscles alongside your spine in the back of your waist, and walk.

You will feel that these muscles are firing as you walk.

If you walk like this all the time (run in this position and generally exercise in this position) you will develop a thick waist and a flat bottom!


Now let’s correct it.

Lift your chest up.

Tighten your buttocks to pull yourself upright.

Put your index fingers on the apples of your cheeks, and walk.

You will feel the muscles firing as your push off from each foot.

Stay with your chest up and buttocks tight and put your fingers onto the muscles at the sides of your spine in the back of your waist, and walk.

These muscles will stay soft. They should be soft. They are not involved in moving your hips!

If you walk like this all the time (run in this position and generally exercise in this position) you will develop a slim waist and a pert bottom!

Such a small change in the way you do things will make a huge difference in your shape without any further exercise. As an added bonus; when you build up the buttock muscles they will stabilize your pelvis and reduce the risk of low back pain.