Top Lateral view of Left foot
Bottom of Left Foot
Have you ever sat in Washington Square Park, observing the different ways people move and stand? It’s fascinating to see how many unique postures and walking patterns people have. But what about your own posture and gait? Have you noticed how they’ve changed over the years?
Changes in the way we stand and move are normal—they’re adaptations to life’s daily demands. In the short term, these adjustments aren’t necessarily bad; they’re your body’s way of responding to your environment. But over time, if we get stuck in certain patterns, our sense of balance and alignment can shift. This shift can lead to poor posture and even affect our balance.
If you want to understand why you stand or walk the way you do, you need to start with your feet. Below are two simple exercises—the 50/50 Stance and the Tripod Foot—that you can easily perform at home to get a better sense of your body’s alignment and balance.
The 50/50 Stance is about finding equal pressure between both feet and the floor. When you're standing, focus on how the weight is distributed across your feet. Is one foot carrying more weight than the other? Don’t worry about feeling strange if the stance feels off—it often does when you first achieve a true 50/50 balance. And if it feels too comfortable, you might not be there yet. Try shifting slightly until the weight is evenly distributed across both feet.
Everyone has a “tripod” in their foot, consisting of three main contact points: the heel, the ball of the big toe, and the ball of the little toe. The question is whether your tripod is balanced. Take a moment to feel these three points and ask yourself: are all three in contact with the ground, or has your tripod shifted? This simple observation can tell you a lot about your foot health and overall posture.
By practicing these exercises, you’ll gain insight into how your feet connect to the ground, which is the foundation for improving your posture and balance. Small changes in foot positioning can have a big impact on how you stand and move throughout the day.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into your posture, gait, and foot health, we invite you to schedule a No Sweat Intro with us and start your journey toward better balance and alignment!
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