The Walk Including Parallel and Cross System

" I find walking backwards elegantly is quite difficult and I practise it a lot in odd moments of my day. If I am obliged to stand and wait anywhere for a length of time I will often take a step backwards trying to keep my weight forward. Lord alone knows what people think, but I simply don't care. Over the years this silly little habit has paid off. I find that it helps if the knee of the weight-bearing leg bends a little, but there is no leaning forward to balance out this stretching back movement. By referring to a "bend" I just mean to the extent of being soft and not locked out; not necessarily a bend that could be seen by an observer. Once the leg has gone as far back as it can with comfort (for the average person this is about 20 cm), with the toes in contact with the ground the weight bearing leg carries the whole body with its extended leg backwards, again maintaining an upright upper body posture. On the beat, the follower ought to find herself collected on the new spot with knees and ankles together. Her weight has been transferred to the leg that just a moment beforehand was doing the stretching backwards, and the process repeats with the opposite leg. This movement is nothing like any other movement in life. Normally, if we walk backwards, we lead with the top half of the body and the legs follow. It is very common for a person backing away from something disagreeable to overbalance and fall backwards. "