In the 19th Century, "retro-walking" was considered an eccentric pastime, but today research is revealing that it can benefit our health in numerous ways. Naturally, I had to give it a go.
On day one, I only attempted to walk backwards inside the house, and it took a bit of effort to think about where to place my feet so as not to crash into anything. On day two, I briefly walked backwards outside. I felt a little self-conscious but, as it was early, there weren't many people about. On day three, I was even bolder. I walked backwards for half a kilometre to the start of the weekly Parkrun, but I wasn't foolish enough to attempt to run backwards in front of 300 people.
Up until now, I'd never given much thought as to why we walk the way we do – and I'd certainly never attempted to walk a different way. But, as you'll discover by clicking the button above, research suggests that doing so may have real advantages for both your physical health and your brain.
-Melissa Hogenboom
