Walk the walk

[Genifer Teal]

Has anyone successfully changed their walk? What we're your experiences? I am currently in the middle of losing what's left of my male way of walking. Muscle memory is so hard to change. It's the fundamental change I am going for, not just something that look's more feminine. Had anyone seriously tried this?

[AllieSF]

Yes, I have almost changed it. I just started taking smaller and slower steps while trying to keep one foot in front of the other more or less. I never exaggerated my walk and never worried about getting that sexy swing to the hips and butt. Even when I run, I take smaller steps, which really helps a lot. What the perfect walk for each of us will vary, Just look at how women walk, try to see 3 women walking next to each other. Each has there own style, which includes how many of us actually walk when in male mode. How I walk (I never had an "ape gate") is not a priority to me and should not be for most. If one walks on the far end of the male spectrum of walking males, then that is when more serious practice may be in order.

[Sami Brown]

I have worked quite a bit on stepping one foot directly in front of the other. It gives the hips a little sway. I don't think about it much anymore. When I do think about it, more often than not I am walking in this fashion.

This is the only aspect of walking I have practiced though. I am quite certain there are other aspects that don't look very feminine yet.

Sami

[Zoeytgtx]

I'm in the gym every other day to walk on the treadmill at least 1.5 miles. I make it a point to practice my walk on the machine. Not only has the rhythm of my walk improved, but the rocking of my butt has added some natural muscle to improve the shape of my hips. With floppy gym shorts on not sure people behind me even notice my girly sway.

[Genifer Teal]

Men tense their core muscles. Women don't. This is your stomach, abs, lower back muscles. Once you let these loose, the rest of the walk falls into place. De programming this muscle memory is what I'm trying to do. I'm making some progress but it is not easy.

[alwayshave]

It depends what I am wearing. My normal male self has not changed his gate. Jamie takes smaller steps one foot in front of the other. Actually the hardest part has been to stop swinging my arms.

[Rayleen]

When you walk holding something in both arm you hip movement come into play, this will be your hip movement for you.

[Elizabeth G]

Hi Genifer,

I have been trying to do this and I understand what you're saying about muscle memory. Because I can't adopt a feminine walk 100% of the time (my wife wouldn't be thrilled) I switch back and forth between the two regularly. Because of that at this point I seem to be in sort of a no man's land (pun fully intended) when it comes to walking and muscle memory. I sometimes need to be mindful of not feminizing my walk in certain circumstances though it is becoming a more natural feeling for me to walk that way.

Hi Jamie,

It's funny you should mention arm movement because I remember reading something saying that women tend to swing their arms more than men. I'll need to look into that more deeply.

Elizabeth

[Stacy Darling]

It can be done, it just takes mind and time. I exaggerated my walking style on evening walks, walked whilst stomach vacuuming and loosened my joints.
We can actually walk/glide across the floor if we are in the moment or just let ourselves flow. My walk is also not just to look more femme, but to walk as if in sync with the world!
Stacy!

[Ressie]

Sounds like you have the right idea. I haven't walked anywhere en fem in quite a while so I'm out of practice.

[CrossKimmy]

I’ve come to a point where I can flip the switch pretty easily though I have been practicing for many years. The secret for me is to own my feminine self and mindset and every slight little movement follows. It’s not just walking but the tiny gestures and talking.

[Devi SM]

I always thought that shoes change my walking like shorter steps, heels mo e my hips easily, if skirts my legs are closer each other because I lo e the feeling of them touching each other, but few weeks ago I went to the beach and had to go down of a big cliff, of course I should go back up. Then I realize that Vanessa has none tennis or flat shoes and the only near to that were a low edged ut when I tried to walk on the sand were very u comfortable so just wear male flat and then I notice that is not the shoes that adapt my walk but the clothes, that day i wear a bikini, no bra just the top of the bikini and on top this small tight jeans short and a tight no shoulder red top, of course I was with make up so my walk, as always in femme, was naturally femenine...

[Teresa]

Genifer,
I'm trying to take smaller strides and walk slower , I'm a very quick walker in male mode and without thinking I'm walking past most people in the High Street , but then sometimes I meet up with female dog walkers and struggle to keep up with them .

Wearing heels with a tight skirt or dress does re-educate you , you have to take smaller more carefully placed steps , many of the movements naturally happen in that situation .

[Ressie]

Lots of women take long steps and walk quickly. More importantly is getting rid of the caveman stance while walking. Stop leaning forward with elbows out. Easier said than done.

[ToniG]

Something we all work on. One of the "tricks" that I use to help with the arm/elbow thing--is to keep both hands "occupied". One hand is always holding the Purse shoulder straps--- other is holding my Girly cane, umbrella, or a water bottle. Concentrating on "elbows-in" so that the telltale armswing is avoided. Concentrating on the shorter steps. Practice, practice, practice. Toni G..

[Genifer Teal]

Ty so far. You all have mentioned many things which can alter a male walk to look more feminine. I am trying to lose the male walk completely and train myself to walk with the same basic mechanics as women use. Once the core is loosened, the walk falls into place. Things like arm movement, length of gait ect can be adjusted later. Just really t trying hard to de program those core muscles first.

[Darling Micki]

The women (GGs) at work see me walking in heels and ask how I learned to do it.

Male mode, I consider as lumbering, long rolling strides. I tend to out pace most.

Femme mode I do walk one foot in front of the other, head up, chest out, hips loose, and shorter strides.

The suggestions I give for high heels would work for anyone wanting to develop a feminine stride.

1) Goto Lumber store ( Home Depot, Lowes, etc)
2) Purchase a 4x4 that is not twisted/warped. Length of 8 or 10 feet will do.
3) Lay down lumber in Hallway, patio, garage, anywhere it won't be to much in the way.
4) step onto lumber, balance, walk to other end and step off, WITHOUT staring at your feet or the board. Head up looking at your destination. Back straight, chest out, confidence.
5) Repeat Step 4, ad infinitum.

Balanced on the board you tend to take smaller strides to begin with, in order to maintain balance. Plus the hips get to swinging.

Think grace, think poise. Don't stomp.
Emulate the gymnast on the beam, or a cat.

Be relaxed
Be confident
OMG THE FLOOR IS LAVA!!!!

Once you can do it without thought of the beam, or balance. You should have developed quite the muscle memory for walking in this manner.

[kayla_bayarea]

???
I'm confused why some think swinging the arms doesn't belong in a feminine walk. No woman walks around like she is constantly holding suitcases in both hands. If anything that makes you look even more stiff.

[Patience]

Don’t blame a girl for having the irritatingly feminine trait of wanting to improve the people she likes. :heehee:

295956

[Kiwi Primrose]

Teresa got it right. A tight skirt and high heels will shorten your steps and let you concentrate on arm and body movement.

[Ressie]

???
I'm confused why some think swinging the arms doesn't belong in a feminine walk. No woman walks around like she is constantly holding suitcases in both hands. ...that makes you look even more stiff.

Yes, from my observation of women walking, most swing one arm or both as they walk. But I need to do more observing in different places to confirm that. I think swinging the arms is natural when walking faster. Older women tend to walk slower making arm swinging minimal.

[Genifer Teal]

This conversation is going in an expected direction- modifications to a male walk. I've done that a while back. I've got a pretty good walk. I'm looking to take it a step further and walk with the same mechanics as women do. I'm part of the way there. It's a game changer. All your movements change and flow better. It's mostly automatic once you change HOW you walk as opposed to THE WAY you walk. It's very difficult to explain until someone experiences it. I'm trying to figure out how to explain it too.
I'm about a week in of continual effort. I have to constantly remind myself to loosen my core, like every other second. I am making progress and will continue my report.

New post below
------------------
So I randomly found mention of pelvic tilt in the table forums. Thank you Vanessa Grandy :
https://www.crossdressers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=291234&d=1524895674
Loosening the core muscles changes your pelvic tilt. This is what enables the changes to your walking. They come automatically once you get this tilt right. Your belly is completely extended and so Is your but. It is achieved by relaxing your core muscles. Do not try to force them out. You will have muscle fighting muscle.

[Fran-K]

Hi

Since this thread got started, I've been watching what Women In The Wild do.

They seem to be all over the map.
The closest I have to a hypothesis is that the "women's walk" is a combination of mechanics, clothing, and maybe attitude.

Mechanics -- hips are structured differently, height is different, proportions are different. Of course there will be differences in walk (and other movement)

Clothing -- where I've been watching is on the way to work (take a bus through a university area) and around work (lots of nerds (of all genders) and professional people). In the university area there are lots of bluejeans, yoga pants, tshirts, sneakers, and so on. Those women tend to walk "dainty", but not really the "women's walk"; the same for the gg nerds in the area I work. On the other hand, the professional women around where I work ... they seem to have more of the "women's walk" - more sway and bounce -- and they are dressed in dresses/skirts, heels (even low ones) and so on. So it seems that skirts-n-heels emphasize or enable or ... the walk.

The attitude ... well, today I spotted a woman purposely striding up a hill -- she was walking, little in the way of hip sway, etc, just like the part of me that doesn't post here walks ;-/

The other thing I've noticed ... a few girls suggest practicing by walking placing one foot in front of the other. It looks to me like typical women walk with their legs very close together, with each foot going alongside, but not crossing, a line separating them.

Of course, I could also be completely wrong

Fran

[sometimes_miss]

It just hit me, that this thread is the perfect proof that it's not really about the clothes....

[ToniG]

Lots of good ideas! Think I wd go with a 2x6-- for a little more safety. Some of us "older girls" with medical issues have more of a challenge---getting that 20-something sway aint happening for some of us! :( My arm sway in male mode is extreme-- so I DO try to keep it in check. Have noticed that GGs of diff ages have diff gaits. Since the area that I live is a "senior area' (leisure world is 3 blks south of me) I DO try to go for that style. My presentation is "Grandma"--- so not likely to strut around in stillettos anyway! :) Toni G..

[kayla_bayarea]

Thank God that people are actually talking about biomechanics in this thread. I was so tired of people giving advice that had nothing to do with the actual act of WALKING.

I made a very detailed post on the biomechanics of a fluid gliding walk on the last walking thread. However, a certain member was being very obnoxious and continually argued with because she didn't want to actually learn to adjust her walk (instead choosing to fake it with ridiculous "tips" that weren't based in reality).

Anyway, since she has caused that thread to be locked for being so annoying. I'm not going to repost it but it should be found easily in a search.

[Beverley Sims]

I have been head up one foot after the other and try to keep the back straight for years.

No stooping with your head down, lead the way with your bust protruding.

[Genifer Teal]

Cool kayla. Glad to have someone who sees it as I do to chat with. Today I realized it is equally important to maintain the "tilted" posture while sitting otherwise you are making less than 100 percent effort to change your muscle memory. It's hard enough even when making a full effort. Still making progress every day.

[kayla_bayarea]

The other thing I've noticed ... a few girls suggest practicing by walking placing one foot in front of the other. It looks to me like typical women walk with their legs very close together, with each foot going alongside, but not crossing, a line separating them.

Fran

Fran, you are absolutely correct. It's good that you are actually observing women instead of conjuring a caricature in your mind like so many do. Walking one foot in front of the other on one line is NOT how women actually walk in their daily lives. That is a runway walk and very inefficient. Instead, you should walk with your thighs brushing close to each other and on two tracks.

The advice of taking artificially small steps should also be ignored. Women have naturally different stride lengths and some will have the same as yours. They are not taking small steps so that can look dainty or whatever reason people justify this in their heads. You do not want to look like you are stepping onto the ice rink with skates for the very first time. If you are wearing 4 inch heels your stride will be different than when you are wearing sneakers. One is not more feminine than the other. You will look ridiculous if you try to do the same fake small steps all the time.

[Ressie]

Here's a video of people walking in NYC. What I'm seeing is that everyday women don't walk all that much different than men. They're mostly just built different.

Any of you that want to walk more like a female should just video yourself walking and figure out what changes you need to make. It isn't easy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u68EWmtKZw0

[docrobbysherry]

I only wear hi heels when dressed.

They automatically force me to walk differently then in men's flats! Maybe muscle memory comes into play. But, I'm not sure. :battingeyelashes:

[Genifer Teal]

What I'm seeing is that everyday women don't walk all that much different than men. They're mostly just built different.

just figure out what changes you need to make. It isn't easy!

exactly what I am saying. The needed change is the angle of your pelvis. Change the pelvic tilt by Un tensing your abdomen and lower back muscles. The walk will then come naturally as it does for women. Anything else is just variations in style.

Here is a pic I came across that pretty much shows the difference in posture between men and women. The line suggests the angle of each pelvis. You can compare the difference for yourself. This is what creates different movement's in men vs women. 296018

[kayla_bayarea]

Genifer, an anterior pelvic tilt is not necessarily something you should be striving for. Both men AND women should be striving for a neutral spine whenever possible. The anterior pelvic tilt is what happens when you wear high heels because the body is compensating for the changed angle. If you keep a neutral spine when you wear high heels your body would sort of look like what ski jumper looks like in the air. So, the body will naturally want to stick out the chest and push out the rear in order to remain "upright" (the anterior pelvic tilt).

The opposite of the anterior pelvic tilt is of course the posterior pelvic tilt. This what your body does when someone tells you to suck in your gut. Barre class instructors are telling you to do this when they are talking about the "tuck". This is why a lot of ballet teachers actually hate barre classes (but that's a different discussion).

In order to illustrate why you should not actually be seeking out the anterior pelvic tilt, take a look at Shaggy from Scooby Doo. I assume this is not what you want to look like but that's the result of an anterior pelvic tilt without heels on.

To sum it up, anterior pelvic tilt is a compensating behavior and not a desirable posture. Plus, if you do it all the time you will wreck your back. Instead, try to maintain a neutral spine and go for a gliding effect when you walk. It will look much more elegant.

I googled around and found this article for you:

https://erikdalton.com/blog/gaga-high-heels-posture-pain/

[Genifer Teal]

As the article States: when standing barefoot, the anterior angle, or pelvic tilt, of the female pelvis is 25 degrees; it would seem heels don't cause the angle they certainly increase it. In the picture of the man and woman in my other post she's not wearing heels and still has a tilt. You could say this grew out of her frequent wearing of heels but it's happening naturally in the picture. Somehow at 3 years old or whatever when my niece learn to walk for the first time she already adopted a female style of walking. Nothing sexual by any means but it had that typical hip movement women have. So this demonstrated to me it was due to differences in our bodies because it came natural to her. What I'm finding is I don't need to force anything to happen in a sense. I kind of do force something not to happen and that's the muscles in my abdomen region to relax. Buy them doing nothing my upper body just sort of rests on my hips and Things fall into place with a little tilt and the walk changes with it.

[CynthiaD]

When I was a teenager, my friends were always telling me, "Don't do this, it's effeminate! Don't do that, it's effeminate!" The way I walked was one of them. I was at "the age of conformity," so I went along with it all. But now, I'm beyond that. When I want to walk feminine, I just relax and walk naturally. It feels great.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Genifer :hugs:, I sometimes catch myself walking in a feminine style in male mood. >Orchid ..+:daydreaming:+..

[Genifer Teal]

Thought I'd give an update on my progress. So hard to literally think of relaxing my abdomen every 5 seconds! I slipped up a bit over the weekend. This morning I did a little time on the treadmill. That really got me back in the groove. Still fighting muscle memory and constantly forgetting to relax. I find myself more in the groove than not this morning at work. Learned that time on treadmill is very helpful. Even just a few minutes.