How to Hold Your Arms While Walking

Brisk walking can have a positive affect on cholesterol levels and help to shave inches from your hips and waist. Add in a decrease in stress levels and anxiety and walking becomes a simple and effective way to keep fit and restore some emotional balance to your life -- as long as you know how to walk properly. The way you hold your arms when you're walking can make a huge difference in your overall stability, walking speed and fitness.

Instructions

    • 1

      Hold your head up and keep your back straight. Bend your arms at the elbows and flex your knees. Walk heel to toe in one smooth motion. The motions of your legs determine the motions of your arms, so the faster you walk, the more your arms will tend to swing and the more calories you'll burn.

    • 2

      Bend your elbows at 90-degree angles and swing one arm back, elbow pointing up, in one swift motion. Move your right arm in sync with your left foot, so your right arm moves forward when your left foot takes a stride. Keep your left arm aligned with your right foot. Look straight ahead to around 10 or 20 feet in front of you. Look down with your eyes, not your head. Take short steps to increase your rate of movement and burn more calories.

    • 3

      Keep your hand relaxed when you pump your arm forward. Lift your lead arm across your body, up to about waist level. Alternate arms and repeat. If your arms are restricted or left to dangle at your sides, your stability will be compromised, you'll walk slower and you'll lose potential fitness benefits.