Walking-steps are exactly what they sound like. You use them to move forward and back without stepping to the right or left or crossing your feet. Picture yourself strolling down an unobstructed sidewalk with no obstacles in view; you can walk straight down this sidewalk with smooth, even steps, without stepping to the right or left.

 

Foot Positions Used

 

Walking-steps use the first and fourth foot positions.

 

How to Do a Walking-Step

 

To take a walking-step with your right foot, begin in first foot position with your weight on your left foot. Step forward with your right foot to fourth foot position. Let your left foot pass your right to bring your feet to another fourth foot position, this time with your left foot ahead of your right. If you want to take walking-steps backward, you would begin with your weight on either your right or left foot, step behind you with the other foot to fourth foot position, and then let the first foot step back behind the second to another fourth foot position.

 

Master It Now

 

Take this opportunity to master walking-steps in both directions. Picture yourself back on the sidewalk mentioned before. Practice your walking-steps by taking eight steps forward, starting with either your right or left foot (depending on whether you’re the leader or the follower), and then eight steps back. Repeat. Next, take four walking-steps forward, then four backward. Repeat. Cut down the number of walking-steps in each direction to two, and then one, and repeat. To get balanced practice, repeat the entire exercise by starting on the opposite foot than the one you started on.