Walking is by far the most accessible and simplest form of exercise. People who don’t like indoor workouts prefer to just take a walk as their form of exercise. But what if you can spice this up by walking backwards? Walking backward, also known as retro walking, is the latest social media workout obsession. There are a lot of claims as to the benefits of this unusual form of workout.
Let’s read the article to find out the benefits of retro-walking.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does the phrase “embark on” mean? “A 50-year-old cigar-shop owner called Patrick Harmon embarked on a curious challenge in the summer of 1915 – he planned to walk backwards from San Francisco to New York City.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does the word “cohort” mean? “And in another study led by Dufek, a cohort of five athletes self-reported a reduction in lower back pain after periods of backwards walking.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
- What is the meaning of an “incongruous task“? “It found that participants stepping backwards had the fastest reaction times, perhaps because their brains were already used to performing an incongruous task.” Use it in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on the benefits of retro-walking?
- Would you feel comfortable walking backward in public? Why or why not?
- Do you like going for walks? Do you prefer walking alone or with others?
- Are there any new forms of exercise you’ve recently tried?
- What is most challenging type of workout for you? Why?