“It doesn’t matter a woman’s age or build,” a French woman once quipped to me. “If she knows how to walk, she can drive any man crazy.” How true her words proved to be. But they weren’t really necessary. All you had to do was watch her walk. Wherever she went, heads turned.

Few of us realize how strongly our carriage influences others, but for those who do, like this woman, it can wield enormous power. My own awareness of this increased greatly when I first started practicing in Paris and noticed how differently we and the French people moved. Whereas we tend to walk in a stiff, disjointed manner with locked hips and our arms swinging wildly, the Parisians seemed to move with much more grace and efficiency and a certain undeniable sexiness as well.

A few years ago, I took my son, David, then 14, to Paris and pointed this out to him to see if he would notice. It didn’t take long. Soon, he was pointing out nationalities based simply on their gait. Once, we were sitting on the steps of the Rodin Museum, taking in the va et vien, when a woman in a long black dress began walking in our direction. Her shoulders were calm and relaxed, her eyes were focused straight ahead, and with each step she took, the movement traveled gracefully up her body in a smooth, unbroken line. “Definitely French!” my son whispered to himself, transfixed by her movements.

Ah, you say, but Paris is the City of Love, and Parisians have been cultivating that image for centuries. Perhaps, but if you look around, you’ll see elements of it in every culture—to this day, I can still recall the graceful, flowing movements of the Maasai when I was in Tanzania. I’m sure you, too, have noticed certain people in your life and thought to yourself, Gee, I wish I could walk like that. Actually, you can.

While some people seem to be born with the ability, it’s a skill everyone can learn. Remember, before we learned to speak, we communicated through body language, and that language is just as relevant today as it was back then—it’s encoded in our genes. So, if you think you’d like to give it a try, here are some tips to get you going.

The first thing you’ll need is proper footwear. By this, I mean anything other than flip-flops and high heels. Shoes without heel straps require you to grab with your toes when you take a step, bypassing many of the calf muscles normally used in walking and rendering a graceful stride impossible. Similarly, high-heeled shoes limit the foot’s flexion ability and result in a clunky walking pattern. (I once had a client who could pull this off, but to date, she’s been the only one. And yes, I still remember her!)

Next on the list is to slow down, way down! We Americans are always rushing somewhere, but you can’t feel much of anything when you’re scurrying about, can you? Stop, take a deep breath, and as you exhale, take in the world around you. Feel the sunlight on your face… The soft breeze blowing through your hair … That crack in the sidewalk up ahead… Birds chirping in the distance…

Now, take this heightened awareness and turn it inwards. Which way do your feet point when you take a step? Do your heels land softly, or do they hit the ground with a resounding thud? Next, check your hips. You should feel a soft, rhythmical side-to-side sway each time you take a step. If you don’t or notice your arms swinging wildly, it’s a sure sign that your hips are locked, so try calming your shoulders and transferring the movement back to your pelvis where it belongs. Finally, where are you looking? Most Americans tend to walk looking down at the ground. Chest up! Eyes up! Hello world!

You’ll probably notice as well that arching your back will not only make your hip sway easier and your footfalls softer but will also raise your chest up and allow you to breathe deeper—another bonus. It may require some effort at first, but with a little practice, it will soon become second nature. I firmly believe that people would look better, feel better, and enjoy life more if they traded some of their time in the gym, dojo, or dance studio for a daily walk in fresh air.

Once, a retired Taiwanese client asked me for some pointers on walking, and for the next two weeks practiced my suggestions. The next time she came in, I had trouble believing it was the same woman. Without realizing it, my senses picked up, and I found myself suddenly sitting up straighter. Had the French woman I’d mentioned earlier seen my response, I’m sure she would have laughed. And men, don’t think this applies only to women. They have eyes, too! It goes both ways.

In summary, the benefits of mindful living are well established, and if you incorporate walking into that awareness, your rewards will be that much greater, not to mention the confidence you’ll gain as people start to notice. In truth, it’s not so much about trying to look sexy as it is about walking with self-awareness, and when it’s done well, it can have an intoxicating effect on others. Plus, that sway in your hips will not only help preserve your joints and promote healthy muscle function, but it will also aid in your digestion, elimination, and a host of other bodily functions. So, since you’re already walking, why not put in that little extra effort and do it well? Trust me, people will notice, and your muscles, joints, and organs will thank you years down the road for the investment you’ve made in your body today.

Feel free to pass this article on to anyone whom you feel might benefit.