how you walk lets others know about you

The strut. The stride. The swagger. The way we walk says a lot about
who we are, even before we open our mouths. Actions speak louder than
words, as people will perceive you based on how you strut your stuff,
including your bedroom personality.

Natural, fluid walk

A
2008 study published in the "Journal of Sexual Medicine" claims that
trained sexologists can tell if a woman has vaginal orgasms just by
observing the way she walks. Researchers from the Catholic University
of Louvain in Belgium and the University of West Scotland in Paisley
asked 16 female students to complete questionnaires about their sexual
behavior. The women were then divided into two groups, those who had
vaginal orgasms and those who didn't, and were videotaped walking in
public.

When the sexologists reviewed the footage, they
correctly picked out those who could orgasm vaginally 80 percent of the
time. Their findings revealed that women with a natural and fluid gait,
associated with stride length and rotation of the spine, are more apt
to be vaginally orgasmic.

Hand gestures

Be careful
in crowded places if you normally hide your thumbs within your fist. It
denotes vulnerability. "In fact, this is a target criminals look for as
they seek out victims," says Janine Driver, body language and
deception-detection expert, author and certified business coach. People
who keep their hands in their pockets are "extremely nervous." Plus,
she notes, "hooking" involves your thumb hooked onto your belt buckle
and is a sign of extreme nervousness. "The top 10 "American Idol"
contestants all hook," she adds.

Puffing out the chest

"These
people want to appear bigger than they are," says Driver. "People who
puff out their chests walk into a room like a tiger." These people tend
to cross the fine line between confidence and insecurity. Looking for
an example? Look no further than "gym rats." She adds, "Usually it's a
guy trying to impress a girl."

Arm swayers

You
know the deal. You're walking along a crowded city street and -- bam!
-- the person in front of you almost hits you with his free-swaying
limbs. Driver attributes this to marking your territory. "When you're a
big arm swayer, you're saying, 'I want more space.' You're also craving
attention." The opposite is true for people who keep their arms close
to their sides. "The best thing to do is to have a medium swing," she
says.

Pace

If you're a fast walker, Driver says,
this signifies being overly aggressive. "The key," she says, "is
adaptability. It's a matter of how you're being perceived that matters.
Your pace literally matches what we think or our temperament."
Conversely, a slow walker is someone who you may not be able to rely on
for a project. "When you need a project done faster with urgency, it's
never going to happen!"

Bounce in the step

If
someone has a little bounce in their step (think Sasha Obama on
Inauguration Day), they appear to be healthy, happy and young. "It's
usually an indication of high levels of happiness, vitality, vigor and
youth. You want to have a bounce in your step," says Tonya Reiman, body
language expert, AOL Coach and author of "The Power of Body Language."
This is a very good thing, indeed. "We love to be around energetic
people, because it lifts our spirits as well."

Motion

Are
you a glider or a strider? When someone walks on the heels of the feet
with long strides, Reiman says, people may assess that person is in a
rush. "A lot is determined by someone's limb length," she adds,
emphasizing that we don't have as much control over the length of our
stride as Mother Nature does. That said, if someone purposely takes
small steps and looks like a shuffler, this could be due to age, poor
health or insecurity. She emphasizes the most important aspect of body
language may not necessarily match how you're feeling, but rather how
you're being perceived by others.

Posture

Ah, what
would body language be without interpreting someone's posture? Hunched
over shoulders can signal feelings of insecurity. Reiman says this is
also followed by looking down, keeping your hands in your pockets or
walking slower at a shuffling pace. On the other hand, someone with
their head held high and shoulders back screams confidence, baby.

Shoulders

Along
with posture comes shoulders, and whether they're even while walking.
"Shoulders that are uneven are signs of indecisiveness. It also
signifies untrustworthiness," notes Jan Hargrave, a body language
expert based in Houston and author of "Let Me See Your Body Talk." To
counter this, she notes that if one shoulder is physically higher than
the other, some people wear shoulder pads to even the effect and
therefore, appear more trusting.

Couples in sync

Ever
watched a couple at the mall and notice that their leg and arm motions
are completely in sync? "They have great rapport," says Driver.
"Literally one foot's in front of each other at the exact same moment."
If you're not connecting to someone you're walking next to, she notes,
you're not connected to that person. It doesn't mean the relationship
is doomed, it just means at that very moment you're not connecting.

Palms

The
feet. The head. The arms. The shoulders. The hands. What's missing?
Alas, palms! Hargrave says palms that face upward signify a submissive
person. "They're saying they'll be able to listen to what you have to
say." As for someone who walks with their back of their hands facing
up? "They need to be in control."

By VICKI SALEMI

Very interesting find.