Bernard O'Shea discovers walking backwards actually makes him feel better

Bernard O'Shea says walking backward has surprising benefits, helps his bad back, and calms his brain

Bernard O'Shea: Walking backward helps me 'be present'. Photograph Moya Nolan

There’s no doubt that you will look like a circus clown if people see you walking backwards in the park. However, if your mind is like a circus with bizarre and random thoughts flying everywhere in all directions walking backwards just might be the circus act you need to do to calm your busy brain down.

The vast majority of trends I’ve tried for the last six months I've learned from others online. Whether it's drinking Tumeric tea or garlic water or wading through countless videos online about intermittent fasting, the internet has been my primary source for inspiration and at times desperation (I don’t care how good cold showers are for you it's not for me). However, I started walking backwards before the internet was on my mobile phone. Heck, I started doing it before I even had a mobile phone.