Guided Walking: Switching Sides
Once we are comfortable with the basics of walking with someone guiding, learning a few extra moves will make it easier to navigate in more difficult situations, like through a crowd or around an obstacle.
Today, we'll explore switching sides with our guide without letting go of them. To do this, we first place our free hand just above the hand we have gripped on our guide's arm. We straighten our arms out a little to avoid stepping on their heels. Then we release our lower hand and slide it across our guide's back to find their other arm. At this point, we are directly behind them holding both of their arms.
Now we are ready to let go of the arm we were holding at first and take their arm on the opposite side. As with everything, practice will help make this move of switching sides with your guide a lot easier, and it will come in handy. Lots of obstacles out there.
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Handouts
Another Way to Switch Sides (PDF)
This handout provides a shorter method to switch sides if you're traveling with an experienced guide.
Tips for Guided Walking Series
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