Susan's Place Transgender Resources

As my body shape has changed being on hrt, I'm discovering I'm having to relearn how I walk, stand, and carry myself. My body movements feel very fluid at times, and other times, they feel so awkward.

      @ Alana Ashleigh

Dear Alana:
You are correct, not only having to relearn how our own bodies move but also women
move and carry themselves differently than men....  so it is a double task
    Learning how to handle our own body movements
        and
    learning how to move like women do.

Early on in my transition I spent a lot of time in shopping malls, airports,
doctors waiting rooms, etc... watching how women are dressed, walk, sit, stand, eat,
converse with others, etc.     
                    It was time well spent.
HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

This👆🏽👆🏽 is great advice Alana. It's actually quite fascinating watching the differences. Men tend to lolop about and rarely carry themselves well in my opinion. Just don't appear to be leering ha ha!

I dream of transitioning my body from male to female through HRT. I never realized or thought about the subsequent need to relearn one's body movements as a part of that. I love learning through the experiences of everyone here.

I've been trying to adjust my body movement, sitting and even what to do with my hands. Just hoping once I start HRT I have a bit of a jump

Quote from: linda_45071 on May 01, 2026, 02:33:18 PMI dream of transitioning my body from male to female through HRT. I never realized or thought about the subsequent need to relearn one's body movements as a part of that. I love learning through the experiences of everyone here.

There's a hell of a lot to learn, a lot of it is subtle but it all adds up. There's no one way to move or act either, every woman is different but there are generalisations that you can follow.

The more you do it the more natural it becomes until you just aren't thinking about it anymore.

Quote from: Dawn Kellie on May 01, 2026, 02:48:40 PMI've been trying to adjust my body movement, sitting and even what to do with my hands. Just hoping once I start HRT I have a bit of a jump

@Dawn Kellie  cc: @Snowangel500
Dear Kellie:
I am fairly certain that you may be getting some excellent tutoring
from Snow your youngest daughter. 
Be sure to take advantage of that.

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

Quote from: Northern Star Girl on May 01, 2026, 04:48:02 PM@Dawn Kellie  cc: @Snowangel500
Dear Kellie:
I am fairly certain that you may be getting some excellent tutoring
from Snow your youngest daughter. 
Be sure to take advantage of that.

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

I plan on it

It just takes time and lots of practice.  After that it can feel odd to go back to your old ways, such as the male "head nod." 

Quote from: Dawn Kellie on May 01, 2026, 02:48:40 PMI've been trying to adjust my body movement, sitting and even what to do with my hands. Just hoping once I start HRT I have a bit of a jump

I found myself sitting differently a few months ago and not realizing I was doing it. I was sitting up as straight as possible, and trying to take up as little space as I could. My walk has completely changed as well. It's been slowly happening, but it was very obvious to me this week that I was swaying my hips as I walk.

I'm sure you'll get there too.

I do not realize what I am doing in terms of sitting down and walking any more.
Maybe it is muscle memory or automatic. 

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on May 01, 2026, 06:54:04 PMI do not realize what I am doing in terms of sitting down and walking any more.
Maybe it is muscle memory or automatic. 

Or just becoming who you are supposed to be.😀

For me it's a combination of intentional effort and just letting go. 

I watched a video on how women tend to walk due to the different hips they have. The video explained how to emulate this walk with the hips of a man.  I walked and walked, watched more and walked more. Took videos. It helped. 

On the third day that I wore a skirt to work, I felt my mind relax. Less scanning for people, more feeling the swish of my cute skirt. My hips relaxed and I felt them sway slightly on their own. 

I've been almost unable to cross my legs as I did when I identified as male. I sit up straighter. Those things are natural. Training and practice helped me tuck my feet under my chair. 

Heels also helped change my gait. They do something delightful to my walk. It feels so right 

Wow that's so inspiring! I caught myself observing those things when out in the open recently. Oddly enough some of those I already did naturally in the past, like taking up little space, crossing my legs not very manlike, tilting my head when listening, and some more. I unlearned those to survive in the male space. I'm so looking forward to picking this up again.

Quote from: Valerie.Val on May 24, 2026, 01:14:18 PMWow that's so inspiring! I caught myself observing those things when out in the open recently. Oddly enough some of those I already did naturally in the past, like taking up little space, crossing my legs not very manlike, tilting my head when listening, and some more. I unlearned those to survive in the male space. I'm so looking forward to picking this up again.

That's exactly how to do it. Observe. I find the best place for it is a shopping mall cafe. You can watch women walking about, how they act with friends, how they sit, eat food, all of it. Just be careful not to let people catch you staring. At best you will make them uncomfortable at worst they will think you're letching at them ha ha!

Quote from: Valerie.Val on May 24, 2026, 01:14:18 PMWow that's so inspiring! I caught myself observing those things when out in the open recently. Oddly enough some of those I already did naturally in the past, like taking up little space, crossing my legs not very manlike, tilting my head when listening, and some more. I unlearned those to survive in the male space. I'm so looking forward to picking this up again.

I love this post! 💕

Homework assignment time.

Try some of these tips. Have fun with it!

Quote from: Lori Dee on May 26, 2026, 12:07:34 AMHomework assignment time.

Try some of these tips. Have fun with it!

Ha! I've watched the exact same videos of hers Lori!

I'm definitely still dealing with this. I can physically feel how much my body shape has changed. My hips are bigger, and I've gotten curvier. Learning how to walk with a new shape is a challenge.

Quote from: Alana Ashleigh on May 28, 2026, 05:28:07 PMI'm definitely still dealing with this. I can physically feel how much my body shape has changed. My hips are bigger, and I've gotten curvier. Learning how to walk with a new shape is a challenge.

I ache for such a challenge 🥺

Quote from: Alana Ashleigh on May 28, 2026, 05:28:07 PMI'm definitely still dealing with this. I can physically feel how much my body shape has changed. My hips are bigger, and I've gotten curvier. Learning how to walk with a new shape is a challenge.

Literally one foot in front of the other Alana! Place each foot in line with the next look ahead, chest out, head lifted. Women used to put a book on their head to practice this in days gone by!

I have it a bit easier as I have wide sit bones approximately 130mm according to the bike fit I had about 5 years ago which determined I needed to use a womens saddle which worked a treat! This has resulted in a greater Q angle (legs point more in to my knees) which makes it easier to walk in line. Apparently this is also why I keep tripping myself up when my foot catches the standing leg, not so glamorous!