Krysta Anderson, Gleaner Writer

Come on a little journey with me. Let's go back to the night of my high-school ball ... . I am wearing a gorgeous pair of heels to match my beautiful long flowing gown. I enter the room with all my friends, feeling like a princess though a bit uneasy - a bit wobbly on the feet. And I can't help but to keep praying silently, "Dear God, please don't make me fall."

That was one of my first memories of wearing high-heel shoes. It was not like when I was a child taking my first steps since I always had mommy and daddy guiding me. There I was on my own!

Since then, I have spent years trying to articulate self-confidence in all that I do, but wearing heels has never been a part of that plan. Falling flat on my face would not only scar me physically, but also mentally and emotionally. So the terrifying and frightening thought of wearing and walking in heels has always been buried in the corners of my mind, until I read about Chyna Whyne offering a workshop in teaching women how to master the art of walking in stilettos. I instantly decided that I would take a leap of faith by trying something new, embarking on a transformational journey from flats to heels.

Mastering the Art of Walking in Stilettos is offered by Whyne to help you step out in those stilettos and discover a sexier you - strutting with confidence when you enter that next cocktail party or standing elegantly at your next business function. In preparation for the first lesson, her clients are expected to conduct a mandatory 'rocking test' in their shoes. I was a little foggy about the test and carried two pairs of heels with me, hoping that they would not once again fail me.

THE QUALITY TEST

Whyne demonstrated the 'rocking test' by gently tapping on the top of the shoe. "If it rocks, you'll fall," she explained. My first pair failed horribly, while my second pair revealed rocking in one of the shoes.

With the preparation lesson unsuccessful, we went on the hunt for a 'rock-free' pair of heels for the workshop. The search began as we browsed through a few shoe stores. In the stylish Ignite, we performed the rocking test on several pairs of shoes before trying them on.

After selecting the correct pair of shoes, Whyne took me through some feet exercises. These included spreading the toes on the ground, pointing and flexing the feet to get a nice stretch while sitting, and raising up on the balls of the feet before putting on the shoes.

Warming up the feet

These movements were all aimed at adequately warming up the feet, getting the blood in that area fully circulating to walk properly in the shoes.

Still inside the store, Whyne examined both my walk as well as my posture. Let me just say it was as difficult to watch as it was to do.

Additionally, I had to keep the heels on, standing and walking around in them, just so we could both get better acquainted, for approximately 10 minutes. Believe me, it was the longest 10 minutes of my life. We moved on to Spicy Couture, whose name speaks for itself, another rocking test was done. We repeated the process of me walking in the shoes. This was done to determine if the shoes were uncomfortable due to their styling, or did not appropriately grip the contours of my feet, which would send the shoes into retirement after only a few wears.

Thankfully, the day ended on a victorious note, with me finding the right pair of shoes that fit my feet and passed the rocking test.

Now that I have the right shoes, I can begin the first test in my lessons. Join me next week to see if I have mastered the art of walking in stilettos or forever retired to my flats.