"With most load-bearing methods, the heavier the weight, the more energy you need to burn to carry it. Not so with head porterage. Based on studies of women of the Luo and Kikuyu tribes of East Africa, researchers have found that people can carry loads of up to 20 percent of their own body weight without expending any extra energy beyond what they'd use by walking around unencumbered. Above that figure, however, metabolic costs seem to increase proportionally with load weight. But don't start stacking groceries on your head just yet. The subjects in these studies began head-loading as children and had developed a peculiar gait that's one-third more efficient than the one we're likely to use." - Shannon Jiménez

I've always been amazed by the load-bearing capacity of the women in Guatemala. - Shannon Jiménez

When we watch documentaries, we always look up how they do it, then try to do it here. It is amazing how much stuff we can pile up there, but we can't even walk our short hallway without stuff falling. - Anika

They have awesome posture too, to line up the spine just right to not hurt their necks. It seems like a useful skill no matter where you are. - Heather