Blast from the Past: Video Tutorial on How to Open a Door

Though perhaps charming (and certainly funny), bursting through doors when entering a room is, according to this instructional Finnish video from 1979, not the proper way to do it.

Yes, there is a proper way to open doors – and it involves a good eye for distances, good balance (Pilates anyone?) and some ninja-like skills to help you execute a pirouette once through the door.

Naturally, you don’t want to shut the door with the same hand you opened it: everything is about balance and symmetry, as the video will confirm.

Make sure you follow all the rules: stop within 5cm (1.96 inches) of the threshold with your left foot, place your weight on that leg so that pushing the door handle down comes naturally, turn and repeat with the right leg on the other side.

No joke.

No one likes a bad door opener – and you surely don’t want to be one.