A wide base of support helps you maintain your balance, avoiding slips and trips, while you work with your body to complete physical work. You’ll want to keep your legs wide enough that you can take advantage of your body weight and body’s momentum. You want to be able to move your body’s centre of gravity between your feet for tasks like shoveling or pushing. However, a wide stable base is not limited to just between your feet. Adding your hand onto a stable object, or possibly onto the floor when kneeling can provide a larger stable base to work within.