These are times when there is much chaos, confusion, and conflict in our lives and in the world. We need supportive programs that can help us to survive, thrive, and prosper during these times when old systems are collapsing and new, more sustainable ones are coming into being. Humans have been walking for a long time, before we were even human. I walk everyday because it brings me joy. It also reduces stress, prevents depression, and if done with loved ones—human or canine—can improve your health and help you live a longer, healthier life.

When I saw the list of new books coming out from one of my favorite publishers, New World Library, Walking Well by Michael J. Gelb and Bruce Fertman grabbed my attention. I’ve been walking my whole life and I’ve been a healthcare provider for more than fifty years helping men and their families to live long and well. The only period of my life when I didn’t walk every day was when I was running and training for things like the world-famous Dipsea race.

            First run in 1905, the Dipsea is the oldest trail race in America. It is run every year on the second Sunday in June. The scenic 7.4 mile course from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach is considered to be one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The stairs and steep trails make it a grueling and treacherous race. And its unique handicapping system has made winners of men and women of all ages.

            Now that I’m in my eighties I prefer walking to running. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Michael J. Gelb. We talked about his work over the years, his previous books, and his most recent book, Walking Well: A New Approach For Comfort, Vitality, And Inspiration In Every Step, written with his friend and colleague movement artist and educator, Bruce Fertman. You can watch my interview here.

            The world’s leading authority on the application of genius thinking to personal and organizational development, Michael is a pioneer in the fields of creative thinking, innovative leadership and executive coaching. His books include Samurai Chess: Mastering Strategic Thinking,  The Healing Organization: Awakening the Conscience of Business to Help Save the World, and his most well-known book, How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci which has sold more than one million copies.

            When I first began reading Walking Well it didn’t seem to fit with Michael’s other books. It didn’t look anything like Samurai Chess or a business book that could change the world. I wondered how it could help me think like Leonardo da Vinci. But after reading the book and practicing what I learned, I was beginning to change my mind.

When I interviewed Michael, I shared my initial reservations, which he addressed directly.

“I’m glad you shared what you did about your initial skepticism,”

Michael said.

“You picked up on the subtle aspects of the book. I think Walking Well actually has the most potential of anything I have ever written to change the world.”

I agree. We all know the health benefits of walking, but most of us don’t walk much. After reading this book, not only will you want to walk more, but you will learn how to do with much greater ease and joy. Gelb and Fertman introduce their book Walking Well with this wonderful quote from poet and essayist Gary Snyder.

“Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind. Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility.”

I began walking to enjoy the health benefits of walking, of which there are many, and I learned more from Walking Well.

“W.A.L.K.I.N.G. is a mnemonic acronym to help you remember these evidence-based benefits”

say Gelb and Fertman.

Weight regulation.

“The simplest, easiest, and most enjoyable way to regulate your weight is to increase the number of steps you take every day and to gradually quicken your pace.”

Arterial flexibility.

“Arterial stiffness is a critical predictor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. A meta-analysis of the research on the effect of walking in promoting arterial flexibility shows that people who walk fewer than 5,000 steps a day generally have stiffer arteries, compared to those who take 7,500 steps every day.”

I started a program in our community to get everyone doing a 10,000 step fun walk. We did regular community walks and many continued walking on their own and in small groups. Its nice to know that the research shows that there are health benefits with even fewer steps, though I love walking our whole route.

Longevity.

“Decades of research make it vividly clear that if you walk more, you’ll live longer. Along with a healthy diet, loving relationships, and a sense of meaning or purpose, daily exercise, especially walking, is one of the key predictors of longevity.

Kidney health.

“The American Society of Nephrology reports that walking may have ‘profound benefits’ for those suffering from kidney disease.”

This was a new and important one for me, since I developed a kidney problem when I failed to take a full course of antibiotics. I’ve been walking and my kidneys are healed. I had no idea there might be a connection.

Immunity.

“Walking is an ideal exercise for boosting immunity. Daily walking helps to protect against colds, flu, pneumonia, and many other ailments.”

Neuroplasticity.

“Neuroplasticity is the revolutionary theory that your brain is designed to improve with use. Daily walking, especially in nature, is one of the best ways to generate this positive influence.”

Gut health.

“Walking is good for your digestion. It helps regulate your gut microbiome optimizes your metabolism, soothes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and eases acid reflux. It helps prevent colon cancer.”

Another health benefit I would add is that walking may be the best, easiest, and most enjoyable way to reduce anxiety and prevent depression, health problems which are becoming increasingly prevalent in our world today. One of my favorite books is a small volume by best-selling author Thom Hartmann called Walking Your Blues Away: How to Heal the Mind and Create Emotional Well-Being.

“Trauma is nothing new to the human race,”

says Hartmann.

“We are certainly familiar with trauma in the modern world, from acts of war and terrorism to crime, child abuse, and the pain our dysfunctional, standards-driven schools cause our children.”

Hartmann notes that humans had to deal with mental and emotional wounds in ancient times just as we do today and asks a profound question.

“So how had humankind historically dealt with trauma for the past two hundred thousand years, before the advent of psychotherapy?”

“The mechanisms for healing are built into us,”

says Hartmann.

“Five million years of evolution, or the grace of God, or both, have made our bodies automatic healing machines. So why wouldn’t the same be true of our minds and emotions?”

Hartmann believes the mechanism built into humans through evolutionary time is the simple act of walking.

“Inciting the movement of nerve impulses across the brain hemispheres helps people to come to terms with their past. They stop being frightened by their imagined futures and feel comfortable and empowered in the present.”

Thom Hartmann concludes simply,

“Walking while holding a traumatic memory in mind in a particular way can produce this result in a very short time.”  

Maybe this ancient reality is why some of our healthiest, happiest, and most creative humans have made walking the cornerstone of their lives.

Michael Gelb and Bruce Fertman tell us that Leonardo da Vinci

“loved to walk through the streets of Florence, Milan, and Rome, but he especially praised the virtue of walking in nature and generated many of his ideas while ambling through the countryside and strolling by the sea.”

“Thomas Jefferson, the genius who crafted the phrase that reflects our universal quest for the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, praised walking as the best possible form of exercise, and yes, he also invented a pedometer to keep track of his mileage on his daily walks around Charlottesville, Virginia.”

I hope you check out Walking Well: A New Approach For Comfort, Vitality, And Inspiration in Every Step by Michael J. Gelb and Bruce Fertman.

You can learn more by visiting the website: https://walkingwell.com/

You can reach Michael at: https://michaelgelb.com/ and Bruce at www.BruceFertman.com

If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about my work, you can contact me at https://menalive.com/.  If you would like to read more articles on improving your mental, emotional, and relational health, I invite you to subscribe to my free weekly newsletter.