Did you walk today? asks Shane O’Mara, author of the book The superpower of walking. This professor and neuroscientist at Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland, dedicates his life to convincing people to walk.
“We don’t realize how easy and fundamental it is to walk! There are many benefits it provides for health, mood, memory and clarity of mind,” he said in an interview.
“When we get up to walk, our posture changes, our torso and spine unfold in a single vertical axis from head to back, and suddenly everything changes: the mind awakens, the head pivots. »
When we move, brain activity comes alive, electrical flows that were at rest are activated, we become more alert, breathing quickens, body and mind are ready to spring into action.
Shane O’Mara
An opinion shared by physiotherapist Denis Fortier, who believes that people spend far too much time sitting in front of their screens and that the benefits of walking are underestimated.
“There are three different aspects: there is walking to counter physical inactivity, walking as a means of transport and walking as a physical activity, when we go trekking in the mountains, for example, which will be more sporty, but everyone of these three types of walking has health benefits,” says Denis Fortier, author of Get up and walk ! The miracle cure exists and it is free.
He deplores the fact that a sedentary lifestyle has increased during the pandemic, in particular because of teleworking. We have reduced our physical activities in quantity and intensity. “We sit too much all the time. We don’t even get up to get faxes anymore… What are the effects on our joints? »
PHOTO FROM DENIS FORTIER’S WEBSITE
Denis Fortier
This must concern us, because when we are 50 or 60 years old, it is our joint health that guarantees a good part of our quality of life and it is all the more important to walk to counter our sedentary lifestyle.
Denis Fortier
“Smart phones that count the number of steps will influence us on the importance of walking. Ten years ago, no one knew the number of steps taken per day, whereas today it is the opposite and it raises public awareness. And how many steps do you have to take? “It all depends, but targeting 7,500 steps per day is good, but moving towards 10,000 is even better,” emphasizes Denis Fortier.
Go outside
Another problem: we spend more and more time indoors. Professor Shane O’Mara cites a large study conducted in the United States which shows that people spend 87% of their time in an artificial environment, in offices, homes, stores and other buildings.
It’s a shocking number. We have to get out, breathe and walk. Whether in the city, in the parks, in the countryside or in the forest, alone or with friends, you will feel the benefits.
Shane O’Mara
“To reach 10,000 steps a day, you have to walk outside. It is important to be exposed to daylight, because this is what regulates the circadian cycle, which is our internal clock, and will allow us in particular to sleep well, believes Denis Fortier. Going outside stimulates all our senses, hearing, smell, sight. It also contributes to social life if you live near a park. It reduces stress. When we go for a walk, we don’t breathe in the same way. There are only positive effects. »
More creativity
For Shane O’Mara, there is a vital relationship between the movement of the body and the flow of thought. “There are many studies that show that people who walk for 15 minutes are more creative and in a better mood,” he points out. Besides, if we want to encourage freer forms of creative cognition, we have to get people moving and moving away from their screens, because finding innovative solutions to complex problems, sitting in a workspace, is unreasonable. Why ? Because when you move, one part of your brain is more active, and because there is activity, it generates new ideas. Philosophers, writers and mathematicians would go for a long walk and find solutions to their problems. »
PHOTO BRÍD O’DONOVAN, PROVIDED BY SHANE O’MARA
Shane O’Mara
“The good news is that it’s never too late to walk! At 70, 80, you can get started. I often say that getting old is not a reason to stop walking! It is when we stop walking that we age! It is a form of exercise that is accessible to everyone. You just need a good pair of shoes or boots in the winter,” says Shane O’Mara.
Walking should be at the heart of community, the organization of society and the planning of cities, he believes. “Maybe one day doctors will prescribe walking to improve overall health and well-being. Some GPs in the Shetland Islands are already doing this. They prescribe walks on the beach as preventative treatments for mental and physical illnesses. Walking is a cure for depression, stimulates creative impulse and helps solve problems. What are you waiting for to walk? »
The superpower of walking
Translated by Lison Lescarbeau and Paul-Marcel Adam
ink castle
280 pages
Get up and walk ! The miracle cure exists and it is free
Denis Fortier
Trecarre
176 pages