Why Walking Is The Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had with Professor Shane O’Mara | FBLM Podcast

When was the last time you gave any real thought to walking? It’s so easy to put one foot in front of the other. Yet this unique, underrated activity sets us apart from other species, and brings incredible advantages – yes, superpowers – if we do it enough.

My guest on this week’s podcast is the neuroscientist Shane O’Mara, a professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College Dublin. After reading his remarkable new book, In Praise of Walking: The New Science of How We Walk And Why It’s Good For Us, I couldn’t wait to talk to him about the topics it raises. Shane has always been a keen walker and aims to clock 15,000 to 17,000 steps each day on his pedometer. But as we discuss, the positive effects of walking go way beyond the fitness benefits we all know about.

Walking helps more than our hearts and lungs, our muscles and posture, yet modern, sedentary lives mean we’re doing far less of it than nature intended. It can increase creativity and problem solving, lift our mood and protect us from depression. Shane reveals how it helps learning, memory and cognition and how it can slow and even reverse the functional ageing of the brain. All this science, he hopes, will help convince town planners and public health officials that we must redesign our environments with pedestrians in mind.

This is such an enlightening conversation and I know you’ll gain some fascinating new perspectives on how you could (and why you should) fit more walking into your life. Why not head out for a stroll as you listen?

Find out more about Shane:

Dr Chatterjee’s resources:

#feelbetterlivemore #shaneomara #walking
--------------

-----

-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

[mel]

I'm 85....been walking for more than 45 years. Now 5 x a week....3 mile stretch. And I am young!

[greyhairedphantom]

I'm 69, and I find walking a great way to keep depression at bay. I also find it a way to forget your aches and pains. Getting old, especially if we have health issues, means more time to sit and worry about every little ache or pain.
I can have aching bones, but find once I get walking I stop thinking about the pains. After suffering heart failure and now walking 10 to 12 klms a day has made me feel much better than I did ten years ago!

[MorIng]

Amazing. I am 82, almost 83 years old. I walk every day no matter what the weather is, about 3 miles. I truly believe it's keeping me fit and my brain active. Well said Professor Shane O’Mara.

[JadenRhodesOfficial]

At age 42, I had traumatic injuries in july of 2016 while playing tennis and weighing at about 300 lbs. My pelvis was shattered into pieces and I had to have two major surgeries and in 2017 I had a total hip replacement. But still, I couldn't walk for 5 years. Had to use a cane. In may 2021 I started to be able to walk without anything and in september 2021 I challenged myself to walk or move 30 minutes a day, no distances, just move for 30 minutes. After 30 days, I was feeling better so I decided to go for 100 day challenge. Everyday, no excuses, -30 or +30 degrees, sun, rain, snow and wind. When I got to 100 I knew I just couldn't stop cause despite the fact I had sequelae I was witnessing my body change completely from head to toes to my brain and now walking was becoming the medicine I really needed and never knew how powerful the benefits could be so it was a no brainer for me to keep on going no matter what. When I arrive at DAY #365 I knew I wouldn't stop so I kept on going and I was 200lbs. My 71 year old mom was at 204 lbs at 5foot2 and she started walking with me in last september and today, my mom just walked her 234th day walking and she is now at 145lbs !! I never thought I could have a positive influence on my mom like that. My counter stopped abruptly january 31st of this year and my hip popped out (Not due to walking) and since then I had 2 surgeries, I have a new a much bigger total hip replacement and while writting this, the tears are streaming down my face since I can't walk and I'm in bed 24/7. The only thing I know, is that NOTHING will stop me from walking again each and everyday until the day that I die. Now, I eat fruits and veggies and nuts, legumes and olive oil and if it wasn't for my surgeries lately, my body is in better shape and health overall than when I was 18 years old. Walking 5km or more everyday and eating the best fuel for my body and brain. I also take cold showers or ice bath everyday and I do 4 cycles or breathing exercises made famous by the Wim Hof Breathing Method or technique. Can't wait to put my shoes back on and go get my most powerful medecine. I hope my story inspires just 1 person and I will happy ! The key to it all is CONSISTENCY, not distance. Just walking enough so you don't need a 3 day break to recuperate. Just listen to your body, sometimes it'll be 3km and sometimes 5km and sometimes 2 or 4 or 7 or 8 but whatever the distance, respect your limits so you can be consistent everyday. Have a journal where you write down day 001 + the temperature and how much you walked that day and then write down a note underneath just saying how you felt or how you feel now or and event that happened during your walk, a beautiful tree, birds singing, anything you want. Try this for 30 days and see what happens after your 30th walk. I wish you all the best. Bekindfornoreason ☺✌💫

[GoatkuEditz]

I walked for 8 months last year 3 times a week each walk was 4.5 to 5 miles. My cholesterol went from 218 to 174 and I lost 30 pounds. I’m 52 years old

[johnhutchison]

I walked 1200 miles up the U.K. for my 70th birthday. Last year I walked 500 miles across Northern Spain at the age of 71. This year I was going to walk 300 up Wales but I broke my ankle fishing. I eat one low carb meal a day and now I don’t drink alcohol. I also meditate and journal each day to build mental resilience that supports long distance walking. My aim in life is to walking over mountains in my 90s

[malcolmhenaughan]

I am 75, never had a car or motorcycle, walk everywhere except for long distance travel, I can still run up stairs with ease, when people know my age they can't believe it. Never been inside a gym either, I worked in engineering and did plenty of lifting every day. Just keep moving, you don't have to run...And get yourself a decent diet..

[yvettebenjamin]

He is right about running. Long term, the stress on your joints creates many issues. I ran for about 40 years with coaching and can attest to his. I now walk daily for about an hour. Sometimes, I will walk for about 2 or 3 hours.

[patrickvanmeter]

I have been walking or running most of my life. Also, resistance training with weights, bands or bodyweight exercise at least 3 times a week. I am 82 and healthy. No doctors and no meds. I am not concerned about dying. I am concerned with quality of life. So far, so good. Enjoyed the video. Thank You.

[mirzamanmirzaman]

I walk 10-13 thousand steps daily and it’s really not difficult. It was difficult at the beginning but now after two years, it’s my habit or I can call it addiction. It’s very helpful for good health.

[edwardfosterart]

I really enjoyed this conversation. At the end of the podcast you talk about listening to podcasts etc whilst walking. Why? Listen instead to the environment you walk in. The birdsong, sound of streams, the swish of your feet in long grass, wind in the branches of trees. This is beautiful, and a great stimulus for imaginary intellectual thought. The sound of nature is so important and by being aware of it you also become part of it.

[karenf]

I used to substitute teach in a grade school. The classes were large, usually about 30 children, and lots of work to cover in short order. Inevitably, the children would become rambunctious, but as soon as I noticed, even though we couldn’t go outside for a walk per se, I would stop whatever we were doing, tell the kids to stand up next to their desks, and have them perform simple movement plus breathing exercises for about one or two minutes. It always worked beautifully. The other trick I employed was turning off the artificial light and using some fresh air via cracked or open windows. Fresh air, sunlight, and a bit of natural movement fixes many things.

[diskellyheron]

PR: Walking creates closer relationships with your own body and others...
My husband and I have been walking dogs twice a day for 40 talking and walking together ❤

[harryviking]

Walking has always been the thing to do for me to relax the brain, get rid of stress, and keep my legs and heart healthy! ...

[lisbetsoda]

I haven't been able to walk for over a year now due to long covid. My lungs just can't recover. I miss it very much.
I am starting to worry it is chronic. I sit in a chair almost 95% of the day. I am going to another specialist in May.
I always liked the fact that I could walk anywhere I wanted to and walk for hours. Now I have to think about what I can do while in the kitchen for 2 min. before I am out of breath. I plan ahead. It is very frustrating.
Anyone who can walk, please do so. You never know when you can't anymore. I don't even know if my ability will return, and I am only 62. Keep walking. It is a gift.

[erichbrough]

It frankly amazes me that more therapists and doctors don't encourage regular walking as stress release practice. Most never even mention it.

[leonieaugustine]

Wow! I'm so inspired by the comments of the age 70+ people on this thread. Walking has multiple benefits for mind, brain, body and soul! My best ideas and inspiration arise when I am out walking! Thank you to these two wonderful gentlemen.
Love and light to all❤

[sanskrit]

True! All the seniors I know that walk everyday are the healthiest.

[KikiAndJeffreyPearl]

Walking is very therapeutic for me. You get to really take in the environment, live in the now. Staying active into older age is key for mindfulness and overall health

[thinkable]

Walking is a very complex yet so simple process to understand. I have stopped talking to everyone about my walking experience since twenty years when a masai woman almost eighty years approached me in the plains of masai Mara. She had walked forty five kilometers from one of her son’s house walking to another son’s house still twenty kilometers away.
I learnt on that day how much we have slowed and the true potential of walking.