Find Your Happy Gait
Longevity Walking for Fun & Health
Our gait, or walking pattern, typically changes as we age.
Have you ever noticed yours?
Next time you take a walk, notice your natural posture, speed, foot placement, and how your body feels. Or, have someone walk with you and describe what they observe.
That coordinated movement of the feet, legs, and typically arms, differs for each of us, and is determined by a complex interaction of major parts of the nervous, musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems - not only associated with walking but can also refer to jogging or running.
I was aware of my gait, but I hadn’t really considered its reflection of or impact on my health. That changed when I read Ilchi Lee’s book, I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years, where he introduces the concept of longevity walking. I’ve included a short video.
Why does our gait change as we grow older?
Although gait changes are a normal part of the aging process, it’s important to note that it doesn’t necessarily change for everyone. Muscle weakness, joint stiffness, balance adjustments, and neurological changes are the primary reasons for this change that can also lead to less fluid, slower walking. Our bodies amazingly adapt in an attempt to help us maintain stability and reduce the risk of falling.
What’s the name of the pressure point of focus when longevity walking, and why focus there?
The pressure point is pronounced, Yongquan in Chinese, and Yongchun in Korean, which means “Gushing Spring.” It’s the energy point right beneath the ball of your foot, center. It’s the first point on the kidney meridian that’s considered vital for connecting with earth energy, promoting circulation, and overall vitality.
What are the benefits of walking with your feet in an 11 stance?
Walking with your feet in an “11 stance,” pointed straight ahead and parallel like a number 11, is widely considered a healthy and bio-mechanically sound position for most people. It supports natural alignment of the ankle, knee, and hip joints; promotes better posture throughout the body; allows for a more efficient transfer of force through the legs; and helps deliver weight evenly across feet.
Although many have reported improvements in their sleep, energy, overall lightness in their legs and feet, and more, it is important to experiment with this walking approach yourself after observing your natural gait. Try it out for a period of time - a few days or weeks - and notice how your feet, ankles, legs and hips feel, or any other changes in your body. Remember, this stance is bio-mechanically sound for most people.
Do we really tend to walk more from the heels than toes as we get older, and why?
When we’re young, we tend to push off from the toes more often and effectively. Aging shifts walking mechanics toward heel dominance and less on toe push-off during walking due to muscle weakness, joint stiffness, and balance adaptations. These factors can be addressed through this kind of targeted and mindful walking to help restore more efficient toe push-off.
Is longevity walking scientifically sound in its core advice?
Yes. Longevity walking is consistent with principles associated with physical therapy and Eastern wellness traditions where emphasis is placed on posture, alignment and body awareness to promote health and well-being. It doesn't require any major shifts. You’re simply shifting your weight to the front of your foot, like you did when you were a child.
I’ve been practicing longevity walking for several months and I’m experiencing noticeable results. My stance is stronger since my feet don’t fan out in either direction like they did before, my posture has improved, I have more energy, and my legs feel lighter when I walk.
Again, it is important to experiment with longevity walking to make sure it’s the right approach for you.
Happy longevity walking!
Pay attention to your next walk—do you push off from your toes or heels? Share what you discover in the comments or send me a message below. And, if you found this post helpful, consider subscribing and/or sharing it with a friend who might enjoy it too!