21. The 2 Healthy Effects of Walking
A walk around the block, in the woods or walking the Appalachian Trail. They are all especially good activities for your health. Even strolling through a mall or riding a bike contribute and probably in a different way than you would expect. The secret is in two places: the soles of your feet and your brain.
The Soles of Your Feet
One of the two effects is regarding the soles of your feet. Many energy paths end in your feet, such as the bladder meridian, gall bladder meridian and the kidney meridian. In addition, there are very interesting reflex zones in your feet. Every part of your foot is connected to a part of your body. If you stimulate that spot of your foot, you stimulate that part of your body. This means that if you walk and flex your toes, you create wonderful stimulation for your reflex zones.
Your Brain and walking
The “corpus callosum” is in your brain. This is the bridge-like connection between the left- and the right-hand halves of your brain. The more you move, the stronger and better this connection becomes. The more active you are with your body, the better both halves of the brain cooperate and that is ideal. You can then combine the rational part to your creativity.
Are You Left or Right Brained?
If you are someone who is a thinker and has problems creating pictures or thinking up creative solutions, you are predominantly left-brained. Your brain synapses can use some power. This is also true for people who are depressed and whose thoughts run around in circles.
People who work primarily using the right-hand side of the brain are visual thinkers and are less good at creating structure and order. They are very resourceful (creative) but have trouble finishing tasks or maintaining a set structure (hence, “chaotic”). You can affectionately call these people “creative scatterbrains”. This is what causes people to receive labels like ADHD or ADD.
Improve Your Corpus Callosum
One of the easiest ways to strengthen the synapses of your brain is to walk. The left-right movement of your legs and arms strengthen the connections. That’s why many people feel so relaxed after walking. Not so much because of the fresh air (which also helps, of course) but especially because you have strengthened the functioning of your brain’s synapses. Who isn’t familiar with the phenomenon that you suddenly look at a problem differently or make a decision after a walk?
Enjoy Walking with the MIR-Method
Many of the people who follow the MIR-Method report that they feel healthier. You stroke one hand over the other, which already stimulates the left and right-hand sides of your brain. Because of the way the 9 steps work together, you get more nutrients from your food, become healthier and feel like moving more. This is really good for your brain, which makes you feel mentally healthier as well!
My question for you: do you also notice that you are more energetic and feel like exercising more because of the MIR-Method? Tell me about it below!
Wishing you much exercise pleasure!
Mireille Mettes
P.S. Will you help spread the MIR-Method? You would do me a big favor by forwarding this article to other people! Feel free to post it to your Facebook page or send it via e-mail, Twitter or Linked-In! Use the icons on the left-hand side or below! Thank you!
P.S. Not familiar with the MIR-Method yet? Please go to the homepage. You can watch the video there and also the instruction video. Sign up for our newsletter and 6 weeks of coaching e-mails for extra support!
Wondering if you know “the Diamond Gait”? Developed by a chiropractor(I think?) last name Diamond. As you walk you count your steps. Whatever the count for the inhalation, you exhale one more for the exhalation. So, inhale count 4, exhale count each step 5. The count numbers can vary, but the odd numbering makes each inhale start on a different foot – this helps with the left-right brain balance…it also helps increase oxygen intake and complete exhalations. Try it and let me know what you discover.
Dear Hoyt,
No, hadn’t heard of it. Could you give me a link where I can find more information?
Greetings, Mireille
I was walking very slow but doing the MIR method I have intuition to walk and say 1..2…1…2 and my walking changed a lot. 2 peoples ask why I was walking so fast ! I am really impressed
I just turn 78 years old and I am very active but not when I was walking. I want peoples know
the mental count really work, and was from the MIR-Method. thanks. I am brazilian lady.
Dear Margarida,
Am so happy for you! May you still have hundreds of delightful walks ahead of you!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes
I would love to see the MIR METHOD VIDEO for CHILDREN.
I have followed instructions, but can’t seem to find the right page.
Could you please send, or redirect me to it?
Thanks so much!
Ruth
Dear Ruth,
I am sorry, but the MIR-Method video for kids no longer exists. It turned out that all the work with the MIR-Method needs to be done by adults. If the adults shake off their old burdens, children will lighten up!
Good luck!
Greetings! Mireille Mettes
Hello
I use the MIR method from time to time… it’s like I stop when I do not need it anymore (?). I love doing it as it makes me in contact with myself. I have no health problem just some fears!!!
Thank you for sharing it
Best
Catherine Moullé
Dear Catherine,
Thank you for sharing! Yes, many people do that. They stop and pick it up again when they need it. Some people forget about it, because they do NOT want to be in contact with themselves, but with you it is clear that you enjoy renewing the contact. I hope all your fears will leave you and you will feel totally free!
Good luck!
Greetings,
Mireille Mettes