Movement is what causes the hippocampus to grow said Rose
who recently wrote to us wanting to share her experience of walking and feeling better with our WalkingWomen community. She told us she loves our newsletter and has helped us put together this article for others to enjoy.
Her important topic to share is the Hippocampus and Walking. If you have a topic to share please get in touch via contactus@walkingwomen.com
We know how important it is to keep your mind active as well as your body. Many of us know how it is to care for someone with dementia and whatever we can do to help theirs, and our own brains stay healthy, is positive.
Rose recently watched Tell Me More a series with Kelly Corrigan, New York Times best selling author. The show is on PBS, a US channel but clips are available elsewhere if you google. The specific episode about the brain and movement was titled “Movement – The Ultimate Neurochemical Bubble Bath”, featuring Dr Wendy Suzuki – Happy Brain Happy Life
Dr. Suzuki talks about the hippocampus which is the region of the brain primarily associated with memory. The hippocampus is located in the inner region of our temporal lobe and forms part of the limbic system which is important for regulating emotional responses! No wonder our responses are more positive after time outside walking in nature!
Rose said that she wants everyone to have as big, fat, fluffy hippocampus as they possibly can.
The hippocampus is one of two brain areas that grows new brain cells as an adult. Every time we move, we flood the brain with neurochemicals and the hippocampus with growth factors.
The hippocampus is critical for forming and retaining long term memories. It is crucial for own person histories.
Of course Rose noticed how happy she feels after exercise and she knew about the hormones released by exercise. But she was startled and pleased to learn that the only time the hippocampus is growing is when we move. Rose was delighted that her hippocampus can still grow at 74!
Most people don’t seem to know about the correlation between hippocampus growth and movement so we are stressing it here. At WalkingWomen we are advocates of movement and keeping active at whatever age we are. To keep walking throughout the seasons, to keep trying new things to stretch the mind and body and to join others to connect and walk. We know this all helps with our well being and positivity.
Rose is inspiring as she continues to embrace travel and walking into her later life. She lives and breathes the benefits.
I was always very active working in a large and extremely difficult garden but I was a lousy walker until I wanted to go on a walking tour of the Czech Republic when I was in my 50s. Walking tours are the only kind of travel that make sense to me because it enables me to absorb the feel of a place. I can only have the experiences I desire by being in good shape. Travel and walking has changed my health.
I used walking poles for difficult or steep sections of walking but they were unpleasant and I would put them away as soon I didn’t need them. Discovering light weight Leki poles with the Trigger Shark Strap allowed the poles to become part of me. Then I graduated to the Shark Glove to even out the pressure on aging hands.
Rose has also started Nordic walking to keep active . Nordic Walking is excellent for building fitness and especially for balance. We recommend it and we hope to offer some Nordic walking holidays very soon.
Nordic Walking enables me to be a 4 legged animal. I delight in the grace of swimming through the air. When I take off my poles to walk to the coffee shop, I experience an immediate sensation of being “clunky”. I’m earth bound and slower with only two legs, short legs no less. Having 4 legs eases the pressure on my hips and knees. Using my upper body increases the cardiovascular work out by up to 22%. When I see people walking with only their lower body I long to tell them that they are missing out on benefits. When my partner developed a limp from hip pain they agreed to incorporate light weight poles with a Trigger Shark Strap into their walking. Along with exercises and changes in posture, they are now a strong walker again.
Rose explains there is no down side that she can imagine to Nordic walking. Walking is faster, easier, safer, more graceful, better cardiovascular work out, more sweating, which means more growth of the hippocampus. Rose is healthier, happier, gets to explore more places in the world. And gets to share it with others.
This joyful photo of Rose was taken on the grounds of Blair Castle on a walk in Scotland. Rose joined a WalkingWomen trip to Arran with Jo Bird, one of our UK Guides and lover of the Isle of Arran. We still run this popular walk.
“ When I get my poles strapped on to my hands and I take that first step, I have an even stronger sense of well being. I’m getting out, I’m getting exercise, and my hippocampus is bigger, fatter and fluffier!”
We thank Rose for taking the time to write for us and we hope her words will encourage others to keep active and keep walking and we hope join us .
