Body & Mind

Hot girl walks instead of expensive therapists

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Yesterday, it all got to my head for a moment. And when that happens, I go out for a bit. A habit that was ingrained during the pandemic. I prefer to get in the car and head to the nearest forest, but wandering through the city is no punishment either. I had picked a route of a few kilometers beforehand, but once there, I just started to marvel. I wanted to know what was hiding behind every hill. Not to spoil the fun, but; most of the time it was more of the same. After a few hours, I had seen enough and got back in the car, almost enlightened, with a cold nose. But especially without my worries. How is it that you find your zen during a walk? Is the hot girl walk the solution to everything?

Walking as EMDR-light

What happens in your brain while you stare dreamily ahead is impressive, to put it mildly. Your body is busy processing. Literally. Through the rhythmic movement of your arms and legs and scanning your ever-changing environment with your eyes, both hemispheres of the brain are activated simultaneously. Sounds vague, but this principle is also used in therapies like EMDR. There, eye movements help to lessen intense traumas. So, walking is actually a kind of EMDR-light. The result of wandering around for a bit? A calmer mind, emotions settle down, and things that once felt very big become… manageable out of nowhere. That’s why a walk after bad news or an argument with your friend feels like a hardcore reset.

Not thinking is thinking

During my walk, I suddenly found the solution to a problem I had been worrying about for days. And that this came to me while walking is no coincidence. While walking, your brain goes into a sort of daydream mode. That’s the moment when your thoughts are free to wander, without you forcing a solution. It’s precisely because of this that new connections, insights, and ideas arise that you would never have come up with at your desk. Regular walking even helps to improve your concentration and memory. This somewhat redeems the Zuidas Walking Five-Day Event.

Happiness hormones without taking anything

As if that’s not enough, walking also treats you to a hefty dose of feel-good chemicals: endorphins and serotonin. And if you walk through greenery on top of that? Jackpot. Walking through forests gives a small sense of wonder. A moment when you think: ‘oh yes, the world isn’t so hellish after all’. And that appreciation for the still beautiful earth ensures that your body produces oxytocin. The love hormone. And according to researchers, it can linger for up to a week after your visit to the forest.

Why conversations flow more easily while walking

It’s already (don’t be shocked) six years ago that my friends and I made it a habit to catch up while walking. By now, I know: if one of them calls for a stroll, hearts are going to be aired. There’s more to it than you think. By moving, your body automatically lowers your stress levels. This makes it easier to open up, without everything feeling so heavy right away.

It also helps that you walk side by side instead of constantly looking at each other. Eye contact means confrontation in primal language. It’s no wonder that more and more therapists choose to talk while walking, instead of sitting across from each other in those leather chairs. But with a friend, it’s a lot more fun and without a bill afterward.

So, is the hot girl walk the solution to everything? No. That pitch won’t hold itself, and unfortunately, your ex won’t disappear from your memory either. But it does come damn close. To find yourself, you don’t need to travel three months to Asia with a backpack. I found my zen just step by step among the Dutch oaks.

SOURCE: Femina & Evie Magazine