The Lost Art of Walking (and Why I Never Gave It Up)

By Gary Collier

I’ve been walking all of my life.

So what, you might say. That’s what legs are for!

But walking has never just been a mode of transport for me—it’s been a way of life, even when I didn’t realise it.

When I was under 10, my mum didn’t have a car. We walked everywhere. I walked to school and back every day when we lived in East Prahran. Sometimes alone, but mostly with my little sister, Nett. We’d talk, daydream, walk in the rain, walk in the sun. It wasn’t fitness. It wasn’t a goal. It was just life.

Later came the bike, but walking was still always there. I remember one night in my teens when I walked from Frankston Station to Rosebud—set off at midnight, arrived at dawn. No idea why. I just did it.

Running to Music, Then Hitting a Wall

By the early 90s, I’d started running. Walkmans had just come out, and the idea of running to music was a game-changer. I ran most days. That lasted a decade or so—until I hit my 50s, started slowing down, got sedentary, and, if I’m honest, lazy.

By the late 2010s, I was overweight and unfit. At the time I didn’t know the term, but I had full-blown Metabolic Syndrome—a cluster of conditions that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat (especially around the waist), and abnormal cholesterol levels. It’s basically a loud warning siren that your body is heading towards type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or worse.

I didn’t need a textbook to tell me I was in trouble. I felt it.

The Comeback Walk

In February 2019, I made the call. It was sink or swim—and walking was my first stroke. I’ve written about that transition elsewhere, but let’s just say this: walking became one of my foundational protocols. Over the past 4 years, I’ve averaged 10,000 steps a day. It’s not always intense, not always fast—but it’s consistent. And it’s been life-changing.

Adding the Weight

Just this week, I started wearing a 10kg weight vest on my walks. What a shift! Two things happened straight away:

1. I realised how much easier it is not carrying actual fat around your belly.

2. I discovered how the vest works different muscles—especially the glutes, which are your buttocks. They’re the powerhouse of your lower body, and when they’re firing properly, everything from walking to standing up becomes easier and more efficient.

Why Walking Matters (Especially As You Age)

Here’s the thing: as you move into your 60s and 70s (like me), walking isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Walking keeps your leg muscles strong, which is important not just for balance and independence but also for blood sugar regulation. Active leg muscles soak up glucose, lowering insulin resistance. That means better blood sugar control, fewer insulin spikes, and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

If you’ve just eaten a carb-heavy meal, go for a walk. Seriously. It’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to blunt the blood sugar spike that follows. Even a 10-15 minute walk after eating can make a massive difference.

The Longevity Link: VO₂ Max and Circulation

Walking also boosts your VO₂ Max—that’s the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise. It’s not just for athletes. VO₂ Max is actually a strong predictor of longevity. The higher it is, the more resilient your cardiovascular system tends to be.

And let’s not forget circulation. Walking gets your blood moving, delivers oxygen to your cells, helps flush toxins, and keeps your brain sharp. It’s like giving your entire body a daily tune-up.

Walking for the Mind, Too

We spend so much time in our heads these days—screens, stress, scrolling. Walking pulls us out. It gives us back our attention. It puts us in contact with the world—trees, wind, light, people. You can walk and think. Walk and listen. Walk and feel something again.

Walking, especially in nature, is good for your mental health, mood, and overall outlook. No gym membership needed. No learning curve. Just one foot in front of the other.

In Praise of Walking

Whether you’re 17 or 73, walking works. It’s low-impact, free, meditative, fat-burning, joint-lubricating, blood-sugar-balancing, and just plain good for your soul.

It’s been my secret weapon. My medicine. My moving meditation. And I’ll keep doing it as long as these legs let me.