33: There’s A Walk For That with Harriet Thomas & guest Osteopath Phyllis Woodfine

33: There’s A Walk For That with Harriet Thomas & guest Osteopath Phyllis Woodfine

What drives someone to seek a life that feels lighter, freer and less achy? This chat on UK Health Radio’s **There’s A Walk For That** centres on how something as simple as a daily walk can change how your whole body feels. Host Harriet Thomas shares her own story of crippling back pain, sciatica and knee trouble in her late fifties, then the almost shocking relief she felt after a five-day hiking trip.

Her pain eased, her energy soared, and she became determined to walk every single day. If you’ve ever blamed your aches on “just getting older”, you’ll probably recognise yourself in her story. Guest osteopath and coach **Phyllis Woodfine** breaks down what’s going on behind all those twinges. She explains how long hours at a desk load the joints, switch off key muscles and leave the nervous system on high alert, creating that familiar cycle of stiffness and back pain.

As she puts it, “Our bodies are designed to move, not to have these static postures where we stay in one position for long periods of time.” Phyllis talks through why walking is such a low-impact, realistic way to support the spine, joints and muscles. You’ll hear how even a five-minute stroll out and back can start to "wake up" your system, improve circulation, support lymphatic flow, and gently lift mood through those feel-good hormones.

The conversation also touches on ageing, hormones, sitting cross-legged versus in a chair, and the simple power of combining movement with deeper breathing. No one’s asked to become a marathon runner; the message is to start where you are, go gently and keep going. If you’re tired of feeling like your body is against you, this easy-going yet practical episode might make you look at the humble daily walk in a totally new way.

So what small step could you take today?