Behind the Wiggle

Walking the sands of San Sebastian, Spain

Kim Cottrell, former Foot Traffic walking coach and current Feldenkrais practitioner (a.k.a. “get-outta-your-compulsive-habits” teacher) and author, has been working on a book aimed at spelling out the behind-the-scenes, non-habitual aspects of the walking world for women who are past a “certain” point in life. Just recently, it became clear this would be great to blog and have more of an ongoing commentary.

Kim has spent her entire life immersed in walking for one reason or another. First, in her small Southern Oregon hometown there was nothing else to do but walk . . . to the creek, to the hills, sometimes with her dog, sometimes in the middle of the night with a pack of 8th grade buddies, sometimes on a 20-mile march for the March of Dimes, sometimes from her hometown to the state capitol raising money for a cause.

Second, she walked to mellow her grief of her mother’s illness and subsequent death from melanoma. Kim was 24, her mother 47 when finally there was no more breath. But, once she began walking, she couldn’t stop.

Above all, do not lose your desire to walk.  Every day I walk

myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness.

I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome

that one cannot walk away from it.  ~Soren Kierkegaard

Kim kept walking . . . one marathon, a Portland-to-Coast, another marathon, another Portland-to-Coast, interspersed with numerous other  events, such as walking the hills in Scotland and England . . . until she met the folks at Foot Traffic and discovered that their philosophy resonated with hers. That’s when she decided that perhaps she might have something to offer to the walking team.

And what a fabulous time it was . . . Kim offered up her lifetime of walking experience and her understanding of human movement and behavior to the walkers training for the Foot Traffic Flat Half-Marathon via email, in person, and by phone. She now brings that same insight to the blogosphere in hopes that readers will find comfort and knowledge to make walking a part of everyday life.

Kim currently walks and participates in Foot Traffic as a walker, pace mentor and resource. She’s been distilling her lifetime of understandings and wants to share her insights with other women. Insights like: the way we get out of bed in the morning and lace up those shoes determines how comfortable we are out there on the trail. Sound plausible? Definitely . . . so slow down, start reading and wake up to the endless lessons that lie within your own experience. Get A Wiggle On!

And now, to the walk . . .