Gail Muller, long distance walker
“Walking helps heal body and mind”
For Gail Muller, chronic pain was a fact of life. In her teens she was told she’d be wheelchair-bound by 40 but, through hope and determination, she defied the odds. Now in her 40s, she’s an author and adventurer, pushing her own limits in the outdoors and inspiring others to do the same. Gail recently ventured to Scotland with close friend Kris Hallenga, founder of the Coppafeel! charity, to walk the West Highland Way. Here, she tells us about her first post-lockdown adventure.
“Sweeping epic mountain views, expanses of silvery water and stunning wildlife. Hiking Scotland’s West Highland Way can deliver all this and more, right here in the UK. Approximately 85,000 people hike sections of the Way each year, and 30,000 walk the entire route. Though I was excited to go, I was worried the bustle of people would stop us communing quietly with nature. But we were pleasantly surprised to find the paths only lightly dusted with walkers.
“No matter how many times I go on long hikes I still learn more about myself. This was the first time since the latest lockdown that I’ve been on a multi-day adventure, and I felt strange to begin with. Firstly, my body wasn’t as fit and flexible as it had been. I’d been perched in front of a computer at home writing a book and holding meetings, rather than whizzing about like usual. What this route helped me remember is that my body loves to move, and even though it’s a little heavier than before and took a moment to get used to what I was asking from it, it rallied and realised it was doing what it loved.
“More surprising was how challenging it was for my brain to cope with being out of the lockdown routine. Things like working to time, chatting with strangers and being flexible with what might come up next were hard to get comfortable with at first, after living in such a ‘penned in’ way. I learned to forgive myself for finding it hard moving back into physical and mental freedom, and that self-kindness allowed me to relax much more quickly. I imagine others might struggle with this return to exploration too, so I want reassure you that you’re not alone. And it passes! It just takes your mind a moment to catch up with easing back to renewed fun and freedom amongst more people.
“The great outdoors has something to offer us all. It helps us heal body and mind and has the ability to winkle out fears and anxieties, holding space for us to work through them. We just need to head outside and embrace it.”
Follow Gail on Instagram @thegailmuller
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