“Interval walking saved my life!”
Major life changes plunged Jill Steele, 58, into a deep depression, leaving her feeling exhausted and helpless—until she found the walking style that’s as effective as antidepressants
Jill’s dog looked up at her in despair, nudging her and quietly begging to go outside for a walk. But Jill could only lie there, barely able to reach over and give her beloved dog a pat of affection. “It was a gorgeous day, and he clearly needed to go outside. But I just couldn’t seem to get motivated—physically or emotionally—to peel myself off the couch.
“I had been telling myself for months that I just needed some more time to rest and recover, but the truth is, I wasn’t getting any better. In fact, physically, I was experiencing more pain than ever. I knew I needed to do something to get back to being me, but I had no idea where to start and absolutely no energy to get off the couch.
Hitting rock bottom
“I’d been a happy, carefree and incredibly active person—my morning walk with my dog was always my favorite part of the day. But three years ago, on my 56th birthday and just a month before my youngest child was set to leave for college, my mother passed away. Nine months later, my father followed. And it didn’t end there. While I was grieving the loss of both my parents and adjusting to life as an empty nester, a natural disaster took my home, belongings and entire community. Around that same time, I also began to experience the hormonal changes of menopause. I had never felt such a low. I couldn’t seem to climb out of it—especially because I couldn’t lean on my mother, who had always been my best friend.
“In my old life, I had been very active—swimming, walking and riding my bike daily—but depression sucked out every bit of my energy. Since I worked from home, running an online Hawaiian flower business and writing books, I would spend mornings at my desk, getting just enough work done to keep my business afloat. But by midday, I had no reserve left. I couldn’t seem to get myself to leave the house to do anything beyond grocery shopping. I had trouble eating, couldn’t sleep and almost never made it outside to enjoy the Hawaiian island life that used to bring me so much happiness.
“Within a few short months, I had lost several pounds and started losing upper-body strength. I had always been thin and muscular, but suddenly people were commenting that I looked emaciated. Then I tore a weakening ligament in my shoulder. It was incredibly painful, but it was also a bit of a wake-up call.
“Prompted by the pain in my shoulder, I saw several medical professionals, ranging from traditional Western doctors to natural medicine experts. A few of them suggested I try taking medication for depression and anxiety, but that wasn’t something I felt comfortable doing. I wanted to try to tackle the problem naturally, so I committed myself to trying to start moving once again.
Rediscovering joy
“I started with baby steps, using all of the energy and motivation I could muster to go on short walks around my new neighborhood, which consisted of flat areas as well as hilly terrain. I was amazed by how much better I felt just by getting outside and moving my body. The pain in my shoulders lessened, and I began to feel stronger.
“As I began to feel brighter, I became motivated to do even more. I would start my walk at a slow but steady pace, speed up for a brief period of time to increase my heart rate, then return to the slower pace. I also used the surrounding terrain to increase the difficulty of the walk, challenging myself to briskly walk up the steep hills. It felt so good to get my heart pumping and feel my muscles working again. I started increasing the length of my walk, and in time, I was also able to increase my speed and intensity of my intervals.
“It might have been hard to leave the house initially, but soon, morning walks became my favorite part of the day again. The more active I was, the more I healed emotionally and physically. I even started feeling joy again. It felt like a miracle!
“Shortly after, I published my first novel, Blood on the Orchids, and I was able to show up to book signings with a smile on my face and warmth and gratitude in my heart, knowing that both of my parents were there with me in spirit. These days, my dog and I go for several walks a day, and I feel more in touch with myself than ever. Interval walking invigorated my mind and body—and my spirit followed!”
—As told to Leah Groth
“Thanks to my walks, I started to heal and even started feeling joy again. It felt like a miracle!”