Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity--One Step at a Time

Discover the new rules of walking to increase your health, longevity, and overall wellbeing--from two go-to experts.

"A surprisingly interesting, thought-provoking, and practical read. Walk is about much more than counting your steps--it's about enriching your life. This book does for walking what Breath did for breathing."
--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Did you know...

• Your risk of falls and overall longevity can be measured by your foot health
• Your walking speed can predict your overall health status and risk of early death
• Increasing your walking cadence has been shown to help reduce knee, hip, and lower back pain
• The number of daily optimal steps is not 10,000 (spoiler alert: it's fewer!)

What James Nestor did for breathing, Christopher McDougall and Mark Cucuzzella did for running, and Kelly and Juliet Starrett have done for mobility, founder of Gait Happens Dr. Courtney Conley and Dr. Milica McDowell do for walking.

Walking is as important to our health and longevity as sleep and proper breathing; it is the 6th vital sign. And yet we've almost engineered it out of our lives. Walk is an expert-driven, science-backed guide that not only underscores the power of movement to just about every aspect of our life, it restores walking to its rightful spot as one of the key pillars of health.

With the most up-to-date research, self-assessments, tips on choosing the best shoes for foot health, as well as easy movement snacks to help with low back pain and foot pain, and customizable programs to develop or enhance your own fitness, Walk is *the* definitive guide to optimizing wellness.

Author: Courtney Conley,Milica McDowell
Publisher: Balance
Published: 05/05/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.18lbs
Size: 9.22h x 6.27w x 1.15d
ISBN: 9780306837531


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 04/01/2026
Publishers Weekly 03/16/2026
Library Journal 04/01/2026 pg. 84

About the Author
Dr. Courtney Conley holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine as well as two bachelor's degrees in Kinesiology and Human Biology. The founder and creator of Gait Happens, she has worked with professional athletic teams including the Phoenix Suns, New York Yankees, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings. Dr. Conley is Head of Patient Care at Total Health Solutions and Total Health Performance, premier healthcare destinations renowned for their comprehensive and science-based approach to patient care. An internationally recognized authority on foot mechanics and gait dynamics, her scholarly contributions encompass authorship, mentorship, educational program development, and the formulation of pioneering foot and gait methodologies while her private client list includes numerous professional athletes, A-list celebrities, global experts in medical care, and politicians.

Dr. Milica McDowell holds two Bachelor of Science degrees (Exercise Physiology and Health Promotion, (Montana State University), a master's degree (Physical Therapy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center), and a Doctorate degree (Physical Therapy, Idaho State University). She served as a university faculty member in Human Performance for nearly a decade, has developed numerous medical education curricula and has been an invited speaker on many national stages, including the American Physical Therapy Association and American College of Sports Medicine's conventions. She has been an invited presenter for numerous professional organizations, and she has delivered over 300 educational lectures at state, regional, and national levels. Dr. McDowell founded Clearwater Physical Therapy, Bluebird Medical Supply Company, and co-founded Epic Fitness, 4C Sports Injury Analytics, and CrossFit Send It. In 2023, Dr. McDowell was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare by the Women We Admire organization. She has edited textbooks, written several university science courses, and developed professional continuing education courses which are sold in a global marketplace. One of her present interests is the responsible use of AI technologies to produce multi-media learning experiences in professional education.