THE WALK-RWD SYSTEM ENCOURAGES CREATIVE THINKING. PART I

It has been demonstrated, over the years, that there is a relationship between walking – in addition to other physical exercises – and the functional processes of the brain, stimulating their development and abilities , in addition to preventing ailments and illnesses.

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I could not say that any type of exercise would have similar effects, because I have not experienced them and surely that intense or extreme sports, either, to put an excessive case, would not be examples to consider.

I will begin by briefly explaining some questions about the functional components of the human being. I consider that there are four its main functional divisions:

This post is oriented within the MENTAL component and will be aimed at the concept of creativity, leaving aside that of cognition (reasoning, thinking, decision-making, IQ) since this function – also of the component mental- I have analyzed it in the future post THE WALK-RWD SYSTEM AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE that deals with cognitive function in particular.

Within the mental component, the brain is the main organ of the Central Nervous System, coordinating and regulating most of the functions of the mind and body. These functions that it has under its control are of 4 types: a) Superior Functions, such as reasoning, thinking, memorizing, attention, speaking, creativity, imagination, perception, decision making, intellectual intelligence, emotional intelligence, behavior emotional; b) Vital functions, such as heart rate or rhythm, breathing, digestion; c) Essential Functions, such as sleeping, sexual arousal, sweating (Future Post WALKING AND SWEATING), hunger; and d) Secondary Functions, such as yawning, sneezing, etc.

The Superior Functions are developed in the brain itself, in its cerebral lobes that are an important part of the cerebral cortex; Of all of them, cognitive functions are the most important that are developed in the human brain. (Future post THE WALK-RWD SYSTEM AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE).

In general, cognitive functions allow us to react appropriately to stimuli and external agents, and all of them are interconnected. Thus, the brain performs, in an interrelated way, the various cognitive functions: reasoning (thinking, understanding, reflecting, meditating); memorizing (learning, repeating, remembering, forgetting); attention (curiosity, observation, analysis, interest, distraction, perception); speaking (talking, dialoguing, expressing, communicating, explaining, articulating, listening, responding, keeping quiet); and conduct (regulation and control of behavior, attitudes).

Although we will focus on what creativity implies, the rest of the functions that do not fall within the cognitive, have the same treatment that we will expose in this post, such as imagination, inventiveness, intuition and inspiration.

The coordinated movement that is generated in the walk causes the brain to produce various substances (ENDOCRINE SYSTEM) such as Endorphins, Catecholamines, Adrenaline, Enzymes, Pheromones, Glycogen, Immunoglobin, Interferons, Lymphocytes, Myoglobin, Neurotrophins, etc., (Future post THE WALK-RWD SYSTEM AND THE SELF-PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC SUBSTANCES), which in turn stimulate the development and full functioning of neurons, increasing considerably the number of connections between them and the functional areas of the brain itself.

In some of the previous posts I have mentioned what Nietzsche used to say about the walk, expressing: “Only good ideas arise when we are walking.” It would be abusive to create a theory based on an exergue or an aphorism of a person, even if it comes from a great thinker like Nietzsche himself; nevertheless, he surely experienced, on several recurring occasions and to a certain intensity, this truth that he declared with such care and so much certainty; in other words: For some reason he said it and we should guard with suspicion (much attention) that thought.

In this post we will refer -as we express- with greater emphasis to the functional section of creative thinking, to the function of imagining and creating ideas, which has been given the name of creativity, in a generic way. Creativity is a superior function, which is made up of mental operations such as: devising, imagining, idealizing, fantasizing, rambling, inventing, creating and speculating. However, all the development that I will expose on the concept of “being creative” can be used in the same way to positively impact the other brain functions.

Walking causes the brain to enter a need to “COMPENSATE” (STABILIZE- BALANCE- LEVEL- a physical imbalance) a state in motion, which in turn causes “unevenness” (instability) in its chemical elements (properties, attributes, particularities) and their neurotransmitters (Future Post BEING IN MOTION TO MOVE NEURONS). Before the cause of the movement an effect of necessity. Before the walk begins, the brain is in a state of “balance” in the body, a function that it develops along with other systems such as the vestibular, associated with the mechanical part of the inner and outer ear. All these systems together with the brain control both the static and the dynamic balance of the being. The static keep it in balance while the body is not moving; and the dynamic is controlled by the individual being in motion, walking or moving through any other type of mobility, whether moving or not.

During a walk, the brain permanently seeks to “COMPENSATE” (STABILIZE- BALANCE- LEVEL- a physical imbalance) that state in movement, in all possible ways, during the total time that this journey lasts.

Throughout this period of walking, the brain seeks to “stabilize itself”, giving instructions both to its own organic unit (cerebral convolutions and neurotransmitters), and to other systems, glands (Future Post ANOTHER ENIGMA: WALKING, GENDER AND PINEAL GLAND ) and organs, to achieve this “balance”, such as sight, touch (feet and hands), muscle, etc. Some vicariant parts of the brain will try to supply the insufficiency of some others that are affected by the loss of that “balanced and harmonic state”. Likewise, some organs, glands or systems, as a whole articulated, will try to support the needs that the brain is experiencing, including the vestibular system.

As we have already mentioned, this process directly influences the generation of substances throughout the body, as well as the development of functions of all kinds.

There are several fields -of activities- where you can see the implication or effect that is exerted by causing the gestation of substances and neural processes, and where we can obtain positive and effective results in human behavior. In the field of creativity (ideas, memory, inspiration, imagination, etc.) it is one of them and in the field of emotions it is another. We have already mentioned in post PRESERVING AND AFFIRMING HEALTH, CREATIVITY AND TRANQUILITY, several of those positive aspects that are generated through the application of the WALK-RWD system.

The vestibular is one of the first systems, and one of the most important, that is exercised (impacted, influenced, affected, disturbed, moved) with the movement of the walk; on the other hand, unfortunately we do not know which parts of the brain are “decompensated”, moving, when going through that state during the walk, nor what are the vicariant parts (cerebral convolutions or neurotransmitters) that enter into (functioning, movement, articulation) exercise (new and different functions, not the traditional ones known) to reactivate and level (compensate, restore and recover) the parts that intervene in the search and achievement of a stabilization (uncontrolled, disturbed) in order to supply them.

In other words, the brain also enters a process of counter-change (decompensation, imbalance) by the vestibular system itself, as it is forced to respond when the human body enters into motion (dynamic equilibrium). This organic process, which is generated in the vestibular system in a state of dynamic equilibrium, is a clear analogy regarding the way the brain must function in certain neural areas when we start to walk. Below I briefly describe how the vestibular system is composed and how it works.

Tiny constituent parts of the ear control the vestibular system, which in turn regulates static balance (the human body at rest) and dynamic balance (the human body in motion). Static balance maintains the orientation of the body and the head with respect to the ground and controls it stable with respect to its body weight. Dynamic balance controls the position of the body and the head, balancing the entire organism, responding to movement or movements made by the body (locomotion, gait, translation, increase or decrease in speed, speed, slowness and rotation) ; and when walking or making any movement, the balance of this system is broken, which immediately seeks to restore it by sending instructions to its different sections.

The following expression describes the sequence of the process:

                 “Walking-Imbalance” ▲ “Search for Compensation” ▲ “Brain”

                                   ▲ Thought ▲ Mind ▲ Ideas ▲ Emotions ▲

Let us keep in mind that ideas and emotions are vectors with their own energy and that they are in motion and that, therefore, they stimulate all areas of the body and fundamentally the brain.

When we walk, we provoke movements in the head and therefore we generate an ALERT SIGNALS (DECOMPENSATION-DESTABILIZATION- UNBALANCE- SLOWING) both in the area of the brain itself and in the other systems (sight, hearing, body, etc.), but fundamentally in the vestibular; which in turn sends sensory messages to the brain, reaching this and other organic parts that seek to reestablish (restore, recover and resume) harmony. Similarly, a high percentage of the messages that are sent from the organ of sight to the brain are to maintain balance, both in the body itself and in relation to the floor.

With the following diagram, I want to show that by moving we get the brain to use new neural circuits and perform new functions. Just by walking we achieve these effects.

This sensory-nervous type information reaches certain organs and systems throughout the body so that they participate according to their functions in order to preserve and restore balance. Let’s also keep in mind that constantly the brain, before the different movements that the body has, passes from a state of harmony and compensation to another state that is different from the one that preceded it.

To end this PART I of the post, I would like to highlight that walking is a natural activity of the human being and that its performance is perfectly balanced for its optimal functioning, since it is carried out in a harmonious and balanced way that gives the body the mind that medullary rhythm that is essential for the proper functioning of all its systems and organs.

There has been so much experience that walking promotes the harmonious functioning of the cerebral hemispheres, that there is no doubt about it. Walking is an exercise that causes effects on the 2 symmetrical parts of the human body, so any exercise that generates it, will have similar effects (Future post THE SYMMETRY OF THE BODY AND WALKING), as long as they are not gymnastics or sports that are too hard, nor exhausting or violent.

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..HOMO-ITER: MAN-WALKER. PART II

In Part I we indicate, in a general way, how the human being has been abandoning the practice of walking throughout the last 10,000 years, having been, from the earliest times, a perfect walker in his characteristic of erectus and nomad.

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We also said that the man of the future will perhaps be the HOMO-ITER (man walker), the one who will be more aware that he must now replace some means of transport, to return to transit on foot, and other activities that he develops while standing must begin to carry them out on foot, and others that are developed sitting, must develop standing  and / or walking (Post OTHER DEVICES TO READ AND WRITE, WHILE WE WALK and Post future OTHER DEVICES FOR WALKING).

In the graph we can see the evolution that the human being has had in his daily walk.

On the horizontal axis, the years are recorded on a historical horizon of 1.5 million years.

On the vertical axis, the averages that man has had the need to walk on land in feet / day are recorded.

The human being transited from nomadic to sedentary only 12,500 years ago, going from 11,500 to 500 feet/day.

From the point [-12,500] years, the different hominids walked an average of 11,500 feet daily, either to hunt and gather, or to move from one region to another to carry out those same activities but in new lands with better hunting possibilities and collection. They were 100% nomadic.

From this point on, they begin a sedentary lifestyle at a general level, as they begin to discover some activities that allow them to stay longer at each stop. Agriculture and livestock are beginning to take place, although not as we know them today; however, this keeps them at certain points and gradually reduces their desire (need) to be nomadic. In each period indicated in the graph, you can see how the average walk, from this point, decreases. We can see that towards the point [-2,500], 10,000 years after the sedentary lifestyle begins, the average daily walk is halved, at 5,750 feet/day. And towards the beginning of the Christian era the daily average becomes only 4,600 feet/day, that is, a reduction to 2/5 parts. The most serious thing is that the slope is constant and in only 14,500 years we have reached an average walk of only 500 feet/day, only in 1% of the time since we began to be sedentary with respect to the analyzed horizon, we have practically reached paralyze us, to be completely stationary. It is clearly seen that in the current era there is practically NO WALKING.

Keep in mind that the human body withers when it does not seek and does not find the way or path to walk, in the same way it happens to the waters that have no way out and do not move, they become a swamp.

The relevant cultural and technical aspects that we will have to observe in the near future, which on the one hand, will guide the human being towards the creation of the new HOMO ITER, and on the other, the opposing elements to achieve it, are the following:

1. How to start and prepare for the emancipation of transport that prevents us from walking.

2. How to support the new being in his walks, to eliminate sedentary lifestyle and other social and cultural conditions.

3. Because walking is a natural function (impulse, reflex, propensity, inclination) of the human being, and reading and writing are not, to provoke in the individual a passion in the 3 structured activities within the WALK -RWD system. Drawing has been a special and graphic way of writing (post OTHER DEVICES TO READ AND WRITE, WHILE WE WALK).

4. Since the time that the human being has been reading and writing is very short (approximately 5,000 years ago), support him with aspects that excite him in these activities. The human being has always carried out the activity of drawing.

5. Create simulators that respond to effective practice and specific objectives with the integral WALK-RWD system.

6. The HOME-OFFICE and similar and more revolutionary systems that would change a part of the work culture that has greatly favored the transport of individuals by themselves, to their workplace, although they have not been sufficiently effective and transcendent (practical and positive).

7. Memory and knowledge chips, which would completely transform the teaching-learning culture.

8. The tele-transportation of matter and information (physical and conceptual) that would put the human being on foot in serious trouble. An imminent reality that already began to have problems for several decades when they began to eliminate the texts printed on paper and other material means.

9. Hundreds of technological innovations that will displace human beings from the imperative convenience of walking.

The homo iter can be “built” just by implementing this WALK-RWD system.

Let’s see how we can do it.

The determining element that differentiates HOMO ITER from primitive man is the final “combined and integral” causality that is achieved, through the inter-acting and inter-combination process of the 3 structured activities within the WALK-RWD system, which will allow functional crucible and will show us the effectiveness of the combinatorial functioning of the 4 creative actions (walking, reading, writing and drawing). A functional acrisolar that will be affirming and showing the future HOMO ITER, the true and solid man of the future.

To do this, let’s briefly analyze the structured activities of the WALK-RWD system. When we read (store) and write (we extract and download), while we are walking, -when doing any of these 2 activities or the 2 simultaneously-, whether in notes or in texts, our mind receives information – during that process- through of the senses and that data does not receive them passively, but processes them, analyzing them, and makes them (composing and nuancing them) and, finally, recomposes them (organizes, integrates and hierarchies) , in such a way that these external stimuli transform them into images, that each of us forms them in a very particular and unrepeatable way (potential activity of drawing).

Now, let’s analyze a very relevant aspect: Will there be differences in behavior, attitude and direction (trajectory and course), for men and women, in this context? Have they been developing differently? In the future, will they tend to move and bifurcate in terms of their cultural and physiological predestination? Or will they choose common paths by joining a coupling to converge on the human being of the future? The man and the woman are the same! within their differences, and in this topic the specialties and their gender roles prevail according to the evolution of the different eras of humanity, and according to the regions of the planet; but … in the future … what will happen?

I think that, as has always happened, both parts of the human race will converge biunivocally towards this being that must be more balanced and less aggressive (destructive), that unifies and stands in solidarity with humanity.

Regarding the WALK-RWD system, we have already mentioned that we do not intend to teach reading in an INTENSE, INCESANT, or critical sense; neither to write synthesis, summaries or argued essays about the texts we read or become a famous writer. Through the activity of reading we intend only to arouse interest in it, in addition, understand and enjoy what is said in the text. We do not necessarily intend to be able to analyze the text, or interpret, examine, evaluate or obtain a conclusion, although anyone will be able to do it if they decide to do it. The task of achieving an interest in reading – and also in writing – is facilitated – in part – by the enormous variety that exists in the types of text: an essay, a book, a document, a poem, an aphorism, a newspaper, story, design, advertisement, graph, advertisement, mathematical or algebraic expression. This wide variety of categories that exists, allows us in a more effective and ductile way to get to have contact with these creative forms, in addition that, as we have already said, the read-write binomial, as we walk, causes both to be more pleasant, reading on its side, more dynamic, enriching and deep, and writing more practical, positive and true; undoubtedly achieving a “dynamic reader” and an “authentic writer”, as we already pointed out in post OTHER DEVICES TO READ AND WRITE, WHILE WE WALK.

Similar aspects can be said about drawing, either doing it independently of reading and writing activities, or in combination with any of them, while walking simultaneously. Recall what we already expressed in that same post: «Drawing implies the 2 activities of reading and writing, in a graphic way; that is, being a “dynamic reader” leads to being an “authentic writer”, but being an “expressive drawer” implies the two previous personalities, in a graphic way».

In other words, HOMO ITER will not be formed by the collection of fruits, the hunting of animals, not grazing, not pulling roots, as they did with HOMO ERECTUS, but reading, writing and drawing, in a structured way in and during the walk, sow during the walk. (future post HOMO-LECTOREM AND HOMO-ESCRIPTOREM)

As differentiated actions of each of these structured activities within the WALK-RWD system, we can suggest the following, in order to place ourselves in the generatrix, guideline and transcendent lines of HOMO ITER.

FOR THE READER

1. PREDILECTION OF THE TYPE OR GENDER OF READING. Self-analyze what types of text are your favorite and preference to read while walking. Select some and rank them in order of taste, interest, fun and education.

2. ENJOY TO READ AND ENJOY TO WALK. Analyze the level of satisfaction and fun daily by reading the chosen text, in relation to the desire to walk.

3. EVALUATION OF SATISFACTIONS. Evaluate during the walk the satisfaction that is received in both activities, of reading and walking.

4. We can move towards that future objective, consolidating certain evolved levels, since we will obtain the different benefits that we have indicated in post WHY READ AND WHAT FOR? which are synthetically: Various parts of the brain are stimulated, which have been slow or diminished by not using them; it facilitates and increases logical, psychological and imaginative constructions; reflection and understanding are increased; all mental capacities are increased, such as creativity, meditation, imagination, intelligence, inventiveness, memory, conceptual thinking, intuition; revives consciousness and invigorates the unconscious; it drives the fantasy imagination and the constructive imagination; increases attention and psychomotor response; Increase mental concentration and meditation.

5. Evaluate the degree obtained as a “dynamic reader”.

6. Evaluate how our organism has been favored in the broadest sense of the term (body, mind and spirit)

7. Point out and clearly define the obvious elements, according to point 4 above, that have favored our body.

8. Which have been, of those elements, the most effective and stimulating.

FOR THE WRITER

1. THE PURPOSE OF WRITING. Analyze the purpose of writing the chosen literary genre. Define the purpose(s)

2. SELECTION OF THE TOPIC OR IDEA TO WRITE. Analyze the reason for writing about a certain topic or idea.

3. RELATION TO PREVIOUS READINGS OR EXPERIENCES. Analyze and define if it has any relationship with any text that has been read long ago or recently, or with some drawings or graphic images.

4. ENJOY TO WRITE AND ENJOY TO WALK. Analyze daily the level of satisfaction and fun to write in relation to the desire to walk.

5. EVALUATION OF SATISFACTIONS. Evaluate during the walk the satisfaction received in both activities, writing and walking.

• Tone, language, style, used. Does the used combine with the purpose and the motive of the written?

• Difficulties in writing during the walk

• Difficulties for reading and understanding. Is it clearly understood?

6. We can move towards that future objective, consolidating certain evolved levels, since we will obtain the different benefits that we have indicated in post WHY AND WHAT TO WRITE FOR? which are synthetically: Various parts of the brain are stimulated, which have been slow or diminished by not using them; reflection is potentiated; consciousness is renewed and invigorates the unconscious; we essentially increase introspection; increases logical, psychological and imaginative constructions; all mental capacities are increased, such as creativity, imagination, inventiveness, memory, conceptual thinking, intuition; we promote states of consciousness at the time of writing; psychomotor attention is increased; the symbolic means of the unconscious and the symbolic images of the unconscious are promoted; in relation to the imagination, it develops the ability to revive mental images and increases the possibilities of combining images. It stimulates the imagination and the constructive fictitious.

7. Likewise, we can move towards that future objective, considering the purposes that we describe in a general way in post HABITUAL PURPOSES AND MOTIVES IN WRITING, which in a synthetic way they are: explain and describe; persuade; report; research; share; entertain and amuse; Get to know ourselves better. And with the indication of certain reasons, according to George Orwell, namely: acute selfishness; aesthetic enthusiasm; historical momentum; political purpose Noting that it was in us, to validate each of these purposes and motives, and that the really important thing is that we want to walk simultaneously with the activity of writing, when we feel the urge to do so.

8. Evaluate the degree obtained as “authentic writer”.

9. Evaluate how our organism has been favored in the broadest sense of the term (body, mind and spirit)

10. Clearly indicate and define the obvious elements, according to points 6 and 7 above, that have favored our body.

11. Which have been, of those elements, the most effective and stimulating.

FOR THE DRAWER

1. THE TYPES OF IMAGES. Analyze if they are pure images that come to mind or are words or a combination of the two, of words with graphic images. Do you perceive them graphically or linguistically?

2. RELATION OF THE IMAGES. Analyze if these graphic images are related to something that has been read or written long ago or recently.

3. ANALYSIS OF THE IMAGES. Analyze the relationship of graphic images with some personal emotional state.

4. ENJOY TO DRAW AND ENJOY TO WALK. Analyze daily the level of satisfaction and fun to draw in relation to the desire to walk.

5. EVALUATION OF SATISFACTIONS. Evaluate during the walk the satisfaction received in both activities, drawing and walking.

• Shapes, styles, extraordinary needs or difficulties in making the drawings.

• Problems that arise in drawing during the walk

• Difficulties in understanding and interpreting.

6. We will be able to advance towards that future objective, consolidating certain evolved levels, since we will be obtaining the different benefits that we have indicated in post WHY AND WHAT TO DRAW FOR? THE GREAT BENEFITS WHILE WALK, which synthetically are: Increases abstraction and mental relaxation; we get to know and understand ourselves better; it allows us to abstract ourselves in our unconscious interiority through fantasy and realistic imagination; invigorates the unconscious; We essentially increase introspection, voluntary and conscious awareness of ourselves; increase imaginary constructions; various sensory capacities are increased, such as creativity, imagination, inventiveness, etc .; consciousness processes are induced as retrospective acts; symbolic means of the unconscious are promoted, as well as symbolic images of it; in relation to the imagination, the ability to revive mental images and increase the possibilities of combining images is developed. Thus it stimulates the imaginative imagination and the constructive imagination; various parts of the brain are stimulated, which have been slow or diminished by not using them; some mental mechanisms, conscious and unconscious, are revitalized, leading to an improvement in health and various physical systems of the body and mind; psychomotor attention is increased.

7. Likewise, we can move towards that future objective, considering the purposes that we generally describe in the same post mentioned: Communicate and inform; announce and let know; illustrate and disseminate; teach and instruct; convince and persuade; express and reveal; guide and guide; explore and rehearse with symbologies; entertain and amuse, combining the previous purposes.

8. Evaluate the degree obtained as “expressive drawer”.

9. Evaluate how our organism has been favored in the broadest sense of the term (body, mind and spirit)

10. Clearly indicate and define the evident elements, according to points 6 and 7 above, that have favored our body.

11. Which of these elements have been the most effective and stimulating.

After having carried out any of these 3 activities while walking, you must evaluate the elapsed time and the distance traveled, and the physical, mental and abstraction-interest state that was experienced during the walk (while we were walking): And likewise, Let’s look for simple answers to: Do we feel tired, bored, abstracted, rested, distracted, enjoying, upset, happy, etc.?

Let’s start transforming ourselves into the new HOMO-ITER, man of the future.

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HOMO-ITER: MAN-WALKER. PART I

With this post we are saying goodbye to the second year of the Blog and welcome to the third year.

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The man of the future may be HOMO-ITER, the walking man, the man who makes his way in the search for his sense of life, but will do it walking.

Let’s try to conceptualize and understand what HOMO-ITER is.

HOMO-ITER is the human being who travels, during most of his life, using his own bodily means, mainly his lower limbs or his legs and feet; however, he use, for his translation and movement, and to maintain balance and harmony, other parts of the body and the external senses.

It is worth noting that the homo iter uses the wheel as little as possible to move, or any type of carriage pulled by animals; his use of them is limited or very little.

This approach is very likely to allow us to see – in the near future – the voluntary and functional creation of individuals with 2 or more functions in the same: the walker-reader, the walker-writer or the walker-draftsman, and even more , the walker-reader-writer.

HOMO-ITER receives the same effects in his body but has different functional causes than primitive man. It is not a thoughtless return to the origins, but is done voluntarily and also instinctively in terms of various activities that HOMO-ERECTUS used to do in those early times. So it is a perfected, healthy and comprehensive return.

It is not completely returning to the past, for modern man does not walk to hunt, not to gather fruits, not to shepherd, not to cut roots; He walks to exercise all his muscles (almost 100% of them) and his bone structure. The results (physical and mental effects) you get from walking are exactly the same since archaic times: exercise, blood circulation, oxygenation of the whole body and brain, positive functional impact on all bodily and physiological organs and systems.

What are the peculiarities (physical and functional characteristics) of HOMO-ERECTUS and HOMO SAPIENS in relation to HOMO-ITER?

For this confrontation of clarification, we must take into account the proto-historical moment of when the “human being” began to walk, the homo erectus, on its 2 lower extremities (times that man has walked on earth); and perhaps that moment coincides with the erect, but that has not been verified, because it was possible to erect -if it is not that the human being, the “modern man” was always erect- and continue walking on “four legs” for many millennia. He could have stood and continue to move with his 4 limbs.

Let’s take a look at some hominids, “brothers”, or “cousins” of homo.

Man and anthropoids, those beings that have a human form, originally had a common family trunk.

Too many questions arise on the subject: How long ago did hominids start walking? Hominid is the current human being? What or what are the pre-hominid forms? What are hominids, apes, homo sapiens, homo erectus, etc.? and many more questions.

There were several hominids living with Homo Sapiens, over a large period of several million years, but only 2 could survive: this and the Neanderthal. Neanderthal man does not have all the characteristics of modern man and Cro-magnon man could have been a cross between the Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens –these 2 were contemporaries-, a possible hybridization, but it cannot be conclusively asserted.

The Pitecantropus Erectus is the oldest hominid that has been discovered, which has certain anthropoid features, and that its posture was erect, but it is distant from some characteristics of the human. We could speculate that with the appearance of this anthropoid the activity of walking in hominids begins, many millions of years ago, in the Pleistocene, qualified as an early morphological type of man. There is no doubt that this upright position was achieved long before his brain developed further.

We must comment that knowing clearly where and when the appearance of homo sapiens begins, -of modern man: man with the physique equal to the current one-, is very difficult and his study has been very rough; However, we can consider that homo sapiens originates and begins when that being reaches an upright position and begins to walk on its 2 lower extremities.

There is no doubt that the human being as such belongs to a branch of primates that differentiated itself several million years ago – in the Miocene geological period of the Tertiary era, 26 million years ago – from monkeys and anthropoids. Its main features are the size of the prefrontal brain area and its upright position that made it walk on its lower extremities (upright position and that it moves walking on its 2 feet erectly), in addition to its upper limbs, its finger Thumb is opposite to the rest of your fingers.

There is a theory that the Australopithecus of South Africa is the one that preceded the modern man – who has the same physique as the current one – since he reached an upright position, he walked on his two feet, although his size did not exceed 5 feet (1.50 meters) of height. Darwin expressed about our parent ancestral ancestors: “they probably met in Africa.” However, there are also opinions that “this could not be the direct predecessor of man.” Thus, homo sapiens may have been a type of hominid that developed most safely in Africa.

All those “generatrix” lines that have been mentioned over decades of scientific research to unveil the origin and formation of the “current man” have not been blunt from the strictly evolutionary point of view, in order to conclude that any of these hominid specimens is one of the first types that directly preceded homo sapiens. As we mentioned, detecting these first men has been very rough and complicated.

It is necessary to differentiate between direct parent and primitive antecedent; the latter has 2 of the 3 important characteristics of the then homo sapiens, although he has not developed the brain, but it should be understood that this marks the dating of the upright position, which made him walk on his lower extremities, of some contemporary hominid types, including homo sapiens.

All of them, absolutely, all of them at some time walked on their lower extremities, just like the human being, as we know him in the present. But, remember, only 2 could survive.

The time that the erect hominid has walked on the face of the earth compared to the time that modern man has been using animals to transport us and carts pulled by quadrupeds, is very, very large. In order to appreciate the magnitude of this period, we could make the simile that this duration that we have walked corresponds to 20 centimeters and the period in which we have relied on other forms of loading and transportation corresponds to 1 millimeter. If we compare the number of days of a life of 80 years, the analogy would be telling us that the time we would spend walking would be 29,054 days, while we would not walk 146 days. To clearly assimilate this disproportion, let’s reverse the periods and observe that not walking during the 29,054 days would lead to a serious health problem, crippling our body.

All our existence as a species we have spent walking, let’s not stop doing it. Our organisms are completely accustomed to walking, modifying this custom will lead us to alter the health and behavior and the proper functioning of our bodies.

What prompted us to walk? How was that process generated? We must question whether all these beings were holobionts that had a direct relationship – or not – with their decision to walk on their 2 lower extremities. That is, did your vital need to stand up, if any, and walk developed in the same vital environment? Or, on the contrary, was it sought by some stimulus external to its vital circle (brutal climatic changes), and put it to walk on its two lower extremities? (Future Post CHRONICLE OF A DISAPPEARANCE ANNOUNCED IN THE PLEISTOCENE).

Possibility that opens up the speculation that some of the specimens that have been found might be in the need to stand up to be able to move quickly and dynamically to respond more effectively and successfully to the demands of their external environment, and this placed it in their 2 feet and a definite advantage over other hominids. Perhaps this generated other advances in its development of other organs and especially in the growth and improvement of the brain. Specimen that became the current modern homo sapiens.

It may not be an exaggeration to say that walking upright on 2 legs gave these beings greater capacity and brain faculty because they freed their 2 upper extremities with extraordinary skill and ability to do, and this generated their thinking and reasoning, increasing their faculties, intellectual and creative, which in turn caused a greater number of images and ideas, generating and perfecting speech and this an improvement in thinking to conform to being HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENS.

The scientific demonstration of this evolutionary process corresponds to the coming generations, especially in the first 2 blocks, because in the following blocks no one doubts that they were raised. Presenting our evolutionary thesis is enough to take certain actions that will not have any negative impact on the benefits that the WALK-RWD system generates in our organism, both physical and mental and spiritual.

However, I do have to be more emphatic about those first 2 blocks of development: If that primitive being was driven – millions of years ago – in its development and capacities, physical and mental – to move only on its 2 lower extremities, walking erect, and releasing its other 2 upper extremities, it is very likely that our systemic theory of read-write-draw while WALKING can again have an impact on the human being of the future that projects it in a better way towards the less uncertain and healthier future in all orders.

Only by putting the WALK-RWD system into practice it can give us an answer to our thesis.

Now, what happens at the moment? What actions should we take? Undoubtedly, incorporating the walk as an essential part of life, in our surrounding and surrounding daily life, we will observe certain changes (variations, transformations, innovations, metamorphosis, evolutions, renovations) in some aspects of it, physically, mentally , emotionally, economically, socially, in the family, in the workplace, in short, in some way that will make us behave differently and observe our existence with another vital perspective.

How could we demonstrate, from the cultural, health and ecological points of view, that the return to walk is an evolution, AN EVOLUTIONARY RETURN. (or A RETURN TO EVOLVE). Of course it is difficult to show that transporting ourselves on foot is a cultural expression of improvement, of progress, because walking is more tired, it is more time consuming, it is more difficult, it is uncomfortable, we cannot carry many or varied things, or large volumes, and so on. However, it is undoubted (irrefutable) – it has already been shown – that some of the diseases that are affecting us at the present time are due to the fact that we have replaced moving on foot by “the wheel” and “the wings” . The car – in all its forms and categories – as a means of transport has avoided walking the human being. The Mayans were an example of “not using the wheel” (Post THE ANCIENT MAYAS AND THEIR WHITE ROADS, and future Post THE WALKING IN THE ANCIENT MAYAN PART II).

MAJOR PREMISE: Primitive man had to move upright, walking erect, and he generated a great evolution and mental capacity.

MINOR PREMISE: Modern man has stopped walking with negative repercussions on his health and his humanitarian attitude.

CONCLUSION: The current man will have to modify his sedentary lifestyle, increasing his walk, in order to achieve a new (r)evolution, in body, mind and spirit, to avoid his self-destruction.

Post PART II. HOMO-ITER: MAN-WALKER.

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MAGIC TREKKING-PART I

This first part of MAGIC HIKING refers to enjoying extraordinary walks through the Mayan region, located in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. In the future we will present other areas that we consider true wonders in other parts of the world.

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Getting ready to visit important parts of the Mayan culture region, through its white roads, crossing its jungles and archaeological zones, is a true magical adventure. A cultural experience that will never be forgotten.

There was a fabulous number of white roads that were built and used by this great culture, as we have mentioned in post THE ANCIENT MAYANS AND THEIR WHITE ROADS-PART I: “These roads were built with sascab or saskab (in Mayan Sahkab: white earth), which is a material that abounds throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, coming from limestone rocks, a kind of road with a width that varied from 13 to 33 feet (4 to 10 meters), same that started and ended in Monumental Arches. It represents part of the architectural urban conjugation that was carried out when locating those majestic arches at the entrance of each of these ceremonial centers, which were connected to these white roads, and which had a spiritual symbolic meaning. All this that the Mayan culture carried out was extremely great and something that we must bear in mind is that those GREAT WHITE ROADS always united MONUMENTAL ARCHES and that they fundamentally symbolically signified the routes that the ancient Mayans carried out in those lands of the New World ”.

Walking along these roads in the middle of the jungle and the archaeological ruins is a wonderful experience in which you do not have to tolerate those hardships suffered by the first explorers who inspected and saw these paradisiacal places, traveling those same routes, millennially journeyed by its original builders; a whole Mayan architecture that stands imposing before the new walkers and travelers who come to contemplate and enjoy them.

As Edel C. Piñera once commented: “To open up to the unique experience of the walker in the lands of the Mayab is to rejuvenate. It is to open the gaze and the soul to let ourselves be carried by our children’s hearts and to be touched again by surprise and amazement. It is letting yourself be invaded by the magic of the place and what it offers us in abundance: mystery, art, inspiration and knowledge. All in one”.

CULTURE OF THE FOUR SEAS

The Mayan nation is the only culture in the ancient world that, when it settled in its territory, was able to look out over four seas. We now call them the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and all four are perfectly distinguishable from each other as they belong to different oceanographic formations. These formations include underwater topography, ocean circulation, water temperature, current patterns (with the Gulf Stream and the Atlantic Current). A difference between deep and shallower trenches, all with a wide expanse of abyssal plains. The Caribbean Sea, for example, has a smoother underwater topography compared to the other 3 seas. These characteristics influence and play an important role in the climate of the entire Mayan region. The 4 seas interact with the region and influence the temperature and weather patterns associated with each of the 4 seas. There is also a difference in marine biodiversity and ecosystems vary between the 4 seas.

The Maya settled in this region of southeastern Mexico to communicate with and through them, which is why we have designated it as the Culture of the Four Seas.

This nation developed significantly in all aspects, and from my personal point of view, the location of the lands that the ancient Maya chose were decisive for their cultural development.

In the following image we can appreciate, in a very general way, the natural vegetation of most of the Mayan region, in order to know the distribution of its different types, in an area of 135,000 square miles.

Source: Federal Government of Mexico

Today, like Stephens and Catherwood many years ago, and a dozen other explorers who came to these lands, we too can marvel at the ruins and the exorbitant nature of these places that are no longer hidden from our eyes, to be witnesses of that ancient culture.

We can let our spirits wander along these white roads as we walk through these Mayan sanctuaries, with the full security that, as Piñera said, to open up to these experiences is to rejuvenate, body and soul.

What routes can we choose to achieve these magical experiences? We can use any of the publications that exist for it, or consult my book “THE MAYAN ARCH ROUTE” (2010), which shows and explains 10 different routes that we can access to have the experience of meeting the MONUMENTAL ARCHES. “The lengths of these 10 white road journeys (sacbe’ob plural Mayan of sacbé) vary and in its development that we present, we found several towns, which in their time wore splendid Mayan arches, always retaining their original style, with different shapes and sizes. These road networks are truly ‘Wonders of the World’ ”. Let us keep in mind that these roads were built analogously to the journeys that the stars made in the sky (Archaeoastronomy).

This whole world, of the ancient Mayans, is full of mysticism, ecstasy, greenery and traces of an ancient art that has not died and that will continue to seduce us. Each walk we take will be a living encounter with the history of this ancient town, with its architecture, its astronomy, its mathematics, and above all, with its still alive and dynamic plastic genres that take us back in space and time. .

I invite all lovers of walking (and the Mayan world) to carry out this recreational leisure and exercise experience, which can also be mixed with experiences of exploration of archaeological ruins, which combines all our curiosity and wonder, for all the unparalleled beauty that surrounds us in this area of the Mayan world. Let us witness these images of the first explorers again and engrave them in our minds and soul.

Let us be, therefore, testimonies of that extraordinary people who possessed the knowledge, skills and creative spirit, to overturn them in their architecture that currently offers us an unparalleled show, clothed by time and sheltered by exorbitant nature.

Loya Lopategui, Carlos, The Mayan Arch Route, EMULISA, Mexico, 2023. Distributed by Amazon, available in Kindle Edition: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C57X44CC.

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WALKING AS A PHYSICAL PRACTICE AND AS AN ALLEGORY

On this occasion I wanted to share some of my thoughts (aphorisms) in which I used the word WALK (or path, road, way), either as part of my daily practice that I did for most of my life and as a metaphor, a great assistant in the linguistics of all genres and symbolic languages.

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Several years ago I edited a small book where I exposed all those aphorisms that over time have assaulted my mind, while I wrote the various essays and novels, but also as an effect of some of my plastic works; its title “Aphorismic tones. According to the forgetting of my silences”. Usually, they were all reminiscent or resonance of what I was writing, but also during my work as a painter; however, they have also been the result of the reverse process. The publication resulted from 200 aphorisms with their respective 200 plastic works. I can guarantee that a considerable percentage of them came to mind as I walked.

Now that I had this idea to see how many of them had the “WALK” root and also the noun “ROAD” surprised me a little, although since I started the Blog I began to realize that this word of WALK we use it regularly to express a great diversity of ideas or thoughts, so the complete writers use this word to express themselves, in all literary genres.

• The peak of greatness is achieved through WALKING the chasm of humility.

• The PATH should not necessarily be defined by the one ahead.

• Humanity has always tried to WALK through the sunny part of the ROAD; from time to time you should step away and test the shaded areas and especially the dark parts.

• The harder a ROAD is, the more important the goal is.

• I remember my parents very well, especially my mother, loving me, teaching me to WALK down the hall, but never whipping me to climb the walls.

• You may have to sacrifice both the conscious and the unconscious, and be reborn on a ROAD to nothing.

• WALKING invites me to read, reading encourages me to think, and my thinking when WALKING generates and extracts the deepest ideas of my being.

The following are some of 14 recommendations for just living:

• You can listen to your conscience, but your unconscious has more to tell you and it is who will lead you along the right WAY. (This is the 1st recommendation).

• Every day WALK for long periods and feed yourself healthily: air, water, sun, bath, and natural fruits; these are the fundamental ingredients. (This is the 14th and last recommendation).

• To achieve the peak of awakening and enlightenment (liberation) you have to WALK the chasm of humility. (It is similar to the firsth)

• No one should be afraid of death if they have lived genuinely and vitally in the light of their own spirit, under the guidance of the strength of particular reason, by feeling of personal emotions and under the PATH of knowledge indicated by instincts and individual unconscious

• My spirit goes astray because of the feeling (and emotion) affected, thus, the truth in disagreement with the lie, and good and evil are taken by the hand, while Mr. Time observes WALKING to virtues and entelechies with their names deceived and disappointed of utopia and chimera.

• My only friend: nature; my best partner: time; my engine: libido; my WAY: doing; my respects: to the sun; my love: Carmen.

• The human being has always been able and always will be able to WALK through any of the 2 sidewalks of the street: the illuminated one or the cover of shadows.

• My books, my computer and my easel are indoors, but my artistic creation is done outdoors, WALKING.

• The human body withers when it does not search and does not find the way or path to WALK, in the same way it happens to waters that have no exit and do not move, they become a swamp.

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