Legs Talk: Kate Shapland, Legology Founder
Anyone fancy a walk? One of the greatest pleasures I’ve discovered in recent years is walking. Coastlines, valleys, woods, fields – I love them all, and nothing beats pulling on a pair of sneakers or walking boots early in the morning or late on a summer evening and either drifting along without purpose, seeing where my feet take me, or walking with intent and making every step a mindful exercise and release. I’m happy walking both solo with my dog or with companions, having found many friends who love to ramble along the same way – anything that gets you away from the daily same-old (work, stress, what the hell is going on in the world) and connects you with the person you are walking with or the landscape around you. On your own, with only the path ahead, you can talk to yourself and filter the batshittery that otherwise fills your thoughts; you can talk to people you meet along the way, laugh about your dogs, the rain, the mud or the shape of the clouds.
Walking is indeed a simple pleasure. It makes you lean too, gives your lymph and circulation a kickstart. Charles Dickens knew all about the benefits of walking. He walked compulsively all over the place, deep in thought and often in the dead of night. He once wrote that he thought he was “a descendant, at no great distance, of some irreclaimable tramp”. How would it have been to have tramped along beside him? Bit late for that. But not for some of my favourite fellow walkers who I’ve invited to come on a virtual walk with me for our new series, Legs Talk. Please join us in the coming weeks to read some cherished Legology friends reveal their favourite walks and give you a glimpse into their lives. The Legology team have asked me to walk the talk with the first one, so here it is
WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE WALK?
I recently took my dog from Maldon to Salcott on the King Charles III England Coast Path and loved it. This is one leg of a newly opened National Trail which is opening up around the entire British coastline. I loved it so much I returned to the same coastline and did the next leg from Hopton-on-Sea to Sea Palling. I’m doing Great Yarmouth to Cromer next. I like walking by the sea, but it doesn’t take much to get me on the South Downs in Sussex either, I love meandering around villages and towns I’ve never been to before and I know every mile of the Hambleden Valley from Mill End by the Thames to Turville Heath.
DO YOU WASH YOUR LEGS IN THE SHOWER?
What kind of question is this?! Obviously, I do! I start at my feet and work the sponge up.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE JEAN STYLE?
Mid waist flare in thin denim with a little bit of stretch.
WHERE HAVE YOUR LEGS TAKEN YOU TODAY?
They have taken me up to Wimbledon Common and around the windmill, into two coffee shops and down to Hampton Court (if pressing the accelerator pedal of my car counts?) to join fitness trainer Caroline Idiens at a wellness day she was hosting, where I did several laps of the floor while giving a talk on .. legs! My legs have also taken me up and down the garden path with the shiny new wheelbarrow I bought when my legs somehow walked me into B&Q on the way home from Hampton Court, and there will be more steps taken around Putney Heath once I’ve finished this blog post.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LEG CARE ROUTINE
I’m diligent about my morning routine. I use my body brush after I’ve applied Cellu-Lite oil to my legs and after a morning bath. If it’s going to be a hot day, I’m going to be on my feet a lot or I’m feeling a bit puffy I’ll apply Air-Lite over the top of that and again when I get home from work before going out or to bed.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 LEG CARE TIPS?
Body brush, drink lots of water and apply Cellu-Lite oil every single day.
WHO IS YOUR LEG ICON?
Kendall Jenner’s legs are the impossible dream.
