Are we thinking how to walk? No, a Central Pattern Generator (CPG) for locomotion found in the spine mediates ambulation and other repetitive pattern activities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_pattern_generator
The results have shown that the networks responsible for locomotion are distributed throughout the lower thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord.[6]
Locomotion
As early as 1911, it was recognized, by the experiments of Thomas Graham Brown, that the basic pattern of stepping can be produced by the spinal cord without the need of descending commands from the cortex.[14][15]
Excerpts from a powerpoint presentation from the Department of Physical Therapy, New York University available at this link.
An Everyday Occurrence
Central Pattern Generator (CPG)
Evidence
CPG and Supraspinal Influence
What Triggers a CPG?
From the Wall Street Journal
http://www.wsj.com/articles/gait-analysis-the-serious-runners-salvation-1411428069
Case 1
“When he slowed down the video and measured the angles of her legs during her stride, the likely source of the pain became obvious—big strides and landing on the inside half of her feet.
Case 2
Straighten out the knees and shorten the stride and the pain just might go away, Mr. Silverman said.
She strengthened her gluteal muscles so she could better control her knees, shortened her stride and speeded up her cadence. She has completed two more triathlons and a trail race since the analysis, and the 200-mile relay race from San Francisco to Calistoga, Calif.
From NHS, the UK’s National Health System
http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/c25k/pages/how-gait-analysis-can-improve-your-running.aspx
"Full body analysis helps us identify any muscular imbalances you may have that often restrict performance and make you vulnerable to injury."
We review the video of my running, looking at my body movement at different stages of my stride, in real time and in slow motion.
Matt says: "Over time, tight quadriceps and weak hamstrings will cause your pelvis to tilt downwards, which can cause compression in your lower back.
Related content from information.book.com:
Using “biomechanics, force platforms and high speed cameras” to quantify movement in Yoga
Today's metro paper Direct matin cites a scientific study on the molecular mechanisms of exercise.
Excerpts:
“It’s long been thought that there were many signals elicited by exercise, but we were the first to create this map and we now know the complexity.”
Huffington Post article - The Advantages of Exercise
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/reasons-to-run-besides-losing-weight_560ad660e4b0768126ff5eed
Cell Metabolism - Journal link to the Scientific Publication
Hoffman et al., Global Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Human Skeletal Muscle Reveals a Network of Exercise-Regulated Kinases and AMPK Substrates, Cell Metabolism (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.09.001
The Cover of the 6th October 2015 Issue of Cell Metabolism (Link)