In today’s high-trend world of fitness, the benefits of walking are often overlooked. Many people think that to lose weight, maintain weight or achieve overall wellness, you must put in hours at the gym with strenuous activity. That’s simply not the case!
Walking and Your Body
In fact, walking can have an astounding number of physical and mental health benefits. It might not seem like much compared to running on treadmills, lifting weights or playing sports, but don’t be fooled! Physical activity doesn’t have to be complicated, and walking is often the least complicated of all.
Truth be told, something as simple as a brisk, daily walk can improve your health in a variety of ways. Check out some of the benefits:
- Strengthened bones and muscles
- Healthy weight maintenance
- Improved balance and coordination
- Boosted energy levels and concentration
- Reduced tension and stress
- Management of weight-related conditions
- Improved metabolism
Beyond the benefits listed above, however, walking is a great tool to have if you’re looking to incorporate more mindfulness into your life. Mindfulness helps you tune into your body, improve concentration, unwind and increase mental clarity. It’s also a well-known fact that practicing mindfulness can help you tremendously with weight management! CLICK HERE to see how.
Creating Your Walking Routine
The benefits of walking are starting to sound pretty great, right? Well, how do you create a workout routine that benefits both your body and your overall weight and health goals?
- Identify Your Goals – What are you after? Think of goals like weight-loss, weight maintenance, increased energy and stress relief.
- Stretch before You Go – This will help you prevent injury and increase stamina.
- Choose a Few Different Paths – You’ll want to add variety to your walks so you don’t get bored. Try your neighborhood, a local park, a treadmill at the gym or a hike in the woods.
- Get the Right Gear – Make sure you have appropriate walking shoes, workout clothes and accessories – including a pedometer, workout music playlist and a bottle of water.
- Add Some Incline – Looking to take your walk up a notch? Consider bumping up the incline via a button on the treadmill or a path that has a few hills and upward climbs.
Remember: fitness isn’t always about the hours you put in at the gym or sweat you produce during a heavy workout. Something as simple as walking can produce astounding effects on the body. The next time you have some free time, lace up your shoes and get active! You’ll discover a plethora of physical and mental health benefits along the way.
