Often, walking as exercise isn’t given its due credit. Though less intense than other forms of exercise, walking can have major health benefits. Read on to discover a few reasons walking might be a great choice for your exercise regimen.
Low Impact
Walking is a low-impact exercise, making it ideal for people with injuries, particularly those with knee or back pain. This also allows a variety of people to enjoy this exercise, including fitness novices and all ages.
Easily Customizable
Walking is an incredibly changeable exercise regimen. Set a playlist to walk to and change your intensity and pace with the music beat. If you’re walking outside, alter your route regularly to switch up the incline and scenery as you walk. If you’re a treadmill walker, try out different programs on your machine that will change the incline and resistance for you.
Social Exercise
Walking is the perfect opportunity to bond with others. Walk with a friend, meet new neighbors or even catch up on phone calls by using a hands-free headset. Working out with a friend is known to increase motivation and keep you working towards your goal. Friendships have also been shown to have health benefits particularly by increasing mental well-being by lessening stress, helping you cope with trauma and more.
Relatively Inexpensive
Especially if you plan on walking outside, your needed equipment for starting up a walking routine is minimal. You will need quality walking shoes and, we strongly recommend, a pedometer. A pedometer will help you track your progress, keeping you focused on improving with each walk. Pedometers can range in price, but can be very affordable. We offer a SPRI pedometer for beginners, starting at $9.98.
Time Efficient
It’s not uncommon to blame lack of exercise on a busy day. Walking can offer a solution to limited time, because it can be done at any time, anywhere. Walk over your lunch hour. Walk throughout the day in small 10 minute bursts, adding up to 30 minutes or more by the end of your day. Whenever possible, skip a drive and walk instead.
Mental Boost
Walking is good for your mind as well as your waistline. Walking outside increases your absorption of Vitamin D, which is linked to cognition, mood and physical performance. Exercise has been shown to increase levels of serotonin and decrease levels of stress. Walking might just give you the space to think through problems and increase your creativity.
Walking can have many benefits to your overall health. Improvements to your mental health (de-stressing, socializing and more) combined with the physical advantages of increasing your cardio fitness can leave you feeling energized and motivated. So what are you waiting for? Lace up those sneakers and increase your fitness one step at a time.