Hit the road: How active walking improves our health and wellbeing
Spring is here and we are all thinking of getting out more! But did you know that walking is a powerful exercise. Many people don’t consider walking as a way to stay fit and healthy, but it is one of the best ways to improve and maintain our overall health and wellbeing. In fact, as little as 10 minutes of brisk walking ?per day can work wonders ?. Not to mention, it’s free, easy to do, and doesn’t require any special equipment – just your shoes (and maybe some good tunes)!
What is active walking?
There’s a difference between active and passive walking. Passive walking is the steps we take when we move around in general – walking from our desk to the bathroom and back would be passive walking. Active walking, on the other hand, is when we walk for the purpose of getting exercise, usually at a faster pace than simply strolling ??.
Active walking is about three miles per hour, and you’ll know if you’re engaged in active walking if you can still talk but wouldn’t be able to sing a song.
The benefits of active walking
Active walking has a host of benefits, both physically and mentally ?. Here are just some of the reasons to try active walking:
- It increases cardiovascular fitness.
- It strengthens bones.
- It reduces excess body fat.
- It boosts muscle power and endurance.
- It reduces the risk of developing heart conditions, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.
- It boosts the mood and helps to manage our stress levels.
- When done in a group, active walking is an excellent way to socialise and form friendships, which is great for our mental health.
Tips for active walking
If you’re new to the world of active walking ?, we have a few tips for you:
- Make sure you’re wearing proper walking or running shoes that are supportive.
- Incorporate more active walking into your life by picking up the pace when you would usually walk passively.
- Walk to the shops, walk the kids to school, and take the stairs instead of the elevator to get more active walking into your day.
- Those who aren’t particularly active would want to start out with just a few minutes a day, gradually increasing the pace and distance of the walk.
For more information about simple activities that improve our overall health and wellbeing, stay tuned to Inspired News ?.
