I’m starting to embrace more relaxed forms of exercise that support my body rather than break it down. In the past, I have been guilty of thinking that walking isn’t challenging enough, is too slow, or is too time consuming to be worth my effort. However, I’ve adopted a different attitude toward walking lately and I’m going to share what I’ve noticed and learned from walking several times a week.
- Walking is easy. Unless you have an injury or a physical disability, the ability to walk is as natural as going out the door. You don’t need a trainer or special equipment. On days where I’m tired or don’t feel like exercising, I can always get myself out to walk.
- Walking burns fat. Unlike cardiovascular exercise, which burns mostly carbohydrate, walking burns mostly fat for fuel.
- Walking stimulates thoughts and inspiration. Almost every time I walk, immediately upon coming in the door, I write down ideas that came to me on my walk. My business has been built on ideas that have appeared to me as I freely allow my mind to wander on a walk or a run.
- Walking calms the sympathetic nervous system. Most of us are so busy that we are constantly in ‘fight or flight’ mode. A walk resets your physiology and clears out the hormonal stress that accumulates from the pace of your life.
- Walking can be done alone or as a social activity. I have a group of friends that I often walk with on weekends. Hours go by so quickly when chatting along and catching up with each other’s lives. I know partners/couples that use walking as a way to reconnect and catch up with each other’s day.
When a new client comes to me and wants to lose weight and/or begin a fitness program, I always tell them to begin by walking. Walking has become and may forever be my therapy, meditation, and social outlet all wrapped up in one.
