Did you know that the average person walks 65,000 miles in their lifetime? That’s quite a fantastic journey, especially considering the countless benefits walking offers. Let’s explore some of the good and great aspects of this simple yet powerful activity.
1. Walking to music is good, but silent walking is great! When you walk with music somehow it forces you to walk to the beat, so when a faster beat is presented, you have to step it up to keep up with the rhythm. This can give you a bit of a high intensity workout by altering your pace with the rhythm of the beat, which is good for your body. But, walking in silence is great because allows you to engage all of your senses to what’s around you, enabling a mindful moment free of distraction, all for yourself.
2. Any form of intentional walking is good, but walking outside is great! Walking generally helps you reduce stress, helps you elevate your heart rate, engages lots of different muscles in your body and can even improve back pain, which is super good. But, walking out in nature is a natural mood booster with proven benefits for mental health, and allows you to absorb some vitamin D, which is something we rarely get enough of these days!
3. Just 15 minutes of walking is good, but 30+ minutes is great! Extend your walks to reap even more benefits for your body and mind. The more you walk, the more benefits towards slimming down your body, freeing your mind and using a variety of different muscle groups!
4. Leisurely walks are good, but walking different intervals or intensity is great! By incorporating intervals of speed walking or jogging you can boost cardiovascular fitness and burn more calories.
5. Walking a few times a week is good, but walking daily is great! Build a habit of consistency and promote strength, balance and weight loss with daily walks.
6. Walking when you’re in a good mood is good, but walking when you’re in a bad mood is great! Walking helps to increase blood flow to the brain, triggering the release of feel-good hormones such as endorphins and serotonin. It’s no wonder we feel better after a long walk when we’ve had a rough day.
7. Walking in your neighborhood is good, but walking in a state park or near water is great! Exploring different environments offer a change of scenery and terrain. And when you walk on different terrain it forces you to use different muscle groups.
8. Walking anytime is good, but walking right after a meal is great! Walking after a meal helps aid digestion by getting your body’s processes moving.
9. Walking from point A to point B is good. But being out in nature and enjoying the beauty along the way is great! Embracing the journey and appreciating the beauty of your surroundings can take your walk to an entirely different level.
10. Walking on a treadmill is good, but walking outside is great! Connecting with nature, soaking up some vitamin D, and listening to the birds sing you a song as you stroll along, you just can’t beat that!
11. Walking alone is good, but walking with a friend is great! Strengthen bonds, have meaningful conversations, and enjoy the company of others while you walk.
12. Walking on paved roads/sidewalks is good, but walking on grass, dirt, and rocks is great! Engage different muscles and connect with nature by varying your terrain. As an example, when you walk on grass, you often have to lift your feet a little higher thus engaging different muscles. If you walk on rocks, you often have to engage your core for balance, and so on. And if you walk barefoot on grass, dirt or rocks, you may not know this, but you are also grounding yourself to the vibration and rhythm of Mother Nature (it’s called “grounding” or “earthing” which is unbelievably energizing and beneficial for your health.
13. Walking without weights is good, but walking with a weighted vest, pack, or ankle weights is great! Challenge your body and build strength with added resistance. Depending on what type of weight you choose, you will strengthen muscles in different parts of your body. Even walking to the grocery store and carrying your groceries home helps engage arm and core muscles.
14. Walking in the evening is good, but walking in the morning is great! Unwinding after a busy day can promote better sleep by taking an evening stroll. But walking in the morning is a great way to enjoy the cool morning air on hotter days and can wake you up and get you vibrating at a higher vibration to start your day. Heck, it doesn’t have to be an either or thing…do both!
15. Walking solo is good, but walking with a pet is great! Strengthen the bond with your furry friend while getting exercise together. It’s nice having another being along a walk with you. And often times, your furry friend will help set your walking pace, sometimes a little faster than the pace you would walk if you were walking solo. But please, pick up after your pet – don’t forget the poo-poo pick up bags.
16. Walking as transportation is good, but walking as a form of exploration is great! When you walk as a means of transportation, you help to reduce your carbon footprint, which is good because it contributes to a healthier planet by choosing to walk. But discovering new places and embracing the adventure of walking is great for the mind, body and soul.
17. Walking leisurely is good, but incorporating different intervals of speed while walking is great! Boost cardiovascular fitness and metabolism with interval training. Walk leisurely then pick up the pace for a quarter mile or so, then slow back down again, then pick up the pace again, and so on. This challenges your body while raising your heart rate then lowering it again.
18. Walking for physical health is good, but walking for mental health is great! Any kind of walking especially intentional walking for physical fitness is good, and instantly improves your mood while providing physical benefits for your body. But the great thing is that walking also improves emotional well-being by reducing symptoms of stress (lowering your cortisol levels) and can even reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression over time with regular walking.
19. Walking for leisure or fitness is good, but incorporating walking meetings or brainstorming sessions is great! You can multi task! Taking a walking meeting or brain-storming session can stimulate creativity and boost productivity when done while walking. Often times, even talking to a friend or loved on the phone while walking can promote some of the best conversations when you are walking. Don’t forget your headphones!
20. Walking as a daily routine is good, but setting aside time for mindful walking meditation is great! Walking as part of your daily fitness routine is such a way to prioritize your well-being and self-care by moving both your body and exercising mind. But cultivating gratitude and presence with each step in the form of a walking meditation is great for the soul.
Remember, every step you take is a step towards a healthier, happier you. So lace up your sneakers, step outside, and enjoy the many benefits of walking.
Those who follow me know that walking is my daily exercise of choice. It doesn’t require a gym membership or any special equipment and it’s beneficial for your mind, body and soul. Walking has helped me to transform my mind, body and my life.
But it wasn’t always that way. If you are interested in knowing more about my health and life transformation, I wrote a book to help and inspire you on you journey. For more information, click HERE.