Fitness Friday

The Benefits of Walking

People often associate exercise with high-intensity activity, but walking can be just as beneficial for those looking for a lower intensity form of exercise.

Many people feel hopeless when it comes to getting started with exercise, because they associate exercises with high-intensity cross-fit style workouts. However, this understanding just simply isn't true! Walking is a great low-intensity way for getting into the exercise groove. Benefits of walking include the following:

• Helps maintain a healthy weight, while losing existing weight from prior inactivity.
• Improves mood and decreases stress.
• Improves balance and coordination.
• Strengthens bones and muscles. Helps prevent osteoporosis. 
• Assists in management and prevention of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. 

As with any type of exercise, maintaining proper technique is essential to getting the most out of an exercise without injuring yourself. Here are a few tips to get you walking correctly right out of the gate:

• Make sure your head is up and facing forward in a neutral position. 
• Make sure your shoulders and neck are relaxed in an upright posture.
• Swing the arms freely and don't lock your elbows to ensure proper blood flow.
• Walk heel-to-toe with core tightened.

Here are some other things to keep in mind before you start strutting your stuff:

• Wear comfortable clothing, including comfortable shoes that provide proper arch support.
• Make sure you stretch properly before and after walking.
• Make sure that you complete a proper cool down after walking.