Sep
14
Walking, it’s one of the best exercises options we have. It’s easy, can be done almost anywhere, requires virtually no equipment and has little risk of injury. I’d recommend that everyone get at least 30 minutes of walking per day. Here are a few ways to maximize the efficiency of your walking time.
Walk on an uneven surface - Uneven surfaces burn more calories because we need to engage more muscles to keep us stable. So trails are better than pavement and soft surfaces like sand are even better.
Get your whole body involved - You don’t have to jump around, but you should get your arms moving.
Keep your back straight - Don’t slouch. Walking is about feeling better. So straighten out your back and walk tall.
Use your time wisely - Walking is time that can be used very productively. Bring along an iPod and listen to a podcast, learn a new language as you walk, listen to the news or bring a coworker and have a walking meeting. Remember, walking engages your body, not your brain. So get some brain exercise as well.
Walk faster - You don’t need to jog or even power walk, but there’s a fine line between walking and strolling. Enjoy your walk, but do keep up a good pace.
No weights - You may have seen people walking around with weights. Well, forget that. Weights don’t really add much except injury risk. Keep the weights in the gym and enjoy your walk weight free.
Make it a social activity - In the South SF Bay Area where I live, we have a large population of Asian immigrants. One of the health habits I most admire is this population’s tendency to go out and walk as a family. Every evening you see dozens of Indian, Chinese and other Asian families strolling around the neighborhood. Just think, as opposed to sitting in front of the TV, they’re out there walking and chatting. It’s healthier for your body and your social ties.
Walking as transportation - Remember you legs? You know what their original function was? I’ll give you a hint, it wasn’t to press the gas pedal. Your legs are the original human mode of transportation. They’re very efficient at getting you places. Unfortunately, most people seem to have forgotten about this. If you’re going to the store down the block, will it really be faster to get the car out, drive over, find a parking spot and then go in? Will the five minutes you save that way make up for the money you spent on gas, car wear and tear plus the healthy benefits of the walk you could have taken? Use your legs to get places. Unlike your car, they’ll never run out of gas.
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