“Along we go. Walking through endless miles, seeking a peaceful life.”
‘Walking’ is metaphorical above, but the physical act of walking has to take up a huge part of our lives.
They say you need to move around and what other way than the safest, low-impact mode of movement – walk. Walking is an indispensable activity that is apt for all age groups. A person’s health and fitness rides on this humble exercise. You gotta keep walking.
This may seem like one of those health articles highlighting a workout. Well, I’ll try to sound less preachy. I am endorsing walking because, as it turns out, after experimenting with different workouts (and failing in a few), I’ve realized that walking is what suits my body. And, if it suits me, that means it’s fool-proof and it suits everybody.
The benefits of a morning walk are plenty. Now that I follow it routinely, I can share my experience and tell you why it’s the best.
- Firstly, it gets me out of bed every morning. If you are not an early riser (like me) you’d find it difficult in the first few weeks but keep it going and it would become a routine.
- It helps put your body into a rhythm. The early rise will coerce your body to sleep early. Thereby, building a well functioning circadian rhythm which helps with overall body functions – mental and physical
- The physical benefits are known. Let me ‘walk’ you through it. 45 minutes of daily walk helps keep your vitals in check ( blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol), provided a decent diet is also followed. Walks also help tone your body. May not help you lose tons of weight but keeps you fit.
- Morning is the best time to walk. It allows you to soak in the sounds and sights of morning freshness. There is less pollution and your mind is less chaotic. Early morning sun exposure assists with Vitamin D production without causing sunburns.
- It is a low-impact workout. A low to normal paced walk subjects minimal pressure on your leg joints. In case you have joint problems, you can wear any form of joint support and walk at a pace that’s comfortable for you.
- Lastly, when practiced over a period of time, it helps you achieve a positive outlook towards life (so, I’ve been told). I can hopefully vouch for it in the future.
Whether it’s a small or long walk, brisk or slow, just wear good shoes and get your body moving. Force yourself if you have to. In the ‘long run’ you’ll be thankful.
Now, chop chop… Get going!
