A Little Walk Does the Mind and Body Good
By Stephen R. Farris
When is the last time you went out and took a casual -- or brisk -- walk? It should be something you do every day, and should be part of your daily routine. Walking is one of the most beneficial ways to get exercise, which includes benefits for your health.
Natural Energy Booster
Walking is a great way to boost your energy levels. According to studies, a 20 minute walk outdoors seemed to be a better energy booster for participants than a 20-minute walk indoors. And if you're trying to curb your caffeine intake, you might consider 10 minutes of walking up stairs.
Mood Enhancer
Another benefit of walking -- especially at the beginning of your day -- is that it can help put you in a better mood. If you are feeling depressed, have anxiety issues, feeling stressed, you can help lessen those feelings by walking for at least 20-30 minutes a day for five days a week. You may also start feeling less fatigued once you've been doing it for a while too.
A Morning Walk and You're Done!
If you walk for at least the recommended 20-30 minutes a day (five days a week), you'll reach the suggested 150 minutes of exercise to achieve moderate intensity.
Good Way to Lose Weight
For folks looking to shed a few extra pounds, the combination of diet and exercise can certainly help you achieve your goal. One exercise to consider is walking. Just a 30-minute walk at a brisk pace can burn up to 150 calories.
Walking for Better Leg Strength
Walking is good for building leg strength. There are several ways this can be achieved, or by using a combination of walking techniques. You can opt for the brisk walk, or walking upstairs, up a hill, or down a hill. Whichever you choose -- or use a combination of these -- you'll start to see improvement in leg strength.
Walking for Mind Improvement
Another great thing about walking is that it can help clear your mind. If you are going through a rough patch in life, or from work or school, try taking a walk each day. You'll start to find that it can open up your mind to though and could help you work out whatever might be bothering you. Who knows, that morning walk could give you a breakthrough idea on your next project. Wouldn't that be great!
The important thing is to keep your body moving each day, and walking is a great way to do just that.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Hixson, Tenn.