Walk to Fitness is a great way to get into shape. The purpose of walking is not only to move our bodies but also to burn calories and help us maintain our weight. It is a low impact, aerobic activity. In fact, studies have shown that exercise can improve memory, concentration, mood and balance.
Walking is certainly one of the more important gaits of aerobic locomotion among non-legged mammals. Walking is usually much slower than running or any other high intensity gaits. Walking combines cardiovascular fitness with aerobic endurance, which provides for long periods of endurance during up-and-down walks. Walking is defined as an ‘inverted pendulum’ walking gait where the body pivots over the strong leg or limbs each time the body pivots. The elliptical movement of the upper body provides a unique workout routine.
This is a great cardio routine, because it does not put undue stress on the joints or muscles. It only takes about ten minutes of your time. You need to be walking at a steady pace so that your heart beats regularly and provides you with enough endurance to complete the walk. If you are walking faster than your walking pace, you are less likely to be getting the full cardiovascular benefit of your walk. If you are walking slower, your body will have to work even harder to maintain your rate of heart rate.
As stated, this is a wonderful low impact physical activity which provides a tremendous amount of physical activity for your body. You can walk alone, with another walker or with your dog. You can walk in a group or with a friend or family member. You can find many different places to walk outside your home, such as parks, trails or along a scenic trail. You do not need a lot of space to begin walking; one or two feet would be sufficient. You can start out by walking just a few blocks, then if you feel like it, you can add more distance until you have covered a good distance.
As you are walking you will experience an increase in your metabolism and this will help you burn off calories and get stronger. The calories that you burn will help you get stronger for sports and daily activities. Not only will you get stronger, but you will also look and feel great. You can build muscle mass quickly as well.
When you decide to take up walking as a form of exercise, you will want to find a pace that you can keep up for at least thirty minutes without taking a break. This can be a brisk walk in the morning or at night, or any time that you have some free time. As you become fitter, you may want to increase the distance or speed of your walks. As always, consult your physician before beginning any new exercise program.