Start Walking
The American Heart Association has issued an invitation to all of us. National Start Walking Day is April 8, 2009.
We are invited to put on our walking shoes, call up our friends and neighbors and start walking. If you’re already walking, great! Walk faster now. If you’re already running, fantastic! Keep it up. If you’ve taken a break from moving your body, now’s the time to get started. If you’ve been sitting in front of the computer all day, get up and take yourself for a walk. If you notice that your dog has put on some weight, take it for a walk! Whatever it takes, there is no time like today to get moving.
There are “heart walks” going on literally all over the country. Visit: http://www.kintera.com/spherelite/public/asp/eventcentral.asp?orgid=22 to see where your closest event is taking place.
Walking can help reduce the risk of many diseases including but not limited to heart disease, osteoporosis, obesity, and diabetes. Walking requires no prescription, it is free (although we recommend a decent pair of walking shoes), and has very little risk for negative side effects. We need weight bearing exercises like walking to help keep our bones strong. We need it to help keep us agile and fit. Walking can help lower our stress levels, improve our sleep, and increase our sense of well-being.
All walking is good, but if you can log thirty minutes, 5 days a week, at a brisk pace, you are doing great. If you only have fifteen minutes to spare, take what you can get and try to squeeze in 2 walks in one day. Involve your friends and family. This is a great time to catch up. Get off the treadmill and head outdoors so that you can take in some vitamin D and add a little wind resistance and elevation (hills) to your routine. Of course if you will be out longer than 15 minutes or you know you have sensitive skin, be sure to use some natural sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Enjoy time spent in nature and have fun.
March 23, 2010
by Optimum WellnessComments
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