Walking Feels Good – Start a Walking Program Today

Without getting too technical, it is easy to recognize some improvements in our health that a regular walking program can bring. A brisk walk will strengthen both the heart muscle and leg muscles, and improve overall fitness. Walking also helps control blood pressure and lowers the risk of developing Type II diabetes. It allows the walker to breathe the fresh air and it gets the blood flowing. Walking is easy. There are no routines to learn and the only equipment required is a good pair of walking shoes. Probably the best thing is that walking makes a person feel better in general.

In order to stick with a walking program, perhaps greater success might be achieved by concentrating on these feel-good aspects of walking:

• Fresh air: Taking a walk and breathing outside air is a welcome break after being inside either at home or work for most of the day. Or for those who are early birds, the morning air is a refreshing start to the day after a good night’s sleep.
• Peacefulness: A walk alone can be peaceful and relaxing, helping to drain away the stress of day to day life, and helping walkers to function more efficiently when they go back to their regular routines.
• Time to think: Time spent walking can be used as time to be alone with inner thoughts – a time to daydream, reflect or remember. Problems can be worked out. Plans can be made for the future. Some walkers meditate while walking, and others use the time to talk to their god.
• Taking time for self: Everybody needs a little me-time sometimes. A walk helps a person feel good about doing something to help his or her health, while at the same time doing something that he or she enjoys.

Focusing on the feel-good aspects of a walking program will likely help walkers to be more committed and to be more successful at achieving their goals of better health. It is human nature to avoid doing what is unpleasant; therefore it makes sense to find ways to make a walking routine as pleasant as possible. Whatever pleasure is received from walking — whether listening to some favorite music or taking a favorite scenic route, or enjoying stress-free quiet time, meditation or daydreams — the important thing is to get moving (and subsequently get healthy). Happy walking!