“Walking is man’s best medicine” according to Hippocrates and I tend to agree. Woman’s best medicine too for that matter, and kids.
Walking is really good for your physical health but a lesser known fact is that it’s also excellent for your mental and emotional health.
Read on to see what little benefits you might not have been aware of.
1. Walking keeps your physical body in shape
Walking is good for the heart. It gets the blood pumping and helps protect you from cardio diseases. A little stroll after meals can even lower your blood pressure.
Getting all those muscles moving works off body fat, another contributor to heart disease
It keeps your bones strong and your joints supple. Walking is one of the easiest exercises on the joints and regular walking can even ease arthritic joints. Keeping the bones strong means there’s less likelihood of developing osteoporosis
It’ll keep your bum pert! And who doesn’t want that?!
2. Walking lowers stress levels and improves your mental outlook
Because walking reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and can increase endorphins (the laughing hormone), regular walking can alleviate depression and improve your general mood. Many people find that regular walking is the key to feeling good after a period of depression.
Walking can send your mind into a meditative state which allows the worries of the day to fall away.
3. Walking boosts your immunity and keeps you healthy
Taking a walk stimulates your immune system and reduces your stress levels. Lower stress levels are always appreciated by the immune system because it doesn’t have to work so hard when we’re relaxed.
Walking gives your immune cells a good workout and boosts T-cells, the immune systems fighter cells.
Research suggests that people who walk regularly are less likely to develop illness than if they did nothing and regular walking may even be linked to the prevention of cancer.
4. Walking helps you think clearly
Walking gives your brain as well as your body a good workout and provides the brain with some much-needed oxygen. It helps learning, memory and creativity and will give you a cognitive edge to get you through your working day.
5. Walking helps you sleep better
Walking outdoors in daylight has a powerful effect on our internal ‘body clock’ and suppresses daytime sleepiness. What night comes this body clock increases sleepiness, preparing us for sleep. Exposing yourself to daylight and taking a stress-reducing walk can prepare your body for deep and restful slumber.
Ok, you know all of this.
But did you know that when you walk in Nature all of these benefits are multiplied, ten-fold?
So what’s stopping you?
“I don’t have enough time”
There are 48 half hours in the day. Taking one of those for a walk still leaves you with 47 others for all the other important things in your life. You deserve it!
The weather’s not right”
Buy an umbrella, pull out a jacket, grab a hat or do whatever will keep you comfortable. After a while you’ll find that every shade of weather offers something appealing that you hadn’t expected.
“I’m not sure I’ll be safe”
Drag a friend out with you. Walking is a lovely way to connect and chat.
“I’m a sensitive little thing. I don’t want to overdo it”
There’s no such thing as walking too much. As long as you know your capacity and you listen to your body, you can walk to your heart’s desire every day, even several times a day if you wish. You even have all the necessary equipment built-in!
Are you qualified?
I love Ralph Waldo Emerson. In signing off today I’ll leave you with his checklist of necessaries for embarking into the world of two-legged rambling.
“Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humour, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much”.
Happy strolling!
