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Walking isnt always the quickest way to make it from point A to point B.
JGI/Tom Grill / Getty Images
But its not just about quick transport: The benefits of walking for your body and mind are numerous.
This year, walkers uploaded an average of two and a half to four hours of striding per week.
Walking, Dr. Folden says, is an activity that can encompass that for many people.
It can check a lot of boxesthe physical, the mental, the emotional, she says.
Chicago-based trainerKelly Amshoffhad a revelation about these varied benefits of walking several years ago.
She once thought only sweaty, hard-core workoutsthe kind that left yousorethe next daywere effective.
Once she got pregnant with her first daughter, however, her mindset changed.
I understood that this isnt correct, and that moving your body is the goal, she says.
She started walking nearly every day instead.
Another child and a few years later, shes back to teachingTabataand other classes through her siteImWithKelly.
To her, the benefits of walking every day are immense.
So, those types of considerations may play into how you handle walks and other outdoor exercise.
Is walking cardio?
Just like running,cycling, and swimming, walking is considered a bang out of cardiovascular exercise.
How long should you walk?
On days your body is craving movement, you might benefit from an hour-long walk.
Here are 15 benefits of walking that might make you want to slip on your sneakers right now.
Walking can be great active recovery.
Every action has an opposite reactionand similarly, every high-intensity interval comes with a recovery period.
Walking, instead of sitting down or standing still, keeps your muscles warm and your heart pumping.
So yes, daily exercise is just fineas long as that includes easy movement like walking.
Walking may help your aching body feel better.
Afterward,stretchyour hamstrings (heres Bowmansguideon why, and how, to do it).
Walking may help you manage a wide range of diseases.
TheAmerican Institute for CancerResearch advises 30-minute brisk walks, five times per week, to lower your cancer risk.
Walking can improve your balance.
Incline walking can offer an even bigger payoff.
Our muscles need that constant lubrication and movement.
Finally, heading uphill offers an even bigger cardio boost.
(If you do, you should talk with your doctor before starting any different kind of exercise.)
Walking can be a great way to catch up with friends and family.
Connection mattersin fact,lonelinesshas also been called an epidemic, and its been linked to a shorterlife.
One aspect of our physical health thats often overlooked is our need for others, Bowman says.
Walking can bolster your mental health.
Moving your body can help shift your mindset in a big way.
Walking might boost your brainpower.
Getting blood flowing through your body can bathe your brains gray matter in much-needed oxygen and nutrients.
This can help you with sharper thinking in the short term.
Walking might also help if youre already experiencing memory issues.
You might also notice a creative spark when youre out in the fresh air.
That’s when its like, Oh, that’s a good one.
Let me write that down, she says.
Inspiration can then flow in.
Walking provides connection with nature.
Thats because there are some benefits of walking barefoot too.
And thats not all: At a deeper level, we connect to earth.
Walking can help you bond with your pooch.
Depending on the dog, you might walk more slowly than you would on your own.
Walking might help ease your eye pain.
This fatigues the muscles that help the eye focus, contributing todigital eyestrain.
Walking is low-key enough to squeeze into a busy day.
And you might not even need to change clothes.
Just swap your slippers or work shoes for well-fitting walking orrunning shoes, she says.
Especially in stressful times like these, some peace and quiet represent a serious form ofself-care.
…Or it can be cranked up a notch.
Walking counts as exercise nearly any way you do it.
However, its helpful to designate your main purpose beforehand, Lewis says.
If youre mainly looking to unplug, leave the technology at home and dont push the pace.
Walking can help you connect to your community.
Its healthy for your body, your vibe, and your spirit, Carter says.
Walking can help you identify things to make it better.
Then, send requests for improvements straight to your city council representative or park district chairperson.
That way, it’s possible for you to join forces.
Consider it an act of fitness self-care for your bodyandmind.
