11 May Search for the perfect exercise: walking

Is there a single exercise that could be called the best? Obviously, one size does not fit all when it comes to exercising, but this week I’ll reveal my picks as the best exercises that benefit the most people across the board. Featured today is a report on walking.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to exercise is also one of the first things people learn to do: walking.
Get a pair of good shoes and you can walk just about any place, at any time – weather permitting of course if you go outside.
For inside walking, a treadmill can be the cornerstone of your exercise room because you can program it for many different speeds and inclines. It can be used to walk or run, and the treadmill is always there whenever you’re in the mood to exercise.
As far as the specifics of walking, doctors and trainers alike say that just 30 minutes of walking a day four times a week will result in health benefits. You can also divide up those 30 minutes into two 15-minute sessions or three 10-minute walks.
It’s a good idea to plan to set aside time to walk, but even for people with extremely busy schedules you can improvise to make time for walking. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, take a walk on your lunch break, park farther away from the entrance to work or the store, or walk to the store or work if possible.
By exercising your muscles through walking, you can improve your cardiovascular system.
In turn, you can lose weight, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower high blood pressure and even reduce the risk of some cancers by staying in better health.
By getting regular exercise through walking, you’ll notice other benefits as well, including keeping muscles and joints healthy, reducing stress through exercise and sleeping better.
With all those benefits, it’s no wonder that a regular walking regimen can make you feel better by boosting your mood. If you can find people to join you on a walk it can be a good chance to socialize as well.
The best thing about walking on a regular basis is it gets people moving instead of being stagnant on a couch or chair.
No matter what a person’s current health is, if they start a walking program and push themselves to go a little faster and farther they’ll notice improvements.
Whether a person is 3 or 93, that helps make walking one of the simplest – and best exercises – you can find.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com