I love Pilates (and yoga) but usually, you do Pilates at a studio that has specialized equipment.
The truth from an amazing chiropractor and while you do get specific alignment work with Pilates, the best exercise you ever get is to take a walk. No equipment required!
There are volumes written on the virtue’s of walking.
Our culture tells us that getting sweaty is the path to more muscle and a leaner body but walking is what your body is designed to do and becoming a walker is a life-changing choice that’s easy to master!
Things you may not know about walking:
Walking can help you create leaner muscles or debulk big muscles
Leading health practitioners say that walking is the only exercise the body needs.
Swing your arms, opposite arm to leg, while you walk and give your heart a little extra pump.
I wrote a blog post for you with some tips to become a walker, or a better walker.
General rule of thumb is that it takes 2 x a week for 8 weeks to create a habit.
Here are a few tips to become a walker or a better walker:
1) Find A Walking Buddy
Getting started can sometimes take a sheer act of will power. Accountability and the promise of MORE FUN helps get you out of your chair and on the path. Join a walking group and recruit a buddy whose schedule matches yours to help boost your will to walk.
2) Put It In Your Schedule
Research shows that writing things down improves the chances of getting something done by 80%—that’s huge. Take a second to look at your schedule and make room for your new walking habit. Go ahead, give the universe a signal that you want to get walking! Write it down and watch it float to the top of your priority list.
3) Set A Goal
Start slow and add on! Walking around the block can get you started. Add a goal that peaks your imagination and puts a smile on your lips. When you imagine, your brain gets busy solving the problem of how to get it done. Imagine walking the Amalfi Coastline, a 35 mile walk along the coastline of Italy! If you don’t get there, no worries, it’s the journey that counts! Having an overarching goal is like a mantra that keeps you focused and moving in the right direction. Check out The Conqueror (https://www.theconqueror.events/ ) for some ideas and let yourself dream big. Choose a goal that inspires you enough to take the first step. Go ahead, schedule a walk around the block to kick off an awesome health habit you’ll never regret! https://www.theconqueror.events/ . Maybe your goal is to power walk, burn calories and shine like the sun!
4) Walk in the woods
Forest bathing is a thing! In Japan, there are medical facilities in the woods designed to facilitate healing by including walking paths in the woods where people immerse, meditate and tune into nature. Research conducted across 24 different forests in Japan shows that immersing in nature, called Shinrin-Yoku, can reduce concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, increase parasympathetic nerve activity, and lower sympathetic nerve energy. Since moving to Truckee I spend more time running and walking trails. I can confirm the healing, calming and regenerative nature of a good forest bath. And, it’s easy. Head to a densely forested area and let the trees and the dirt beneath your feet do the rest.
5) Track your progress
Use a walking app so you can track your distance and speed. While your body knows when it feels more powerful, distinctions in strength by measuring is the just-right-positive feedback we often need to keep going for the long haul.
Don’t worry be happy. If you don’t get out regularly, or when you scheduled your walk, no worries. Walk when it suits you! A General rule of thumb is that it takes 2 x a week for 8 weeks to create a habit. I find this one works for me the best. Once you hit 8 weeks, start again or just keep piling on the weeks!
Walk On and be well!
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