Some people do not enjoy weight lifting, running or intense exercise and others have limitations that keep them from having the capability to intensely workout. Well, here is some great news… walking can be almost as beneficial to your health as an intense workout!
With the help of The Mayo Clinic, here are some health benefits you get from walking everyday.
- Help you maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage and prevent conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
- Strengthen your bones and muscles.
- Improve mood, balance and coordination.
Making this a habit can build up your distance and speed. You do not need to walk for hours to reach these benefits. Just a 15-20 minute walk a day will give you those benefits. However, the farther and faster you go the more these benefits increase!
It is also very important to remember the three steps to a beneficial walk: warm-up, cool-down and stretch! Warming up includes walking slowly for 5-10 min. This helps wake your muscles up and gets them ready for a more steady speed. Cooling down is very similar to warming up. You want to walk slowly again for about 5-10 min. after your power walk. This helps cool your muscles down, decrease your heart rate and prevent cramping. Stretching is important to do after your cool down. Stretching keeps your muscles lose, prevents soreness and muscle cramps. You can stretch before your walk, but warm up first!
Now you have all the steps and reasons to start walking! But you need a place to start your new walking habit. Well there are two new dog parks that will be built in Lubbock this spring! One will be at Mackenzie Park and the other at Clapp Park. So coming this spring you and your four legged family member can get some great exercise together! View this link and awesome video for more info! (http://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/klbk-news/first-public-dog-parks-underway-in-lubbock/1026975359)
Wishing you healthful and blissful walks!
Resources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20046261?pg=2