Physiotherapy and fitness / walking
“It always seems impossible until it’s done” – Nelson Mandela
Walking is one of the easiest ways to be physically fit. How much should you aim for and how it fits into a busy day is up to you.
There are many good reasons to walk for example walking regularly:
- Gives you more energy
- Makes you feel good
- Makes you look better
- Makes you sleep better
- Increases your stamina
- Helps you manage stress
- Tones your muscles
- Burns up calories
- Improves your mobility at any age
- Strengthens your heart
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces cholesterol
- Protects against osteoporosis
- Reduces risk of developing diabetes
For health benefits you need to be physically active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. The 30 minutes can be broken into 2 or 3 shorter sessions whether you are doing the school run, driving to work, taking the bus or train you can easily get half an hours’ worth of walking into each day.
- A really simple way of getting started is to step outside walk in any direction for 5 minutes then walk back again. Repeat this 2 or more times in the day and you’ll have walked for half an hour
- Go for a walk during lunch hour
- Walk your children to school
- Get off the bus 1 or 2 stops before your final destination and walk the rest of the way
- Go on foot if you would normally drive
- Take the long way around if your local shop is close by extend the route to give yourself the extra walking time
- Use the stairs
