Delights and Usefulness of Walking

Delights  and Usefulness of Walking

Experts say “Walking is the best exercise.” It has been proven to be true since time immemorial. Our great ancestors emphasized on the benefits of walking barefoot on dew-wet-grass early in the morning. Walking barefoot not only made one relaxed and rejuvenated but also the wet grass, the fresh dew made the whole exercise delightful. As babies grow, they try to take a few steps every now and then. They are encouraged to walk not only for their mobility but also for the development of their body.

People walk for various reasons. Some of us walk because we have to reach our destination. Some of us walk to while away our leisure time, while others walk to burn out those extra calories and stay fit and healthy.

Whatever may be the reason – walking has so many benefits. When Gandhiji was fighting against the Britishers, he invited all the Indians for a Dandi March. This protest could have been in any other form but he opted for walking. Today it needs no mentioning, what that walking did for all of us and for our nation.

Times have changed and so has our lifestyle changed. Thanks to the sedentary lifestyle that everyone has adopted. Every second person you meet will be complaining of stress, fatigue, lack of time and full on extra-unwanted calories - which has furthermore added on to the frequent appointments with the doctor. Since everyone owns a vehicle, and is always in a hurry – there is no time for walking. Even if someone has to go to a next lane grocery store, one will opt for a vehicle instead of going on foot. We all want to save time and energy.

People are of the notion that walking will deprive off their energy, which they need for finishing off their chores. However the fact is entirely different. As a matter of fact, walking gives us energy, it boosts up our spirits, it freshens up our mind and body, it increases our stamina, it helps build up our metabolism and above all this, most importantly it offers us the “feel – good” factor.

Obesity is one problem which has engulfed the whole continent. All the medical experts voice out one common opinion for all – Walk. It is the easiest and the cheapest advice that can be utilized for the best results. Walking does not require you to have a fixed time-schedule (however a fixed one will benefit more). It does not require any equipment, it needs no technical know-how, it needs no trainer.

All you need is the will power and determination and a pair of good shoes for a smooth and enjoying walking experience. If you have a walking partner, the experience can be more fun and entertaining, however, even if you are alone, you can enjoy being one with nature.

The youngsters plug in their earphones and make theirs a musical exercise. Once you start off with this fun activity you will enjoy it – not only as an activity but also its benefits. You can easily check out the health and mind improvement. There’s no need of a doctor to tell you that you are doing good because the ‘feel-good factor’ is keeping you energetic, lively, ten times more happy, composed and relaxed.

Another health defect which is the mother of most of the ailments/illnesses is – lack of sleep. A person who is deprived of a good sleep cannot have a healthy mind and body. This unhealthiness shows up on the face, physical health and mental temperament. It is recommended to have a sound sleep and a good sleep for 7-8 hours. If any person is not getting ample sleep, that person will always be feeling giddy, will lack concentration, will be out of focus and that person’s working potential will be on a constant decline.

If walking is introduced to such a person – the person is bound to have a good night’s sleep and his performance will shoot up to an all time high. Such are the miracles of walking.

However, as exceptions are always there, here too, certain Terms and Conditions are applicable. There are a few points to keep in mind.

The first and the most important, the technique of walking. If we are walking, just for the sake of it and not maintaining a good posture; our body will start complaining of stiffness. Since the posture is not right, the stress would be more on the joints and the bones. Many people complain of back pain, knee-pain, joints pain, neck pain, shoulder pain etc. after walking. Hardly realizing the fact that it was just the posture of the body that is creating hurdles in enjoying the pleasures of walking.

Our body needs to be straight and tension free. We should be wearing loose and comfortable clothes, so that nothing comes in between walking and enjoying. And as they say, “Shoes are a man’s best friends”. One must wear good, fitting and comfortable shoes, so that walking is over, you don’t end up having sore feet or aching heels.

The other technique is of pace. Are you walking at a normal pace, are you brisk walking or are you jogging? Many people tend to start with a brisk walk – half-way, they start running short of breath, - in order to pacify their thumping heart, and they slow down. This is an ideal example of unplanned move.

Then there are other groups of people who think that the heavier the brisk walk is – the shorter will be the time consumed. For the calorie conscious lot, a high speed brisk walk will lead to more calories burned. This again is wrong notion. The hard truth is that one needs to maintain a constant pace. This holds especially true for people who mix up brisk walking with jogging. Such people start as if they are preparing for a marathon or best – as if they are doing a noble cause for the society. For all such people, the secret is ‘to walk and to walk at a constant pace’. A pace that they can be easy, comfortable and not out of breath. Walking is a complete exercise. It helps the brain functioning, proper blood circulation, heartbeat, lungs and liver functioning, it relaxes the muscles, provides strength to the bones, increases stamina, makes us one with the nature and relaxes our mind and heart from all sort of stress and fatigue. It helps cleanse our body system inside out. It clears all the emotional vents out of the heart, it clears our mind to have a fresh approach towards our mentally tough situations. Walking gives us time to thank God for the beautiful colors and sounds, for the various shapes and sizes that are all around us. It gives us time to enjoy the bounties of nature.