Have you tried walking, but it didn’t seem to work for you? Or perhaps you wish to reap more health benefits but hate to run? You might haven’t thought about it. But walking, by itself, can turn into a moderate workout.
While putting on comfortable walking shoes is an excellent start, you may need more than that to power your walking workouts. For many people, walking is a means to add a bit of activity to their otherwise inactive lifestyle. And that’s perfectly fine.
However, you can use a few tips to get more out of your walking workout. Eager to know more about it? Let’s cut to the chase.
Include Dynamic Warm Ups
Walking isn’t just healthy and joyful. It’s the ease that comes with it. You can walk anytime and anywhere without special equipment. Moreover, it is an excellent way to burn more calories and lose weight.
However, it’s an exercise, and your body requires a little warm up to prepare for walking. Warmup exercises will help prevent injuries, improve flexibility and assist you in walking with ease for a longer time.
Swing Those Arms
Have you ever seen speed walkers use that satisfying arm swing? There is always a reason. A good arm swing allows for a quicker pace. And it keeps your upper body engaged.
Keep your elbows naturally bent and make your arms swing alternating with your footsteps. You may not want to overdo the swing and needlessly exert.
Wear Proper Shoes
If you want to keep aches and injuries at bay, the only gear you need is a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Pick shoes that won’t hurt your feet and are comfy, cushioning, and lightweight. The shoes specially designed for walking are your best bet.
Though any comfortable shoes will work for walking, you may not want to wear your dress or tennis shoes for more than a 30-minute walk. Especially walking on hard surfaces like pavement or concrete, you need extra cushioned shoes. Your joints won’t appreciate this even when it suffers from issues in later life.
Use Correct Posture
You have probably noticed runners focusing on their foot placement and posture during the run. That stands correct for walking as well. Paying attention to your walking posture will help you make it a cakewalk.
It will also reduce the chance of injuries. A forward-leaning posture while walking can add stress to your joints and cause back pain. It may even make you gasp for air and cause fatigue. You may want to maintain an erect posture while walking.
Try to keep your head centered over the body and your spine tall. Just being mindful of your posture will help a lot during walks.
Improve Your Stride
Besides posture, your strides also create a difference in your walk. Avoid taking too wide strides as you walk. Usually, taking shorter strides at a little faster pace improves your walking. Finding your ideal stride will help you walk with ease.
Test your short and long strides and see which one is more effortless.
Walking is an exercise too. However, it’s not as intense as running or weight training exercises. But any movement or speed is much better than just sitting around. Start with 10-15 minutes of walking and gradually build your momentum and walking time.
Dress up for the walk and try wearing comfortable walking shoes to power your walking workout. Remember to use these tips and turn them into a daily habit to get maximum benefits.
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