In this article Coach Kayla shares some of the benefits of getting out for a walk.
I was talking to one of our clients about how his workouts outside of Ascend were going. Like me, he’s a runner, and we were talking about how we’ve both started replacing a few of our weekly runs with walks instead.
We both chatted about how underrated walking is, and I wanted to write a bit about why walking is so beneficial. Here are some of the benefits of walking:
1. Increased Energy. There are times when we’ve been at a desk or sitting for long periods of time, and then all we want to do is take a nap. Sometimes, we might need a nap. But if we’ve been sedentary for long periods of time, chances are that we’d benefit even more from moving our bodies.
The fresh air and the deep breaths and the circulation of blood we get on a walk can go a long way towards re-energizing us. The right playlist can help boost your energy even more.
2. Decreased Stress. Oftentimes, if we’re feeling stressed, it’s a sign of stuck energy. Going for a gentle walk and moving our bodies can help diffuse stress. Many clients I work with have started adding a walk to their routines as soon as they get home from work to destress from the day, and they’ve seen tremendous benefits from this practice.
3. Increased Productivity and Creativity. Maybe you’re in the middle of a big project with a deadline, and you feel like you can’t possibly pull yourself away for a walk. What you’ll actually find is that you’ll come back to your project more clear-headed and better able to focus. It doesn’t have to be a long walk – even five-ten minutes can make a big difference. I know when I’m in the middle of writing a novel, I benefit so much from getting up for a walk. Sometimes, I even end up with great ideas for another part of the chapter I’m working on.
4. Social Connection. When I first started working at Ascend, Tanja invited me to go for a run with her. She never invited me out for a run again, and I don’t blame her. I was struggling. She’s a significantly faster runner than me, and I had just enough oxygen to keep up with her. Talking was out of the question. However, I’d happily go for a walk with her anytime. Walking is a way we can still remain socially-distanced from our friends and family and get a great conversation in, all while moving our bodies.
5. Weight Loss. I put this last because the other benefits are so much more important. I don’t want you looking at walking solely from the perspective of weight loss. At the same time, my mentors over at Chase Life are always talking about the power of walking and focusing on daily steps instead of always pushing for intense workouts. They claim that walking is even better than running or other types of cardio for weight loss. The reason for this is that you’re still getting extra movement in without it causing the same spike in appetite that can occur from higher intensity workouts.
I hope you’re now inspired to get outside for your next walk sometime very soon.
