Walking is one of those actions that most of us take for granted, without realizing that the way we walk affects our whole body, from our posture to our coordination to both our upper and lower body.
Walking can also be a very effective exercise if done correctly. Let’s see what benefits walking (and especially power walking) can bring to your whole wellbeing.
Power walking is an effective way to help manage your weight as it works both on the upper (better if using a set of hand-grips) and lower body.
Walking at a brisk pace of 4 mph burns anywhere from 236 to 345 calories per hour depending on your level of effort.
Incorporating regular brisk walks into your daily routine helps combat illness and disease. When done with consistency, power walking can help raise good cholesterol levels and decrease bad cholesterol levels.
Cardiovascular exercises like power walking help to lower high blood pressure and lessen the risks of illnesses like type 2 diabetes. Power walking also decreases the likelihood of serious health issues like certain types of cancers and stroke.
If you want to enhance cognitive flexibility, the ability to shift thinking and to produce a steady flow of creative thoughts, walking is the way to go.
In a study out of Stanford University, subjects completed a divergent thinking test while seated and again while walking. The results showed that most of the participants benefited from walking compared with sitting, and the average increase in creative output was around 60%.
Even more interesting was that the creative boost was more evident in the group that walked outdoors, compared to the one that walked on a treadmill.
Unexpected London is on a mission to encourage a more active lifestyle by exploring London.
Sightseeing should, therefore, become a mindset: no matter whether it is only 10 minutes during your lunch break or a couple of hours at weekends, walking on a regular basis, whilst following a specific technique, is much more beneficial than a couple of hours at a gym in a week.
Get active. Get curious. Get healthy.
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