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Walking |
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Walking
is the cheapest, easiest
and most convenient form of exercise for all age groups, and can
be easily adopted if one has the Will-to-do-it. It accounts for
more than half the body muscles and joints, exercises, spinal
cord, shoulders, arms, feet, heart, lungs and brain.
Walking
helps cultivate relationships, makes one forget worries, and eases
the mind. It aids digestion, stimulates the brain, and helps the
blood flow evenly throughout the body. |
LOOK AT SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF "WALKING" ?
- Almost everyone
can do it
- You can do it
almost anywhere
- You can do it
almost anytime
- It doesn't cost
anything.
- Strengthens your
heart Helps lower cholesterol
- Relieves stress
and worry
- Improves balance
and helps prevent falls
- Strengthens
joints
- Helps control
weight
- Contributes to
"brain fitness"
- Gives you energy
and a good night's rest
- Strengthens
bones
- Helps lower
blood pressure and reduces risk of stroke
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Since obesity and high blood
pressure are among the leading risk factors for heart attack and stroke,
"Walking" offers protection against two of our major killers.
Pre requisites for walking :
1. Wear loose clothes and well fitted canvas shoes.
2. Preferably go on a empty stomach or with just a glass of water/lemon
juice.
3. You can walk in any pace with which you are comfortable.
4. Try to be regular in your walks and each walk should at least be more
than 15 minutes.
5. If you are walking daily then a walk of 5 kms or 45-60 minutes would
do.
6. Try to walk in the early morning.
7. One can walk alone or maybe in a company as per your comfort.
8. Brisk walking with a rhythmic movement of arms and feet, coupled with
controlled breathing, enhances the benefits.
How
to Walk :
- Warm up exercise before commencing walks.
- Maintain an erect posture while walking.
- Inhale deeply to regularize swinging your arms.- After every 4 steps,
inhale deeply, as much as your lungs can take.
- After every 4 steps hold breath. (neither inhaling nor exhaling)
- Start the above cycle again.
Walking helps in burning calories. It takes 3500 calories to gain or
loose one pound.
Following table shows how walking affects the calories :
How Long?
An hour a day, or a total of seven hours
a week, is associated with decreased risk for breast cancer and
diabetes. As little as a half hour a day, or three hours a week, is
associated with decreased risk of heart disease
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Pace |
Calories per
minute
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Per hour
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Strolling
(1 MPH)
Walking (3 MPH)
Running (5 MPH) |
2-2.5
calories
4-5 calories
10-11 calories |
120-150
calories
240-300 calories
600-660 calories
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