Walking is something that has immeasurable health benefits, but that many desk bound people do too little of. Many people do not realize that walking burns almost as many calories as jogging does. It also eases back pain, slims down the waistline, lowers blood pressure, relieves anxiety and tension, lowers LDL bad cholesterol and reduces the appetite.
The key to successful healthy walking is your posture. You should keep your head up and your spine straight and look directly ahead, though, occasionally you should look down in order to avoid obstacles that may be in your way. Your arms and shoulders should be loose while you are walking. As you walk, you should take deep, regular breaths. It is not a good idea to hold your breath as you are walking.
Don’t walk too fast. For best cardiovascular benefit, you should maintain a brisk pace, such as when power walking. You should always listen to your body when walking. If you feel any pain or discomfort, you should slow down or even stop. If you have pain or discomfort while walking, you should then go see your doctor.
When walking, try to take long, smooth strides. Begin with a walk around the block. Make sure that you are wearing a good pair of walking shoes.