Londoners alone spend 81 hours a year walking, and women make 30 per cent of their trips on foot compared to 25 per cent of men’s outings. And besides being a popular pastime, walking has spectacular health benefits; a recent study led by The National Institute of Health in America found that walking for 30 minutes a day, if combined with a healthy eating plan, could halve the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
A Week's Worth of Walking
In addition to the fact that walking may help stave off certain diseases, this type of exercise works the major muscle groups in your legs and bum and will improve your circulation. And as it’s low impact it is also is easy on your joints.
In fact due to its low impact whilst still remaining a weight-bearing exercise, walking whilst being easy on joints can also strengthen bones therefore, preventing diseases like Osteoporosis. It trains you abdo muscles, helping you to stay in an upright and aligned position and improve your long-term posture.
Walking the Walk...
A good walking stance is important. It is suggested that you think of yourself as being as tall and straight as possible; pulling your tummy button in towards the spine, keeping your neck long, your chin slightly down, and then, holding your arms at a 90-degree angle, gently pumping them back and forth to begin your walk!
