A long time ago, in a far away place, Greek philosopher, Diogenes was asked whether motion is real. His reply was solvitur ambulando—which translates to “it is solved by walking.” Things were admittedly very different on planet earth in the 4th century B.C., but most health experts today would agree with him that many common ailments may be solved by walking.
In fact, in addition to lowering blood sugar, increasing core fitness, boosting our immune system, walking also has been shown to expand our sense of wonder, provide an amplified feeling of well-being, and help us tap into our creativity. The greatest benefits come from the love of walking rather than just simply walking for exercise.
According to Mayo Clinic, if you are going to start walking, develop good technique.
- Look forward, holding your head up
- Relax your neck, shoulders, and back
- Bend your elbows a bit and let your arms swing freely
- Keep a straight back and tighten your tummy muscles slightly
- Walk smoothly, heal-to-toe
Over 20 years ago, I began to walk for fitness and soon discovered that I walk for the love of it. When you walk, you see more. When you walk, you hear more. When you walk, you even feel more than when driving somewhere in a car. When you are walking out in nature, those benefits are amplified. I have heard hawks, coyotes, and songbirds. I have seen tiny toads, turtles, snakes, deer, myriad dogs, and I even saw this young white-footed-deer mouse featured in a recent blog.
This week, get out and walk. Start a good habit, or rekindle a favorite pastime. Research has now shown that even short bursts of exercise bring about long periods of these health benefits.
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Rev. Debra Basham
Voice: (269) 921-2217 Email: debra@scs-matters.com https://scs-matters.com http://ImagineHealing.info http://SurgicalSupport.info Small Changes … Infinite Results™
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ~Mother Teresa Tips from 5 April 2010 to 6 August 2012 are here: Archived Tips |