Finally, finally, FINALLY it looks like the good weather is back! Come October, are you going to look back on this spring and summer as a wasted opportunity or the time you got out and enjoyed every beautiful day? Camping, sailing, biking, windsurfing and all the rest are wonderful, but you don’t have to invest in time, training, or equipment to enjoy the Great Northwest Outdoors. There’s an exercise that can get you out today, no matter what shape you’re in, and that can bring challenges and benefits for the rest of your life.
One of our favorite authors, Thom Hartman, has a lot to say about the benefits of walking. In his book “Walking Your Blues Away: How to Heal the Mind and Create Emotional Well Being”, Thom says:
“Walking may well be the best single exercise there is for human beings. We’re designed to walk. Through most of our history, we walked several miles a day in search of food, water, and firewood- as indigenous people do to this very day. Unlike running, walking rarely causes injuries. Not only are our bodies designed to be able to walk, they require walking to work right.”
If you want to start walking the healthy road, we’d like to help. First, make sure you get your doctor’s advice before beginning any exercise program. As safe as walking is, it’s still possible that it could aggravate some pre-existing or hidden condition. Assuming you’re good to go, then here are some good resources to get you started…
The Walking Site has a great primer for starting a walking program. It’s got good info for beginners, as well as advice on how to ramp it up when you’re ready. The Mayo Clinic’s 12-week walking schedule is good if you’re ready to commit rather than just putting your big toe in, and Wonders of Walking has much more in-depth information as you find yourself becoming addicted.
One of the best things about walking for exercise is the social aspect. It’s much more fun exercising with other people, and having someone else committed to your program can help keep you on track when you’d rather be sleeping in. If you can’t convince a friend to join you then it’s time to get more friends, and Oregon Walks and the American Heart Association are two of the many resources that can introduce you to people who care about walking.
It’s just that simple to start a walking program, and the benefits will last the rest of your life. As they say in that classic walking song from ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’, “Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walking out that door!”
