A Walk a Day
~Lorrie Morales
Anytime is a time to enjoy the outdoors. Whatever your reason, “the beauty is in the walking.” Gwyn Thomas
According to a recent study published just last year, with 400,000 adults tested, walking was shown to slow the biological aging process. Walking is wonderful for a variety of reasons. We can do it as a determined number of steps every day to an enjoyable wander in nature for our health. It can be walking indoors around a mall to a social outing with a friend around the neighborhood. Walking can be fun and social or an exciting workout, but it’s free and you don’t need much equipment or preparation other than a good pair of shoes or walking poles to benefit from the exercise.
So, what are some of the benefits of this wondrous workout? Advantages to walking range from mental to physical health. First of all, the heart gets pumping, muscles are working and the body is moving. Walking not only improves quality of sleep, but it reduces the risk of depression. Creativity is boosted, and cognition for our brain is improved as well. Reducing mortality and other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease is another reason to get mobile.
Now where can you go to get those simple steps in? Be creative. Here are five different walks to try to add to your enjoyment. One change of pace is to do fun walks. These can be a stroll with a friend down to a regular coffee shop or a walk around a park. Or it might be challenging your grandchildren to go on a color walk by identifying as many colors as possible. Maybe it’s time to pull out the magnifying glass or create a scavenger hunt on some of the walking trails. Another type of walk is the charity for a cause walk or co-friendly walk where a group walks a certain route – perhaps along a riverbed – and pick up litter using protective gloves of course! Labyrinth walks are very calming and meditative or if there is not one near you, you could immerse yourself in a sound walk by listening to nature sounds and using your senses. Cultural, historical or guided walks are great for exploring new areas, cities, places and learning something interesting. And lastly, forest, foraging or Geocaching walks get you out into the great outdoors with the plants, water, and nature with a purpose of collecting plants, finding treasures or simply Japanese, shinrin-yoku or forest bathing.
The benefits of walking are worth your health; the places to walk are endless and “walking is man’s best medicine” according to Hippocrates. There are a few tips to keep in mind when you are stepping out. Be sure to dress according to the weather. Carry identification in case of an emergency and be sure to let someone know where you are headed. If you have a cell phone and play music, be sure that the volume is kept down on your headset to hear motor vehicles or cyclists on the path. Be aware of where you are and educate yourself with the area you are walking in. Enjoy this season in your shoes!
“Walking is man’s best medicine” ~ Hippocrates
Lorrie is a semi-retired educator and grandmother who fell in love with writing, reading and teaching at a young age. To this day, she dabbles in education, reads a plethora of books and is a published author. If she isn't traveling, socializing or exercising, she is spending time with family, friends or volunteering. You can find her with a smile on her face enjoying the blessings life has to offer. You can follow her on Instagram @lorrie.morales.author or check out her Blog and website at www.lorriemorales.com
Lorrie is the author of three published books: We Can Do This: Adult Children and Aging Parents Planning for Success; Tyrone the Terrific (children's book) and a YAF - SCARS. Her short fiction is published in Creativity and Chaos (Inscribe) and Stories Through the Ages: Baby Boomers Plus 2021 (Living Springs). Lorrie was interviewer and writer for a federal government project magazine entitled "Seniors". She was editor for Women's Corner magazine (LCC Media) and occasionally writes for North Okotoks Living Magazine as well as other publications. She is currently working on a new novel and a devotional.