Why is walking so good for us?

Why is walking so good for us?

In aid of take a hike day, we’re taking a moment to reflect on why hiking or walking is so good for us. On November 17th, in the US this day is celebrated to encourage people to explore more of the vast amount of trails made for walking across the 50 states. This is not just to inspire people to find and enjoy beautiful locations but also to help them increase their fitness and health. Walking has been proven to be an activity great for the body, mind and a favourite for our four-legged friends! So what are the greatest benefits?

Health Benefits

Ultimately, walking supports a healthy lifestyle and brings many benefits to our physical health. From improving circulation to strengthening muscles there are few benefits that walking doesn’t help. Most commonly known, walking is great for improving cardiovascular health. It’s also an activity that can be started at any point in life no matter what fitness level a person is.

Mind Benefits

Whilst being great for physical health, it’s also incredible for mental health too. The time spent outdoors in nature and moving has a profound impact on the mind. There are many studies that show how walking each day correlates with an increase in a person’s mood. You’re also improving your breathing and sleeping!

‘A study of 6,000 women, ages 65 and older, performed by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. The women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory, as opposed to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.’

Arthritis Foundation

Creating Routine

Habits and routines have been known to have a positive impact on many people too. From inspiring great personal development to bringing a sense of security and safety to individuals, routine is as important to humans as it is to our animals. We give our pets routine to make them confident in being able to rely on us and therefore we should give ourselves the same care and commitment.

Friendly activity

Walking is both a great solo activity and one for as many people or animals as you can possibly imagine. Time alone is great for the mind. Consistency is great for the mind and body. But this is a great choice for bringing people together too. For important conversations or even just conversations to learn more about one another, walking provides a whole new place for these exploratory and enlightening moments.

Your pet loves it

The number one reason we love walking is that whilst we’re gaining all these amazing benefits, our pets are loving it too! There’s nothing they enjoy more than being taken out to new locations but they love the same ones too. They get plenty of health benefits and there’s nothing more satisfying for us than seeing their faces light up when they know we’re going out and the way they run when they’re there!

Walking is a great activity, an easy habit to start and one that benefits yourself and those around you (including the furry ones!) Maybe when thinking of the new years resolutions you want to make, adding 10 minutes onto your daily walk will be something easy to do and benefit you the most!