Health and WellnessExercises & Fitness Walking

Walking is a fantastic way of getting into shape if you are not used to physical exertion, or if you want to start out gradually. It brings all the benefits of regular exercise and improves your state of mind and spirit, without you having to feel the strain. According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 1999, walking for half an hour a day reduces your risk of heart attack just as much as any other high intensity exercise would.

Just by adding it to your daily routine, together with improving your health and dietary habits, walking can dramatically change your life for the better. Health benefits include reducing blood pressure, raising HDL ("good" cholesterol), strengthening immune system and increasing cardiovascular health.

Why Walk?

• it is free and you do not need any special equipment or training
• walking is an activity that almost anyone can do
• you can walk almost anywhere
• it is a safe and low-impact activity, with low risk of injuries and accidents
• there is no excuse not to walk - inlcude walking for health within your daily routine: walking to work, school or shops; visiting a place of interest; walking the dog
• walking does not require much concentration, allowing to enjoy your surroundings, chat to companions or just relax
• a brisk one-mile (approximately 1.6 km) walk in 20 minutes burns around 100 calories - as much as swimming for 10 minutes, playing football for 12 minutes or doing aerobics for 16 minutes