Walking?

Sounds pretty obvious, doesn’t it, so why would anyone need to practice it to perfect their technique?

If you are just thinking of jumping out of a chair and heading for the TV, computer or the refrigerator, then yes, that’s pretty much a no-brainer for most people who are able to walk. But if you want to use a walking program for exercise, weight loss, control of blood sugar levels (in the diabetic) or for any other medical condition, the importance of doing it right is far more important right from the outset.

Safety Equipment For Maximum Results

Most people assume the answer to this one is none, but the reality is there are three things which are vitally important to any successful walking program.

• a pair of good fitting walking shoes which have been sized correctly. They need to fit comfortably, be lightweight and flexible enough they can bend and stretch with the motion of your foot.

• quality socks and a good fit so they do not ride up or down your leg is important. “Traveling” socks will cause blisters where they bunch up from the continuous rubbing motion. Extra padding for the heels and toes is also important to prevent rips and tears when in use.

• attitude might not sound like a piece of equipment but your desire to start and then continue a consistent routine will be the final deciding factor in the success or failure of this program.

So, whether you are a lone walker, part of a group combining exercise with socialization skills or you wouldn’t dream of being without your headphones or music, all of these combined can become a relaxing, healthy and still injury-free road to better health.

Four Basic Steps To Success

Start by incorporating these into your daily routine for better health.

• Warm Up Time: sounds kind of funny doesn’t it, since all you are going to be doing is walking. But the simple act of a few stretches, arm raises and walking in place for thirty seconds increases the blood flow to the extremities which will reduce any chances of injury and fatigue.

• Pace Yourself: walk comfortably, just not at a meandering pace. Start slow if you are a beginner or out of shape. Slowly step up your pace and intensity then as you improve. Never walk so fast that you are getting winded. If you can not walk and carry on a conversation simultaneously, you need to slow down.

• Posture: stand straight, eyes facing straight ahead, shoulders pushed back which automatically tucks in your stomach and buttocks. This position prevents leaning forward which will give nothing but leg muscle and back strain.

• Bend the Elbows: Keep your arms bent at the elbow and pump the arms, keeping them tucked close to your body. Never walk with your arms hanging straight down at the sides. It creates drag (which slows you down and creates excess fatigue), makes it more difficult for you to sustain the shoulders back, tummy tucked position, plus it creates increased puffiness in your hands and fingers by forcing all the fluids down into the tips of your hands and fingers.
• Charity fundraising events

Physical activity has become such a task for so many people that just getting in the gym requires making your way through dozens of barriers.

Physical activity is barely seen as activity anymore, but more-so as a job with a reward that is worth the trouble.

Exercisers can expect to go through many barriers when attempting to stay consistent with their routine.

For instance, there is the time barrier, a barrier that affects all without discrimination, and stops exercisers from exercising through time constraints.

There is the exercise efficacy barrier, in which people do not believe in themselves enough to complete exercise.

There is the general self-efficacy barrier, in which people don’t have enough confidence in themselves to exercise.

I could go on explaining the many different barriers that exercisers go through, but you understand, there are more reasons to stop exercising than there are to start, although the rewards might be better.

Because there are so many barriers, not too long ago, I decided to start heavily researching what motivates people to exercise and more importantly, what keeps people coming back to the gym and continuing in their routines.

I say that the latter is more important because there are many people who start exercising, but there are few who continue it for a couple years, and even fewer who do it over a lifetime.

One of the most common reasons I saw people returning to the gym was because of partner or group training. Workout classes tended to result in groups forming in which there was a social reward for going and a physical reward for going.

The groups established a system of support in which each member of the group motivated the others to not only continue coming back, but to also work harder within the workouts.

The groups, within themselves, helped bring people back to the gym, regardless of the barrier or excuse given.

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