Usually, when we leave the house to walk, we don’t think about how exactly this will happen. And indeed, regardless of whether you plan to just walk around the block or reach a specific goal, the process of moving your legs does not require much mental effort.
But if you want to get the most out of your walk, you should pay more attention to both the distance you want to cover and the speed of your walk.
First of all, brisk walking is very beneficial for the heart and blood vessels. In fact, it is a cardio workout that gets the heart pumping , strengthens the cardiovascular system and increases aerobic endurance, that is, the efficiency of oxygen distribution throughout the body during physical activity.
Plus, brisk walking is a great way to strengthen your leg muscles.
What are the benefits of long, slow walking?
When you walk slowly, your heart rate does not increase, but this does not mean that such walking is not beneficial for the cardiovascular system. It also helps strengthen the heart and circulatory system, and thereby increases overall endurance.
In addition, slow walking does not put as much strain on the joints as fast walking, so this type of exercise is suitable for those who have problems in this area. Long (but not too long), leisurely walks are also good during the recovery period after illness.
Such low-intensity physical activity is excellent for restoring blood circulation and muscle strength.
We should also not forget that this type of walk is beneficial not only for physical health, but also for mental health . Go for a walk with a friend, with a girlfriend or alone, turning on your favorite music on your phone, and you will certainly feel better.
So what should you choose? How to walk properly?
Both a short, fast, energetic walk and a long, slow, meditative walk have their benefits. What you prefer at a given, specific moment depends on the circumstances – the amount of free time, state of health, well-being, weather, mood, and so on. Whatever your preference, movement will bring you many benefits.