Fitness and exercise does not always have to be hard work. It doesn’t have to be about charging around at breakneck speed or throwing yourself on the ground and doing 20 press ups. It can be much more relaxed than that. Don’t get me a wrong, a walk in the park is not going to have the same results as an hour circuit training, but there is alway a place and there is always value in walking. It is a superb way to start moving after a period of absence from training and is low impact. Also, remember there is a difference between a stroll in the country and a walk at speed, using your arms. If you are going to use walking as a serious form of exercise then you will need to walk at a reasonable pace, use your arms and incorporate a few hills as well.
For me, last Sunday, it was more of a stroll. I had been out for the day and returned in the evening and felt the need to do some sort of exercise but wasn’t really in the mood for a hard run so a friend and I decided to go for a walk. We drove to the nearby canal and walked for a couple of hours or so along the tow path. The canal goes through the most beautiful countryside and follows the River Avon. There are many barges moored up along the canal sides and the smell of wood smoke is wonderful . At that time in the evening it was mingling with the smell of cut grass and barbeques. It was such a peaceful feeling.
On such a mellow evening as we walked we relaxed and it led us to start talking about life and the world. We found it incredibly theraputic to just chat, plan and put the world to rights. So we walked and chatted for a couple of hours, fought off the midges and then went home feeling we had at least done some exercise, however low, and that we had had a chance to talk things through till all felt well with the world. Now to me, that has to be a good reason to do exercise of any sort!!
