Why Walking Is The Best Workout For Women Over 50
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We all know that moving our bodies is essential for staying healthy and happy—but if you don’t have much experience with exercise, starting a workout routine can be intimidating. It’s easy to fall into the mindset that “working out” means you have to go on super long runs, lift two times your weight, or complete intense workouts that leave you feeling drained. Fortunately, that isn’t the case at all. Walking—one of the easiest, most accessible forms of exercise—is actually considered by many experts to be an incredibly healthy form of exercise. Not because it’s the hardest, most vigorous exercise out there, but because nearly anyone can do it and tauts a number of health benefits.
Here are four reasons to start walking ASAP.
Walking is safe!
When it comes to exercises like running, lifting weights, and even yoga, proper form is everything. It can be the difference between you reaping the benefits of the exercise and getting seriously injured. What I love about walking is that, so long as you have a supportive shoe, you’re almost certainly good to go. (Exception being if you toe-in or toe-out when you walk, in which case you should see a doctor to get orthotics or visit a running store where a specialist can help you find proper shoes.) Walking is second nature to us—our bodies are designed to do it. Plus, you run very little risk of injury and fatigue by going for a walk, even a long one!
Walking is easy on your joints.
Walking is the poster child for low impact exercises, meaning it doesn’t put extra stress on your joints. That’s because walking is a fluid motion that doesn’t involve any jumping or pounding movement, which can cause knee, hip, and ankle pain in many people. If you know you’re prone to joint pain or injury in general (our risk of these tends to increase as we get older), walking is a great option for you. Did we mention it can help prevent heart disease? I call that a win-win.
Walking requires no equipment.
The only item you need to go for a walk is a pair of sneakers—how awesome is that? Walking requires no weights, bands, mats, anything—as long as you have shoes, you can get a walk in at any moment, wherever you are. I personally love taking a stroll after breakfast, and I also take walking breaks throughout the day to clear my head and combat stress. A word to the wise: Invest in a supportive, high-quality pair of sneakers. It’s definitely worth it! I personally love Brooks sneakers, but you should choose whatever pair feels most comfortable for you.
You can walk at your own pace.
Regardless of where you are in your fitness journey—at the beginning, in the middle, coming back from injury, etc.—walking is something you’ll almost always be able to do (barring injury or physical limitation). And the best part is that you can walk at whatever pace you want, and push yourself when you want to. You can control how challenging your walk is by choosing routes with hills or increasing your speed or distance overtime. What matters most, though, is getting the steps in—consistency is key when trying to start a walking routine.
Now that you know a few of the reasons why walking is so wonderful, it’s time for you to get ready to join us. Starting on April 28, 2024, myself and the rest of the PJW community will be walking every day for 30 days straight. Studies have shown that exercising and sharing a goal with like-minded people helps you achieve it.
Let’s break that down. Those like-minded people are in the Pure Joy Wellness community. We’ll all be sharing photos, videos, and updates right here on our new Facebook page, so you’ll have a place to celebrate your wins and a community to cheer you on.
I hope you’ll take part in the Walking Challenge, right here in the PJW Walking Warriors FB group. You may even get to walk with me...look out for more info!
xo,
Renata