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Are you one of the very many people who would like to take more exercise but, for whatever reason, you just can’t seem to get around to it? There are certainly enough reasons – or excuses – to avoid taking exercise. Lack of time, lack of energy, lack of the right equipment, lack of training – there are plenty of justifiable reasons why it’s easier to skip exercise than get on and do it. Considering also the fact that exercise can be costly – monthly gym fees can be very expensive – it’s perfectly understandable that so many of us get a lot less exercise than we should.

If there was a way to take exercise which didn’t need you to get all hot sweaty and out of breath, was easy to do and which didn’t require the use of any special equipment, then it would probably be a lot easier to motivate yourself to take exercise more often. If it was an exercise which could be slotted into your daily routine whenever it suited you best, then that would be ideal.

Thankfully, there is a form of exercise which ticks all of those boxes, albeit you may not have thought about (in terms of exercise at least). Walking is something that most of us do every day. There’s no need for any training, special equipment or expertise. As long as you have a comfy pair of shoes you can get started on a walking exercise program. Another very significant advantage that walking for exercise offers is that it is practically free – no gym fees to pay. Neither do you have to schedule in a trip to the gym – walking can slot right into your day whenever you have a spare few minutes.

When you look at the potential health benefits of walking for exercise, you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at an advert for some new miracle drug. It lowers blood pressure levels. It increases the efficiency of the lungs. It builds muscle and increases bone density. It lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can reduce the risk of certain cancers. It helps to fight anxiety and depression and also promotes better sleep. It boosts your energy levels and leaves you feeling generally better. It helps you to lose weight and get in shape.

Health professionals seem to agree that, in order to maximize the benefits to be gained from walking exercise, we should target 10,000 steps each day. For most people that equates to a distance of just under five miles – although this can vary somewhat if you have a very short or long stride length.

Whilst that may sound like a long way, you would probably be surprised at just how easy it is to achieve. Leaving the car at home and walking to work once or twice a week is a good start. Or, if you travel by bus or subway, get off one or two stops in advance of your final destination and complete your journey on foot. If you do decide to take the car, then don’t feel guilty about it. Just park in the corner of the parking lot so that you have further to walk to the entrance. Go for a ten or fifteen minute stroll during your lunch break. The possibilities are endless – and they soon add up.

You should exercise a little common sense and start out slowly, building up gradually only when you feel comfortable to do so. If you are over forty or have any medical conditions then you should get the advice of your doctor before you commence any new exercise program. However, as walking is a low intensity, low impact and low injury risk method of taking exercise, it should be suitable for the vast majority of people and, as discussed earlier, the potential health benefits are enormous.

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