IN today’s fast-paced world, more and more people are becoming health conscious. They are turning towards different methods which can keep them fit and healthy. Some of these methods include daily workouts, bodybuilding, swimming, jogging, walking, indulging in various sporting activities.
In our country, many people are still unaware of the benefits of exercise and are thus negligent towards their health and fitness. Such people are usually described as couch potatoes. They remain sedentary for most of the time. Of course this does not mean that they don’t move around. They do, but very little. After spending most of the time sitting at their workplaces such as offices, banks and shops, these people return home only to sit and watch television for the rest of the evening.
Nowadays many people also spend a lot of time sitting in front of their computers. There is no concept of exercise in their lives. What these people need to understand is that movement and activity is a crucial part of their lives. The muscles of their body have to be relaxed and toned, the bones need to be stronger and extra fat has to be burned. Little movement and activity slackens the muscles, weakens the bones and accumulates fat in the body. All this in turn makes people appear either weak or flabby. Such people get tired very quickly. Therefore, in order to maintain the body and looks, exercise is very essential. It is the best way to relax and regain energy. Those who think exercise would make them tired after a day’s work, are wrong.
Of all the means of keeping fit that have been mentioned earlier, walking is the easiest and least costly type of exercise. It is a great natural way to achieve daily physical activity. There are many hidden benefits of a regular walking programme. Walking half an hour a day or three hours per week is associated with a decreased risk of heart disease. In fact, walking an hour a day is associated with a decreased risk of many health problems. It may prevent disability by lowering body weight and reducing the chances of painful arthritis and osteoporosis. As a person grows older, his muscles and bones get weaker. Walking regularly slows down this process. It has been observed that those people who have been walking regularly since an early age feel less tired and weak in their old age and in turn suffer from no major health problem as such. Walking, therefore helps a person to live longer and lead a healthy post-retirement life.
A healthy body really does mean a healthy mind. Walking benefits your brain power, improves your mood and helps ward off depression. It keeps the brain active. It is therefore wiser to start a walking programme as soon as possible. But it is advisable to contact a medical practitioner for a checkup or consultation before you begin your walking programme. It would be even more essential if:
a) you are sedentary for a year or more.
b) you are over 65 and do not exercise.
c) you are diagnosed with a medical condition such as heart trouble, high blood pressure, diabetes, chest pains etc.
The single most important reason that people do not walk is the lack of time. If you make walking a part of your daily life, like brushing your teeth, it will be easier. Fix a time for your daily walk and gradually it will become a part of your routine. Remember that a person can indulge in sports such as cricket, hockey or football till a certain age limit. But walking is truly a wonderful sport for life.
IN today’s fast-paced world, more and more people are becoming health conscious. They are turning towards different methods which can keep them fit and healthy. Some of these methods include daily workouts, bodybuilding, swimming, jogging, walking, indulging in various sporting activities.
