I don’t often get the chance to quote Hippocrates but when he said that “walking is man’s best medicine”, he couldn’t have foreseen thousand’s of years later how many people discover that truth daily.
Walking as part of a daily exercise program is encouraged by doctors to their patients after heart surgery, and by hypnotherapists to clients who quit smoking or are in a weight loss program.
Now these may be two extremes but nonetheless provide validation that walking is an exercise that can benefit the majority of us and adjusted for different fitness levels. I love to jog but in the last few years have been forced to reduce my running activity due to knee problems, and have replaced most jogging with walking.
Outside a good pair of walking shoes there is no other investment in equipment needed – just your time.
Recently I invested in a pair of MBT walking shoes because of my knee problems and recommendation by other family members. MBT walking shoes are specially designed to reduce stress on knee and hip joints and improve your posture and gait – they’re designed by Swiss Masai. Now I wear mine all the time around the house and not just when exercise walking.
If you want to invest in additional equipment then a pedometer and some cool clothing would be extras to consider, and if you walk early morning or in the evening wear a reflective product. Choose comfortable clothing and dress in layers.
Benefits of walking include:
– Easy to do and fit into any schedule
– Healthy
– Safe
– Burns calories
– Lowers blood pressure
– Reduces bad cholesterol levels
– Improves muscle tone
– Enhances stamina and energy
– Easy on your joints
– Increases aerobic capacity
– Reduces heart attack risk
Remember – walk at a speed you’re comfortable and if you experience pain or discomfort talk to your doctor.
Hansen
Alternative Health for Today 
You are so right. Walking is something that everyone can do regardless of their current fitness levels. It is the perfect exercise to start doing first off and is easily scaled up as your fitness levels increase.
Walking regularly has been a great benefit for me. About 10 years ago I began to take hikes on a regular basis and this has led to many of the benefits you list, such as better energy level, weight loss, and lower blood pressure. Hiking in scenic places I’ve found to be a good approach because one is more likely to do it regularly when it’s more enjoyable.
[…] came across an article the other day called why walking is good medicine which you can find at https://alternativehealthfortoday.wordpress.com – it’s worth a read and […]