Walking as a Training Tool
Bob Sallis, MD for Every Body Walk!
I had the opportunity to be interviewed for a documentary by Brian Gerber and Thomas Rigler for the non-profit organization Every Body Walk! Yes, I am a running coach but you may be surprised by how much I encourage my clients to walk.
Body awareness is a key ingredient to any exercise program whether it be running or golf. Our bodies are constantly communicating to us what we need to know to take care of ourselves. Heart rate is one way of communicating.
While hiking up a steep hill, you may have to slow down because you’re breathing hard. It’s your body’s reaction to the increased heart rate due to the incline of the terrain.
Having too high of a heart rate for too long creates stress and results in increased wear and tear on the body, increasing the chance for injury. Walking is the best way to get the heart rate down and still receive tremendous benefits.
The Every Body Walk! campaign emphasize these benefits of walking. Thirty minutes of walking each day reduces risks and symptoms of cancer, Alzheimer’s, depression, Parkinson’s, and many other health related conditions. It’s something we already know how to do, so in short, it’s minimal effort for a huge return.
Walkers come in all shapes, sizes and outfits
According to Every Body Walk! “Our goal is to help people improve their health, simply by adding walking to their routines. For many, this is easier said than done; our goal is to help people overcome the ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘Walking won’t make a difference’ mentality and to provide the resources to start walking today.”
Here are a few of the tools offered on their website:
*Maps: Don’t know where to walk? Find a route near you or another destination.
*Groups: A little support can go a long way to help you stick with it.
*Education: Walking is good for everyone, even if you have current or past health issues. Discover the benefits, no matter your fitness level.
*Motivation: Watch interviews of walkers from across the nation, their journeys will inpsire you to go take a walk right now.
I also learned from their site about Volkswalking, a unique take on non-competitive fitness walking. They have a short video educating on this German import and features several Colorado walking groups.
As a running coach and yoga trainer, I emphasize the importance of reducing stress on the body. Walking has great stress reducing benefits and is already incorporated into our daily routine. Even just getting up from our desk and walking around the office, or better yet around the block, can go a long way in reducing stress and increasing wellness. When you are feeling stressed, take a deep breath and go for a walk.
Girls having fun at the Cherry Creek Sneak. Camaraderie through fitness.
