So, it’s time for lunch and you have a decision to make. A self-deemed “indispensable” you can swill coffee and greasy fast-food while slaving through the hour OR a “connected” you can walk with a friend, eat a healthy lunch and come roaring back!
Decide for the latter says this New York Times piece citing a study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sport.
In this Atlantic reprint of philosopher/author Henry David Thoreau’s essay titled “Walking,” the author muses upon the joy of sauntering while lamenting a sedentary world disconnected from nature. Extolling the art of the saunter, he notes;
No wealth can buy the requisite leisure, freedom, and independence which are the capital in this profession. It comes only by the grace of God. It requires a direct dispensation from Heaven to become a walker. – Thoreau
Thoreau waxes eloquent but his passion may not be for the faint of heart. Read his essay and contemplate it the next time you head for the woods. It may change your life!
You should stretch it out for five minutes before starting your walk says The American Heart Association. These nine simple stretches will prevent injuries and keep you supple. For additional information, go to the AHA’s comprehensive site called Start Walking Now. This site contains invaluable resources including information on joining walking clubs, finding walking paths, signing up for heart walks, learning about workplace wellness, healthy eating, advocacy, and so much more.
You’ve decided to take control of your life. Your first step is to take a walk. You ask “how far” and “how often” and are barraged with the ten-thousand-steps mantra. Not so fast says this New York Magazine “Science of Us” article.