Walking Slowly, Healthy Steps
Sometimes the modern world seems to be increasingly about quantity vs. quality, more about the rush and less about the now. Have you ever felt you are going a million miles an hour all the time? By taking a slow walk we are are getting multiple benefits. We are getting exercise, a method to slow down our process(both mental and physical), and an opportunity to live fully in the moment.
If you approach this honestly you will see that you are more aware of your breathing, your surroundings, and each step you take forward. This becomes a moving meditation of sorts and provided you don’t have to be anywhere right away it can be very rewarding. Resist the temptation to get somewhere and be more open to the process of slowing down. After reading about this, and experiencing it firsthand, not only am I convinced of its benefits, I believe it can work for anyone, anywhere, anytime.
If mindfulness is not your thing it turns out according to recent research at the University of Colorado at Boulder slow walking is not only easier on your joints but can burn more calories too. They cited that “people burn more calories per mile walking a very leisurely 2 miles per hour than walking a moderate to brisk 3 to 4 miles per hour.” Apparently without the inertia of a rapid pace propelling you forward, your muscles have to work harder.