Walking

“Walking is man’s best medicine”, Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.).

Walking stresses (in a good way) the bones, joints and muscles. Walking increases circulation and decongests your system. Walking promotes better sleep and weight loss. A study in JAMA Neurology found that walking around 10,000 steps a day was linked to less cardiovascular disease, 13 types of cancer, and dementia.

Walking is also considered nature’s back balm. The trunk, core, and lower back muscles play a vital role in maintaining the stability and movement of the lower back. Injuries or a sedentary lifestyle can weaken the lower back muscles. Walking helps open up the blood vessels, increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to these muscles. Walking improves back muscle strength and flexibility.

Walking is one of the best ways to see the world. When you slow down, get out of the car or off the bicycle, you start to see details of life. I have always been an avid walker. I have circumnavigated islands, traversed mountain ranges and traversed countries on foot.

I am an early bird and get my 10,000 steps in every day before 9 am. I see wildlife, breathtaking sunrises and do some of my best thinking during these walks. When I walk cities, I meet a lot of interesting people. I recently walked from Brooklyn to Manhattan with a Dutch airline pilot from Germany at sunrise. This past year, I have walked most of Brooklyn and Manhattan with my Mom, up to 50,000 steps a day. I can’t think of a better way to spend time with someone while seeing the world.

And, it’s good for you!