Walking For Health – 4 Exercises to Boost Your Walks
WALKING FOR HEALTH
Walking is a fantastic exercise for several reasons. It’s convenient, requires no equipment, and is gentle on your joints. Whether you’re new to exercising or have been active for years, walking can aid in weight loss and improving fitness. So to get the most out of your walking it is always a good idea to help condition and strengthen the prime mover muscles we use when we walk. This way we can enhance our walking fitness and prevent injuries.
A well-rounded Walk Fit training plan should target the lower body, upper body, and core. Strong legs can improve speed and endurance while walking. A strong core provides overall body support and helps maintain posture. Strong arms assist in maintaining proper walking form, particularly as leg fatigue sets in. Incorporate these effective strength exercises into your walking routine to become a stronger, fitter walker!
I’ve developed a 4 Move Walk Fit Workout routine that you can easily perform at home. For improved walking fitness, endurance, and speed, I recommend doing this workout 3-4 times a week. Below are 4 exercises you can do at home to help improve your walking.
MOVE 1: POWER ARMS
Stand in a split stance. Extend one arm in front and the other behind. Palms facing in, then change to the other arm in front and the other behind, as if you are sprinting. Keep alternating for 1 minute. Imagine you are running with just your arms. This move helps build up endurance and power through your arms.
MOVE 2: CORE CONDITIONING
Start by standing straight and kick one leg out and in front of you and aim to take the opposite hand towards your foot. Alternating legs. Aim to do this for 1 minute. This move will condition your core and at the same time increase your lower body flexibility.
MOVE 3: STEP BACK LUNGE
Simply lunge one foot behind and be sure not to let the line of the knee in front go over your toes, hold, then push back up to standing. Keep alternating legs and aim to do this for 1 minute. This move will build endurance and strength in your lower body.
MOVE 4: SIDE SHUFFLES
Do 2 side shuffle runs, then come into a squat and aim to touch the ground with your fingers, then come back up to standing. Now do 2 shuffle runs back the other way and repeat the deep squat on the other side again taking fingers down towards the ground. Aim to do this for 1 minute. This move targets your lateral muscles (side muscles) such as your inner and outer thighs, this helps not only with endurance but also with stability.
WALK FOR HEALTH
Walking truly is one of the best and most natural exercises we can do and when it comes to our well-being” Walking for Heath” is key. For all of my Free Indoor Walking Home Workout Videos on YouTube, you can click here. These are a great way to help boost your daily step count from the comfort of your own home.