The Benefits of Walking for Health

Whether you have personal training clients who are just commencing their health and fitness journey, working with an athlete who is coming back from an injury, or have a client who uses the COMMON excuse “I just don’t have time,” walking for health is the BEST starting point. But does walking really offer results? Well, we have FIVE reason why.

#1 Mental Health

YES, mental health, because exercise isn’t always about getting fitter or losing weight. If you are looking to exercise as your outlet for stress, or for your ‘own-time,’ scheduling in a daily walk can do you wonders. Now we know that time is not always on our side, but instead of sitting at your desk for your lunch break, get up and MOVE. Get yourself in the sunshine and clear your thoughts by soaking in the fresh air.

#2 Achieve Your Step Goals

Not many of us really thought about how many steps we do in a day until wearable technology hit the industry, and now more and more users are setting themselves daily step-goals. Wearable technology is a great initiative, especially when it comes to counting steps as even the most UN-fitness savvy client can understand how to track this metric. Since wearable technology has hit the shelves, awareness has been a HUGE wake up call for many Australians. For example, the recommended ‘step-goal’ most fitness trackers set is 10,000 steps per day, however, for the average office worker, without exercise the daily step count can be as low a 1200 steps in a day. Now it’s ok if you or your client don’t hit 10.000 steps everyday, but awareness is key and this is how you can keep your clients accountable!

#3 It’s Social

Walking is a great way to catch up with friends and family, while getting in your daily exercise. Even scheduling your one on one work meetings as ‘walk meetings’ where you can so you can stretch your legs can do you wonders, and decrease your stress when you get back to the office.

#4 Walking Is Great For Recovery

Even if you are the biggest fitness fanatic, there are always days you wake up and your body feels broken from the day before’ serious leg session, but a like so many avid gym goers the train through the pain, which often results in injury. Don’t do this to yourself, its ok to have rest days, no matter your fitness level, but if you ‘must’ do something, go for a walk and stretch those legs. Walking is a great way to ‘actively’ recover as you still gain the calorie burn, but it also helps to flush all that lactic acid build up, which will help with that burning feeling every time you go to sit down.

#5 Walking Can Help You Refocus

Ever been working on a project or assignment and suffered a ‘brain-block’? That feeling when the thought is at the tip of your tongue but you can’t quite put your finger on it. Well, clearing that head of yours is easily done with a walk. So the next time you find yourself procrastinating behind your desk get up, get active – your work will thank you for it.

• Bio

AIF

The Australian Institute of Fitness

The Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) is the largest and longest established fitness training organisation in Australia, with dynamic training methods and expert course coaches nationwide - spanning fitness, massage and nutrition. The AIF qualifies more fitness professionals than any other provider in Australia, as well as offering a broad range of continuing education courses (CEC), upskilling resources and partnership programs for existing industry.