Let it Flow

After reading a blog post by Mark Salinas entitled “How About a Walk?” I found myself appreciating his post and wondering when fitness became so complicated. With so many diet and exercise books and programs available, how is it that so many people are still trying to find the magic pill, potion or program? Where are we going wrong? Has fitness become too complicated?

I worked with a personal trainer several years ago who had me doing all sorts of complicated exercises. I wasn’t a beginner and she thought I could “handle it”. I couldn’t and I had to ask her to simplify. My work and personal life provided enough complications, my workout, I told her, needed to be simple. As a fitness professional by training, I know that simple can also be effective and sometimes that’s the best recipe for success. Are you familiar the KISS Principle? (no, not the rock group) Life is complicated enough, I say keep your exercise and weight management activities easy.

And that’s why I loved Mark’s post about walking. It served as a great reminder to me that walking is a basic activity that the average healthy person is very capable of performing. It’s simple, affordable and accessible. No exotic locations or fancy equipment are needed to take a walk. Can’t get outside or live in an unsafe area? Check out walking fitness videos like Leslie Sansone’s Walk at Home program. While I haven’t tried this program myself, I know several people who love it.

I went for a morning walk on the beach yesterday and it was absolutely amazing. It was early, the air was still cool and the crowds had not yet arrived. This walk fed more than my need for physical activity, it helped cleared my mind and lift my spirit. What better way I though than to start my day than a walk on the beach? No cars, no noise, just the waves crashing. The walk provided me with an invigorating whole body experience. Walking is a simple, yet wonderful family friendly and relationship building activity. Meeting friends out? Why not walk instead?

Need more reasons to walk? I Googled “benefits of walking” and found tons of links on why walking is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Usually I enjoy a run, but yesterday’s walk on the beach changed me and now I, too, will start asking “how about a walk.”

Tags: Fitness and Exercise, Hiking and Outdoor Activities //