Walking for Fitness

The New Year is the time when many people make a commitment to healthier living. Both diet and exercise are a part of that commitment. Decatur Active Living is going to make a commitment to help. Today begins a series of walking tips to help you get off on the right foot (yes, pun intended).

Taking a Fitness  Walk
Find your neutral posture, with your head and chin level and your shoulders down and relaxed, looking forward. Keep your chest open and breathe naturally. Bend your elbows at 90 degrees and hold your hands in relaxed fists with your palms facing in and your arms pumping forward and back to assist leg action. Be sure to pull in your abdominal muscles slightly to support the lower back. While walking, keep at a pace moderate enough that you can still talk but not easily carry on a conversation. Break a  sweat. (Yes, even in cold weather you will break a sweat). Your pace should equal about 4 miles an hour, about 140 steps per minute. And most important, keep a smile and your face and enjoy!

Be sure to check with your physican before starting any exercise program.

Walking tips are taken from The Walking Deck, by Shirley Archer and published by Archer Books.