Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2011! After all of the cookies, candy and gifting, I thought it would be nice to talk about walking. Yup, that’s right, walking.
Sounds kinda silly, doesn’t it? Walking? What does that have to do with recipes? Well, for me, walking has been one of the key recipes to recovering my health. Just a few years ago, a walk around the block was less exhilarating than exhausting. Everything was for that matter.
Over the past few years I’ve slowly built up my stamina. I remember being overjoyed one day when I was emptying the dishwasher and found that the process did not induce fatigue, relief surging through my veins, that I could again perform the most simple of chores without feeling tired!
The secret? Walking. I walked everyday. I started out just walking for 10 minutes once per day. Then, a few months later, I added in an additional 5 minute walk. Three months after that, I was walking 10 minutes twice a day. A couple of years later, I am now at the point where I can walk for more than an hour straight and feel great afterward.
Walking to me is like gardening. I walk almost the same path everyday, taking in the changes in various trees, bushes and flowers around me. I mentally garden my way through my neighborhood. It’s oh so peaceful and calming and just one more way that I stay in touch with the outdoors and the seasons.
Walking is free. Walking is healthy. Walking is anti-inflammatory (that’s right, it ultimately decreases inflammation in the body, according to my Dad). Walking calms my mind. Walking allows emptiness to fill me as I move through something much bigger than myself –the world, mother nature.
So, if you’re looking for another New Year’s resolution, here’s one you just might try. It’s free –in so many ways. It’s walking.
What are your New Year’s resolutions? Leave a comment and let’s have a conversation about healthy living to kick off 2011.
Maggie says
Both my Mom and my Dad walk on a regular basis. They’ve both exercised my entire life – so I naturally exercise regularly, thanks to their influence. What a great thing to give your children! I’m trying to train for a half marathon (eek) and I love that my 2 year old says to me, “Mommy, are you going for a run?” when she sees me in my gear. That’s motivation enough! Happy New Year Elana. Thanks for all you do.
Helen says
My News Years resolution:
I really want to decide on a 20-25 year career so when the kids go to school full time I can go back to something fulfilling that I get paid for. Now what could that be?
Thinking, thinking, thinking!!!!! More research is needed.. but something to do with being healthy and active.
Thoughtfully Yours,
Helen
Jessica Thomas says
I completely agree! It is amazing how something so simple can have such amazing results. It’s also nice that being intentional about just walking around more through out the day can really add up the miles, energize, and de-stress.
Rivkah says
I’m 8 weeks post partum and am so happy to walk at a normal pace again! I love walking. :-)
Gluten Free Diva says
I love walking outdoors and find it so invigorating and relaxing. I have to say that I usually power walk and use it as a chance to get in some really good cardiovascular exercise. But one of my goals this year is to walk just for the sake of walking, with no particular goal in mind other than to enjoy the beautiful world we live in and to relax!
Hannah's Harvest says
That was beautiful Elana.
I find that i always walk the same path and think that i should change it, but there is something so lovely about the same thing isn’t there?
Feel such joy for you taking control of your health and your life.
Caroline says
I used to walk all the time when I lived in Washington, DC. Although it might take a couple of hours, the city is small enough that you can reasonably walk from one end to the other. As a photography hobbyist I love to combine two of my favorite activities by going on “photowalks” where I stop to take pictures as I go along.
To save money on rent I moved out to the suburbs a few years ago; my area is walkable but the walks are hardly enjoyable when you have traffic whizzing by and loitering day laborers leering at you. Certainly I could get in the car and drive to a better walking site, but that seems too contrived.
I recently discovered that Verizon (and many other cable providers) have a large selection of free exercise programs on-demand. Now everyday I try to do a 10-minute program in the morning and a 30-60 minute one in the evening. In addition to the health benefits the exercise gets the blood flowing–helpful for staying warm on these chilly days– and puts me in a better frame of mind.
katie h says
Thanks for your post, Elana! It is inspirational to hear how you took your time building to where you wanted to be. Sometimes I get frustrated when things take “too long” for me to accomplish. As for walking, I have a dog walking business and a dog of my own so I am on my feet most of the day. (I hope that in 30 years my body is still okay with how much walking I have done. Although it is low impact it is still a lot.) However, walking has been my source of income for 10 years and I am very grateful I can get up everyday and get back on my feet. I have started feeling a little weak in my upper body so this year I am starting to incorporate a couple upper body exercises to help bring a sense of balance and strength to my body.
Kelly- 18 Hour Kitchen says
I used to run marathons, but turned to walking during my pregnancy with my first son and have been walking ever since. It’s so much more peaceful and easy on the body than running…
Green Shushi says
I spend my day in front of my computer in my office, which can make me agitated. Walking for me is a way to clear my head and get some fresh air into my lungs, whether it be warm, cloudy, or cold outside. It’s super relaxing for me!