Everyone knows how to walk, right? Wrong! Many think they know much about walking, but the truth is that that’s not the case. People make plenty of mistakes during their walk. There’s a big distinction between walking for exercise and walking to head somewhere.

Table of Contents

Use the following guide to avoid the mistakes commonly associated with walking.

#1. Wearing The Wrong Shoes

Ideally, you should invest in top walking shoes for men or women, especially if you’ll be walking on concrete surfaces. It’s worth noting that the best shoes for walking on concrete will have medium cushioning. They should also be both cushioned and supportive to offer your feet ample protection. If you have plans to venture into nature or take to the roads, you’ll need a sturdier pair of shoes. One of the standout features of a high-quality pair of walking shoes is their long-lasting durability, making them a valuable investment for anyone who walks regularly.

#2. Wearing Too Many Clothes

When walking, one gets warm. Therefore, instead of putting on too many clothes, you should put on layers that you can easily strip as you get warmer. While starting walking, you might feel cool. However, after some time, you’ll feel warm as toast. The mistake many people is starting a walking walkout while wrapped up and feeling warm already. Doing that will make you overheat within one mile or so. Being extremely hot simply means that you’re uncomfortable or have to slow down.

#3. Walking Too Slow

Walking is a gentle form of exercise. Nonetheless, walking too slowly simply means that you’ll not experience any benefit from workouts. It can be quite challenging to set specific speeds towards walking workouts because some folks are faster walkers naturally compared to others. A great pace to aim is four miles per every hour.

Regardless of the speed you walk at, if you need your walking to be effective, you need to be slightly feeling warm and slightly out of breath.

#4. Walking With A Poor Technique

Walking shouldn’t be a complicated activity. Unfortunately, some people walk with poor technique. The following techniques will make sure that you’re walking properly and effectively:

Always stand tall and never hunch
Always look straight forward as you hold your head high
Imagine that your head is filled with buoyant gas and floating above the shoulders
Ensure that your shoulders are relaxed but pulled slightly back and down
Swing both your arms in time with feet
Avoid clenching your fists
Extend legs via your hips
Always land on heels and roll through and to your toes
At all times, ensure that your midsection is engaged lightly
Ensure your breathing is deep and regular. It should be in tandem with your footfalls

#5. Failure To Warm Or Cool Down

Sitting down might not be a strenuous activity. Nevertheless, if you spend plenty of your time sitting down, and want to go for a walk, you should warm up before walking. Doing so ensures you have an effective and safe walk sessions. By cooling down after taking a walk, you’ll be able to prevent your muscles from stiffening up.

Before setting out on a walk, you need to spend some minutes mobilizing and stretching your major joints and muscles. When starting to walk, start slowly and then build up steadily. Once you complete your walk, rather than stopping abruptly, slow down.

#6. Walking The Same Route

Following the same route daily can feel boring. One enemy of exercise adherence is boredom. You should avoid it at all cost. Instead of walking on the same route each time, you should try to plan some new routes. Doing so will make your walk interesting as you’ll enjoy new unchartered terrain and scenery.

#7. Doing All Walking On A Treadmill

The truth is that walking on a treadmill isn’t as effective or pleasant as walking outdoors. For instance, the machine forces you to walk differently. What’s more is the fact that there’s the conditioned air that’s repeatedly recycled. It’s an easy way to catch germs. The prudent thing to do is walk outdoors as it can be a great way to recharge.

#8. Doing Too Much Soon

You should curb your enthusiasm and ensure the walk is short. Doing too much pretty soon can leave you injured, tired and sore. Begin by walking for around ten minutes and then add one or two minutes to every subsequent walk. By increasing your walk durations gradually, you’ll most definitely refrain from overdoing it thus ensuring you don’t drop out.

Conclusion

Walking is one of the most straightforward and accessible ways to remain fit. You should purpose to walk for roughly 20 – 30 minutes every day throughout the week. By doing that, you’ll be able the impressive benefits associated with walking. While at it, make sure you avoid the above mistakes.

Armed with a budget and a desire to get fit and stay that way, we are glad to welcome you to Walkingshoescenter.net. Life’s greatest journeys begin with a single step (Mark M. Roberts).