I know it’s a weird time. Our daily/weekly schedules and rituals of the past seem so far away, and I can’t believe we’ve been on this totally different planet for almost a year now! We’ve all had to adjust to a new normal we never could have imagined and we’re doing our best.—I’m really proud of all of us! As I talk to my friends and health coaching clients, I hear about their struggles to fit exercise in now—mentally and physically. There’s the fear of infection at the gym, there’s the anxiety of financial insecurity, and the resulting bouts of insomnia. Hard to feel like exercising when you’re sleep deprived, you know? I do. So we talk thru our fears—talking really helps and having someone listening is the best! We breathe in and out deeply and renew our commitment to maintaining the peace in our minds, hearts and homes. And to EXERCISE…
Moving our bodies releases those lovely endorphins that help lift our spirits and calm our minds, as well as increases metabolic activity, improves digestion, regulates weight, boosts our immune system, strengthens muscles, keeps joints moving, etc.
It’s pretty much the best thing we can do anytime, but especially in the time of covid shutdown.
So what is the one big movement activity just about everyone can do for their health, fitness and sanity regardless of how much you can afford to spend or how much time you can spare?
Walk. Just walk. Putting one foot in front of the other is also potent medicine that enhances thinking, sharpens memory and safeguards brain health. So why not? Its a Win-Win! A few months ago after Covid lockdown, I started walking on a main boulevard near me at a quick pace for about 30 mins 3x per week to get my cardio time in, usually late in the afternoon and absolutely love it!
We even have research on the positive effects of walking to back up our resolve!
**Research on college students found that just 12 minutes of walking resulted in an increase in joy, attentiveness and self-confidence versus the same time spent just sitting.
**Walking increases creativity and inspiration, especially when you’re trying to solve a problem. A Stanford study found this effect while and shortly after walking anywhere between five and 16 minutes.
**Studies on older adults showed that walking creates more neuron activity and more effective communication between neurons and brain networks. This is super important as we age!
**If you want to sharpen your memory recall, lace up and get out there! A German study found that performance on challenging working memory tasks improved for participants allowed to walk at their own steady pace
**Walking yields the right "rhythm" for thinking. That's right! The steady pace of intentional locomotion is just what the doctor ordered for effective "thinking time".
**Walking is a powerful way to get outside into fresh air and combined with intentional deep breathing helps clear our minds and lower stress levels in the body. I love having this time to look around and pay attention to beautiful plants, flowers, trees, the birds—and really notice the sounds and gorgeous colors of nature!
Walking is soooo good for you! I hope you'll add this into your weekly routine. And don’t forget to layer up and hydrate!
xoxo! Carol
P.S. Love to hear from you! What have been your “exercise” challenges over the last year? How have you coped?