Hands-Down, The Best Exercise You Can Do
And you don't need us to teach it to you
As I rounded another switchback and continued my climb up the mountain, I saw a very lively couple in their 70’s coming down the path on my left. While I admittedly had a very heavy pack strapped to my back at the time, this couple - 20-30 years my senior - was making much lighter work of this very challenging hike.
“I hope I’m doing half as well as you are when I’m your age!” I said to the wise old man, who was smiling warmly at my obvious straining.
“Just keep walking young man!” he said. “You’ll be just fine.”
This may be a counterintuitive opinion piece, coming from a fitness app newsletter, but I believe the single best exercise anyone can do for their body is as simple as stepping out your door and going for a walk.
Going for a walk is the perfect gateway to more physical activity if you’re living a sedentary life, as it does an amazing job of compensating for the negative effects of standing and sitting jobs. Walking outdoors can also connect you with nature, and help you get plenty of fresh air.
Walking with a weighted backpack or rucksack turns a very relaxed and leisurely activity into a wonderful sort of strength-endurance workout. And few exercises do a better job of priming your body for a lifting session than loaded “Farmer’s Carries” … essentially going for a walk with a few heavy things in your hands.
A leisurely stroll is among the best active recovery exercises you can do, as it encourage gentle blood flow to your aching muscles, lubricates your joints, and gets your entire body moving in the way it has evolved to move.
But more than that - it's an activity that has the potential to clear your mind. Going for a walk creates mental space for fresh ideas and interests to reveal themselves. Some of my very best ideas have come out of the blue while enjoying a long walk.
Walking meditations are a perfect way to connect with the physical sensations of your moving body, providing accessible anchors for present-moment awareness as you move. Walking offers opportunities for random encounters with interesting people, offers a wonderful reason to explore the world around you, and - as my dog might argue - is one of the best ways to spend time with those closest to you as well.
