The Benefits of Power Walking for Mental Health
Power walking is a good alternative for starting moderate exercise. It helps us not only to stay in good shape, but also allows us to disconnect from our problems and concerns. Therefore, promoting good health.
This consists of walking at a constant and energetic pace while doing long arm movements and making broad steps. This means following certain guidelines such as intensity, control of posture, changes in rhythm, and the duration of each exercise.
Power walking may be an excellent tool for the mind because of its psychological benefits, which are the same as regular walking. The benefits are also the same as in cardiovascular exercise.
To stay healthy, the World Health Organization recommends that adults walk at least 10,000 steps a day, or an equivalent of 7 kilometers. At first glance, this may seem easy, although in reality, it may be different. In any case, power walking will allow you to comply with the WHO recommendation.
The practice of power walking may improve your life in different ways. In the following, we will discuss the most salient psychological benefits of this practice.
1. Power walking reduces stress
Power walking helps reduce stress and day to day worries as it allows us to disconnect from these problems and redirect our focus to maintain proper levels of concentration.
Therefore, it is an effective way to allow us to make time for ourselves and to release our anxieties. Serotonin and endorphins are released from the brain when we exercise which causes a calmer state of mind. In addition, by avoiding the daily hectic pace of office work when we walk, we maintain our motivation.
On the other hand, like any other sport, power walking, improves one’s cognitive function, specifically the rate in which we process information and speed of reaction.
“I had the best thoughts in my life in my idle walks”.
-Daniel Kahneman-
2. Power walking stimulates creativity
Walking helps us to be more creative. In fact, it is an ideal exercise for generating new ideas when our body relaxes, worries are set aside and ideas flow. We only need 10 minutes to notice its effects!
A study conducted by experts from Stanford University and the University of Santa Clara in the United States has shown that we are much more creative when we are walking than sitting down. In addition, American researchers have shown that walking significantly stimulates creativity.
3. Power walking increases self-esteem
Power walking allows us to enjoy our own company, in addition to improving our levels of self-esteem. Pyschologist Maria Teresa Rubio says, “Self-esteem is the ability to overcome obstacles and achieve goals, and the practice of power walking may be a good way to develop these aspects of our behavior.
Moreover, walking promotes the management of our emotions because we can listen to ourselves and take a different view of what is happening to us.
4. Power walking improves sleep quality
Power walking may help us enjoy our sleep. Max Hirshkowitx, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Baylor University says that 75% of the people who engage in physical activity on a regular basis achieve better sleep.
Finally, we recommend power walking for those people who love to walk and who want to increase their walking pace because of its countless psychological and physical benefits. So, what are you waiting for?