Home Blogs Benefits of Walking As Exercise: Anaerobic | Group Exercise | Health Benefits

Benefits of Walking As Exercise: Anaerobic | Group Exercise | Health Benefits

Walking is a good exercise routine that significantly improves health and fitness, and has the added advantage of being a low impact activity that is gentle on the body. It is the most natural form of exercise and under almost all circumstances poses little to no risk.  The benefits of walking as exercise are plentiful, and what’s more is that it is completely accessible unlike many other exercise regimens that may not be suited for all.

Just like any other exercise, walking improves the health of the body. Regular walking helps to lower LDL or bad cholesterol levels and helps to elevate HDL or good cholesterol levels. Walking helps to regulate blood pressure and also reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. Those already affected with type 2 diabetes are able to manage their condition better through regular walking. The benefits of walking as exercise for weight loss are also widely recognized. Apart from promoting physical fitness and strength, walking also improves the mood by alleviating tension, stress, anxiety and depression. Walking is a form of aerobic exercise in which there is repeated movement of the large muscle groups. Breathing becomes faster and deeper and this increases the oxygen levels in the blood. The heart pumps faster and this improves the blood flow to the muscles and back into the lungs. This allows for the release of endorphins, which induce feelings of well-being. Anaerobic exercise on the other hand involves high intensity brief spurts of energy utilization in which the muscles receive inadequate oxygen to fulfill the demands of the exercise. The benefits of anaerobic exercise include greater muscle mass, increased strength and power and improved aerobic capacity. In order to obtain maximum health benefits from exercise, 20 – 30 minutes of aerobic activity is recommended at least thrice a week. Other types of muscle strengthening exercise and stretching may also be done bi-weekly.

For those who find it difficult to begin exercising or to stick to a regimen, group exercise may be the solution. There are many benefits of group exercise. Apart from promoting socializing and preventing boredom, exercising in a group with an instructor also helps to ensure that everyone is using the correct technique of exercise. This will help to reduce the risk of injury and also enhance the benefits of the exercise. Those who exercise in groups are also more likely to stick to their exercise programs as there is more accountability in group exercise. The benefits of walking as exercise can at times be best derived, when undertaken as a group activity, such as if you are part of a walking club. A walking club may consist of any number of members who participate in daily walking for exercise. This is an inexpensive way to ensure disciplined exercise on a regular basis.

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