Celebrating National Walking month

May is Living Streets' National Walking Month. Living Streets is the UK charity for everyday walking. Incidental, everyday walking can really help you get in shape and boost your mood. This month Living Streets is encouraging you to #Try20 - and walk for 20 minutes each day during May.

Walking is an easy and accessible way to improve physical and mental health and a 20-minute walk can reduce the risk of a number of preventable health conditions, including certain cancers, depression, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. I always recommend my fitness clients start out by doing regular fast walking. Fast walking can get your heart rate up, and is basically resistance training for your cardiac muscle (that’s your heart). It also tones and strengthens your legs and butt, and burns body fat.

If you’re working from home, check out the weather forecast for the week, and then schedule in a lunchtime walk on the sunniest day. Put it in as an appointment into your work diary, so the time is blocked off, and you’ll receive an alert to go out for a walk. It will help you with creativity, problem solving and even memory retention. If you can, try and walk somewhere green (parks) or blue (water / coast) for optimal mood boost.

Edinburgh is a very walkable city, so whether you leave the car at home and walk for an errand, or go out for a scenic weekend walk (perhaps up one of Edinburgh’s seven hills) you will be doing both your waistline, budget (walking is free, petrol certainly ain’t) and environment a favour. By swapping a short drive for a short walk, you can also help reduce air pollution, congestion and the associated frustration of being stuck in another traffic jam.

In 2021, some of my readers nominated their favourite walks that included: Arthur’s Seat, down Cannongate to Holyrood Palace, to Portobello on the off-road paths, or from Gypsy Brae to Cramond. Walking into town is a good uphill walk, guaranteed to get the heart rate up. If you’re recovering from Covid, start very small, perhaps with a 5 minute walk. Walking up hills can be a real struggle post-viral, so less is more, start easy with lots of rest. I’m qualified in Covid rehabilitation, so drop me a line if you need a hand.

Check out #Try20 on social media for tips, resources and checklists designed to help you stick to the challenge!

Go on, get walking.