Are you sitting down while reading this? Maybe you should get up and go for a walk instead.
Yes, just a walk. Its’ not about sweating it out, competing, or tracking your lost calories and gained steps on a device. Simply clear your head and move your body and the benefits will be obvious over time.
The benefits of walking are universally touted and an important part of reducing symptoms of many chronic conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, walkers can improve their health:
- maintain a healthy weight
- prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
- strengthen your bones
- lift your mood
- improve your balance and coordination
The health benefits increase the faster, farther and more frequently that you walk.
Walk with a Friend—or a Doc
Nearly everyone can walk and this makes it an ideal activity to do something else good for yourself—spend time socializing. If you do better with structure, look for a Walk with A Doc location near you.
Dr. David Sabgir recognized a need to motivate and inform people about walking so he started Walk with a Doc and now there are 218 chapters in 40 states and seven countries, including Canada. Walk with a Doc is a regular gathering in a public park in your city where a doctor—and sometimes other health experts—meet up with members of the general public to take a walk together while also learning more about good health.
“By providing a health care professional, we are looking to break down many barriers,” Dr. Sabgir said. The barriers he is referring to include barriers between patients and exercise, patients and physicians, and more. “You have a physician that you can bounce questions off of without a charge, a wait, or any hassles in a relaxing environment.”
The opportunity to talk with doctors, walk with friends, and enjoy the great outdoors, provides inspiration for the thousands of people who Walk with a Doc.
“Unfortunately only three percent of our country is achieving 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week,” Dr. Sabgir explained. “We are all bombarded with health ‘information’ and know exactly what to do—what we need is health inspiration.”
Whether you live near a beach, in the mountains or the heart of the city, go for a walk today. “Our mission is to encourage healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve the health and well-being of the country,” Dr. Sabgir said.