Last month, we wrote a series of articles explaining the difference between regular walking and nordic walking. The crux is that nordic walking forces you to move more of your body.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the reasons why moving your whole body when you’re walking is extra beneficial. Movement not only helps to strengthen muscles, it’s also important for distributing vital energy through the body.
Physical activity is a vital human need. If there is insufficient movement, a person lacks the basic driving force that enables you to engage with life. Without this vital force, you’re more likely to fall into depression. You certainly won’t be as productive or creative.
Regular physical activity is important in the management of long-term diseases. Numerous studies have shown that the simple act of walking has multiple health benefits.
Movement plays a key role in the delivery of these health benefits. In fact, movement has been necessary for survival since the dawn of mankind.
When we walk normally, the upper part of the body typically remains passive. However, if you engage in brisk walking or nordic walking, you also activate the back, shoulders, arms and hips.
This is what the trademark Nordic poles are designed to do. So if you don’t have the lung capacity, the stamina and the physiological capability to start a brisk walking program, nordic walking is the other option.
Movement And Breathing
There is a direct correlation between movement and breathing. You can’t really have one without the other if you want to stay in good health.
The more you move, the harder you breathe. When you take deeper breaths you inhale more oxygen into the body. More oxygen improves brain activity which is required for movement.
Oxygen also creates white blood cells which play a role in helping the immune system to keep you healthy. Because brisk walking and nordic walking encourage between 30 and 40 per cent more muscle activity, you use more energy and stimulate the cardiovascular system. This causes you to breathe more deeply and ingest more oxygen into the bloodstream.
Research highlights movement when walking is also important for weight loss. Activating more muscles burns as much as 67 per cent more calories than regular walking.
Getting more oxygen to the brain also improves cognitive function. Studies have revealed some amazing results that have to led to oxygen therapy in Israel and other countries.
One study found that administering mentally disabled people with a 92% oxygen increase, improved their intellectual and developmental performance.
It’s no surprise that walking meetings hit the headlines over the last few years. Innovators like Steve Jobs were known for walking and talking because it stimulates the creative side of your brain. Sometimes, your best ideas come to you when you’re walking.
The Popularity Of Walking
Walking has become increasingly popular since the 1980s. Its popularity went up another notch during the recent pandemic when gyms and sports centres were closed.
The only way for people to prioritise their health was to go for a walk. Having recognised the benefits, the habit has stuck for many people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), walking is now the most popular form of aerobic exercise among adults in the United States.
People walk for transportation and for fun, exercise, or relaxation. It is low impact, requires minimal equipment, and is accessible to men and women of all ages and social groups. Just 30 minutes a day has a significant impact on improving physical and mental health.
Walking fits easily into everyday activities and can be combined with all kinds of fitness and sports. It’s also excellent for recovery. For example, if you prefer to engage in strength training, with or without weights, adding brisk walking to your routine walks more parts of your body.
A brisk walk is great for improving blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. But regardless of pace and length, a walk will improve your mood and help you manage stress.
Social Activity and Media Influence
The world we live in favours the mind. The lack of movement has made us physically lazy. But because we are not moving enough, we’ve also become mentally lazy. This links back to how oxygen improves cognitive function and promotes vitality.
Mental fatigue in the workplace makes us subjectively physically tired. After sitting down and working for hours, we rarely have the vital energy force that compels us to engage in exercise. So the average person spends the rest of the evening passively watching television, playing on the computer, or scrolling through social media.
The focus on well-being in recent years has brought unhealthy lifestyles to the attention of the general public. People that take good care of their mental and physical well-being generally tend to be more successful.
The constant social media shower promoting different types of fitness programs, yoga, and sports activities that promise ripped body shapes and a chiselled appearance has captivated younger audiences. The abundance of daily posts contributes to the general visibility and attractiveness of exercise – and walking is a low-entry option with practically zero barriers.
The media is not just a mere transmitter and broadcaster of information about sports but encourages people to exercise and consume sports products. The strong promotion of 10,000 steps a day led to the widespread use of pedometers and step counter applications.
Walking is one of the easiest activities to do and you can make it social. Being around friends or like-minded people nourishes your emotional well-being – which is also important for promoting vital energy that compels you to move.
Even, walking dates have become popular – there’s no better way of making your heart skip a beat than walking while getting to know someone special.
Sweatcoin has also got in on the act. We want to encourage people to participate in healthy lifestyles. Our app has a built-in pedometer which counts your steps and converts them into the digital currency SWC which you can spend with over 300 merchants. The more you walk, the more you earn.
