Power walking is one of the simplest and least expensive forms of exercise, which significantly burns calories, enhances cardiovascular health, and promotes overall wellness.
It is also a weight-bearing physical activity one can do anywhere, and many people start their walking regimen right out their front door.
Power walking is walking at a speed of at least 15 minutes per mile. This can improve your overall body functionality and help reduce the body mass index.Â
Good power walking technique is essential in order to maximize benefits and prevent injuries. To ensure the exercise benefits your health and well-being, it is crucial to follow proper guidelines, such as maintaining a good posture and using an appropriate power walking stride.
Here is what you need to know about power walking, including its techniques, benefits, and safety precautions.
Basic Guidelines of Power Walk For Beginners
Stretch Before Power Walking
Before starting your power walk, you need to stretch yourself. A power walk is an active exercise. That’s why you need to warm up your muscles. However, a proper warm-up is crucial for every type of exercise.
Begin slowly and gradually, walk for a few minutes, and then consider some active stretches such as 10 walking lunges and 10 hip or ankle circles. Studies show that a proper warm-up effectively helps in order to prevent injuries.
Watch Your Posture
Maintain a proper posture while power walking, and try to keep your eyes forward, head upright, and shoulders back. Pull your belly button toward your spine in order to engage your core muscles.
If you slump forward, take a moment to correct your body position or if you notice that you are holding tension in the neck or shoulders, relax and release them. Good posture will help you maintain speed and will certainly help avoid injuries.
Remember Moderation
Power walking too many miles can lead to an increased risk of soreness or injury. That’s why one should not be tempted to start aggressively in an attempt to burn more calories.
If you are new to power walking, try to walk for 15 to 20 minutes or less on your first endeavor. After a week, you can increase your time up to 20 to 25 minutes.
When a couple of weeks have passed, you can enhance your walking session to 30 minutes or more without completely fatiguing your muscles.Â
Benefits of Power Walking:
A power walk is acknowledged for its benefits in peer-reviewed research because of its considerable value to your overall health. For example, walking improves muscle tone, boosts cardiovascular health, and can even play an effective role in weight management. Turning your walk into a power walk has the potential to boost the described benefits even more.Â
Improves Fitness Level
Power walking has a more significant impact on your fitness level than traditional walking. For example, researchers have found that six weeks of power walking can put you in better shape and overall health than walking at a reduced speed for the same amount of time for extended periods.
Boosts Cardiovascular Health
Power walking can promote heart health, especially after a heart condition. It can improve your blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall energy levels.
Furthermore, it can also fight weight gain to improve heart health. Walking can also reduce stress or anxiety, clear your mind and uplift your mood.
Assists With Weight Management
Physical activities, specifically power walking, can prove to be really significant in weight control because it helps people burn calories.
Adding 30 minutes of power or brisk walking to your daily routine can easily burn around 150 calories. The more you walk and the quicker your pace is, the more calories you will burn.
Safety Tips for Power Walking
By following a few safety measures for power walking, you can certainly avoid the risk of injuries. Before going for a walk, make sure to wear appropriate footwear in order to reduce the risk of shin splints or blisters.
Stay hydrated and try to drink plenty of water before, during, and after the walk. Follow the following safety tips to acquire optimum benefits from power walking and minimize the risk of potential injuries.
- Tie shoelaces, even double-knotted, if necessary, to avoid tripping.
- Carry a flashlight when you go for a walk outside at night.
- Wear reflective clothing when walking outside at night.
Also, ensure to apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses, a long-sleeved shirt, and a hat to avoid sunburn. Choose a specific route that is appropriate and comfortable, depending on your age and fitness level.
Power walking has been proven to be very effective in lowering the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. It is the simplest form of exercise and is a great way to get fit, improve your joint and heart health, and it can also boost your mental well-being.
Power walking helps burn calories while toning your muscles more than a regular walk would ever do. It is a great core workout.Â
The more intensely you move your arms during power walking, the more you can engage your entire body, challenging your stability and balance, and can acquire maximum benefits.
