Yoga mats and exercise classes can be quite expensive. But there is a less expensive (and equally social) way to not only improve your muscle tone and lose some weight, but also to protect your brain-and with much quicker results: WALKING.
Unlike using the elliptical and Peleton which may take months to see a benefit, the benefits can be seen much sooner.
Walking provides many short and long term benefits. The benefits go beyond a toned figure but also help improve overall health. Many patients who take up walking on a regular basis find that their physicians tell them to come off their blood pressure and cholesterol medications and that controlling diabetes is easier. The weight loss associated with walking may enable people to avoid surgical procedures, such as knee surgery.
There may also be significant improvement in mental health. Walking for just 10 minutes reduces anxiety and depression in people without significant major depressive disorders.
Strikingly, there may be long-term improvement in cognitive health as well. Researchers assert that the increased oxygenation that accompanies walking a good pace slows the progression of cognitive conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
More studies are needed to tease out the exact mechanism behind the improvement. Certainly mental health issues are co-morbid with neurodegenerative disorders and so the reason behind the improvement in both needs more study.
What is important is that you start at a comfortable pace and for a time duration that will allow you to be consistent in walking several times a week. Ten minutes three times a week is better than no exercise. Start slow so there are no orthopedic injuries and increase speed with time. Increased speed equals increased intensity of your workout. Increased intensity results in a release of greater amounts of endorphins-the bodies own “feel good” chemicals that reduce pain and improve your mood.
BeCare Neuro App can help you track your motor strength, ambulation, mood and other cognition to track you improvement as you hit the road.