Tips for Walking Safely

Walking Safely Tips For Your Best Life

We enjoy getting outside for a walk and have shared our ideas on the benefits of walking  safely many times here on our Facebook page and our website.

Walking is a wonderful way to move well, enjoy nature and feel good. If you are ready and excited at the prospect of starting your walking program to get fit this post is for you.

Today we would like to share some ideas for you to get walking safely for your best life.

​8 Tips for Walking Safely

• Check with your doctor

     When you decide it is time for you to get fit the first thing to do before starting, check in with your doctor to make sure you are well enough to walk. Those with a chronic health problem, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or type 2 diabetes may get special instructions from the doctor about things to watch out for.

• Don’t fall for the myth of ‘no pain, no gain’.

     Walking is one of the fun ways to exercise and pain is a sign something is wrong. Listen to your body. And if you experience chest pain, dizziness, palpitations, or shortness of breath with walking or any exercise, see your doctor.

• Start slowly

When you begin your walking program don’t try to get up to the suggested goal of 10,000 steps per day overnight. See how many steps you are doing already in the course of your regular daily practice, and gradually add a few hundred more steps per day until you reach your desired goal.

• Buy proper-fitting walking shoes

     Walking shoes should fit well and offer good support for the feet and cushioning for your joints as you stride along. I have a couple of pairs of shoes and wear a different pair each time I go for a walk.

• Don’t forget to warm up and cool down

     Start each get-fit walking session with some gentle stretching. Then start to walk, and gradually pick up speed. At the end of your walk, slow down to cool down and finish off with some gentle stretching.

• Observe good walking form

     To avoid injury with your walking program, you must walk with your chin up, shoulders slightly back, and toes pointed forward. Your heel should strike the ground first, and your weight should then roll forward onto the ball of your foot. Bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle and swing or pump your arms at your sides as you walk. Do not to clench your fists.

• Check your speed with the talk test

     If you can carry on a full conversation normally, you are walking too slowly. If you are so out of breath you can barely speak, you are walking too fast. Find the balance between the two to help you get fit with your walking program.

• Stick to a schedule

     Pencil in your dedicated walking sessions on your calendar and treat them as seriously as you would any other important appointment in your day.

Follow our top safety tips to get fit. You will see great results from your new walking program.

Your turn. Share your ideas that have helped you with walking safely in the comments below.

Be sure to get in touch with us if we can help you

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