July 10, 2018

Reading time: two minutes.

Summer is a great time to take a hike.  Even better than taking a hike, summer is a great time to refresh your commitment to the care of your physical self by establishing a habit of taking a hike daily.

I’ve talked often about the advantages of a daily walk.  With a brisk, vigorous walk that gets your heartrate up to workout speed, you can gain almost all the benefits of jogging with almost none of the risk of injury.

So here are three basics about the daily walk, and then three “refreshers” to give your daily walk a little extra kick! Basic #1:  Make it a daily habit.  It might take 30 days; it might take a few more.  But if you can get out and get going regularly, you’ll soon notice the endorphins and start to really miss your walk if you don’t get out and go.  It will become a habit.

Basic #2: 30 minutes, briskly.  Walk for thirty minutes, and slowly increase your speed day by day until you can walk for 30 minutes like you’re late for an appointment.

Basic #3: Briskly, for 30 minutes.  You can approach this from the other direction.  Walk like your late until you are huffing and puffing enough that you can’t hold a conversation.  Then slow down.  See if you can build up to 30 minutes of walking like you’re late.

Refresher #1: Take it to a new level.  Find the hilliest place in town to take your walk.  If you live in the flatlands, find a place with a couple of staircases on your route and zip up and down each time you pass.

Refresher #2: Stretch it out.  Walk for an hour, or even more.  You might need to slow your pace, but a long walk extends the benefits.

Refresher #3: Hit the beach!  Walking in the sand is a whole different workout, and very good for a whole new set of muscles.

Okay, we’re under two minutes so, three bonus reminders: 1) Hydrate; 2) Stretch, stretch, stretch; 3) Get some good shoes that fit right.  It’s always worth it.

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A Congregational Wellness Weekend is designed to help create a ministry environment at your church or school where professional church workers can thrive and serve joyfully in their calling at top capacity. Let’s start the conversation today! Find more information on our website or contact Program Director Darrell Zimmerman to learn more.