Walk the Walk

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.
Thomas Jefferson

I’ve been walking for pleasure as well as exercise for so long that it has become ingrained in my psyche. Walking is just something I must do, a restlessness that has yet to abate. If I’m inside too long, I get what I call “inside head,” a fuzzy feeling, not a headache, but as if my head is stuffed with cotton. Only spending time outdoors cures this very uncomfortable feeling.

Why walk?

• You only need a good pair of comfortable walking shoes, no other special equipment required.

• You can do it anywhere, in your neighborhood, in the city, at a park, in a mall, on vacation.

• Walking clears your head and recharges your battery; I get some of my best ideas and solutions to problems.

Walking along Grandview Avenue in Mount Washington.

• You can walk alone or with a group.

• It’s how to get to know a place really well; you see things when you walk that you miss when you’re in a car or on a bus.

Clear Creek State Park trails.

• You can incorporate it into your workday so you don’t have to take extra time to workout; I try to make time for at least two 15-minute walks. The city block around the Main Library in Oakland and the museums and Schenley Plaza is perfect for this goal. If it’s too cold, I walk up, down, and all around the eleven stacks in the library. On weekends, I try to walk for an hour or more.

Walking in Chatham Village is like living in a park.

• It’s a great way to connect with your partner or a friend; during the summer, evening walks after dinner are how my husband and I discuss our day–as well as help our digestion.

• It lifts the spirit; especially if I’m feeling blue.

-Maria who, oddly enough, rarely uses a pedometer