National Walking Month
26th May 2021
26th May 2021
Spent some quality time with your shoes lately? Well, May is National Walking Month – this means that there’s still time to walk 20 minutes as part of your daily exercise regime this month (and beyond)!
After living under COVID restrictions for the past year, many of us have found enhanced value in simply venturing outside the house for a walk. Being cooped up indoors for months on end has highlighted the importance of keeping active for both our physical and mental wellbeing.
The heart is one of our most important organs. It acts as a pump that circulates blood and provides the body with oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive. This should be more than enough reason to want to keep it in best possible shape!
Walking more often is a great place to start. You can lower your risk of a stroke by 27% by taking a daily 30-minute brisk walk. If that’s not enough reason to lace up your trainers and head outside, walking also lowers bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol levels.
Looking for a way to exercise your legs, bum and tum? Walking is a full body workout that activates many muscles in your body – this includes; calves, glutes, hamstrings, quads and abdominals.
If you’re new to fitness or want to lose weight gradually, walking is the perfect activity for you! If you walk at around 2mph for 30 minutes then you will burn around 75 calories, and if you increase this to 4mph this will rise to around 150 calories. 20 minutes of walking a day will burn an incredible 7lbs of body fat a year!
Lockdown has left many of us feeling burnt out – if you’re currently enduring this state of lethargy, a walk could do you a surprising amount of good. A simple stroll will improve your circulation and increase the amount of oxygen in your blood, making you feel more alert and awake.
Alongside making you feel energised, walking can do wonders for your mood! A brisk walk can be as beneficial as taking an antidepressant and can be a great helping hand if you are suffering from depression, anxiety or simply feeling stressed.
On top of this, walking has actually been proven to prevent your brain from shrinking! This means walking six or more miles a week is hugely beneficial to older people and can help ward off neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia.
These are just a few of the reasons why you should make walking part of your daily routine. With so many wonderful places to explore in Royal Tunbridge Wells, there’s no reason not to head outside and feel the benefits for yourself.
The Commons provide the perfect backdrop for a hike! From a Sunday afternoon stroll to a mid-week meander – the scenic views and fascinating geology of this location entices visitors from miles around.
Once you’ve explored our town’s wonderful green spaces, head over to The Pantiles and enjoy a walk amongst centuries of history! This gorgeous colonnade offers both fascinating architecture and a delightful range of independent and specialist shops, family owned businesses, galleries, eateries and more.
Whether you want to browse bespoke art works, tuck into locally sourced gastronomic delights or simply stroll along the streets soaking up the stunning scenery, The Pantiles is the perfect place to visit during National Walking Month.