Sometimes the alarm goes off, more often, I wake up 5-10 minutes before it’s set. I spring out of bed and quickly move through my morning toilette: mouthwash, brush teeth, throw on walking clothes, grab my ear buds, phone, and key.
Then I get the leash and hook it on Sno, my Akita, and MY DAY HAS BEGUN! It is now sometime between 6:45-7:30 am and I’ve headed out for my daily walk therapy.
Sno and I walk religiously unless the weather is pouring rain. We don’t walk that far—between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 miles each morning, but I wouldn’t miss it for the world. The first part is along the 410 access road, but the rest is in the neighborhood between Los Patios and MacArthur High School.
My walks are transformative—easing me from my sleep beautifully into the day. It feels as if my thoughts have a whirlwind of fresh air sweeping through them! That air clears away the sleep-induced confusion of dreams and half-formed impressions, making room for the insights that my subconscious has produced.
I am surrounded by blue skies and the sun just peeking above the horizon. I feel blessed and alive and thoroughly awakened!
The benefits aren’t all just emotional, though. Walking is one of the best ways to get the juices flowing, improving circulation, raising the heart rate, and loosening up joints stiffened by the night in bed. But that’s not all, walking can reduce bone loss and strengthen leg and abdominal muscles.
It’s no wonder I feel like a NEW WOMAN when I get back to the house!
Something I just learned—but makes total sense—was that walking can have positive mental benefits, too! When I walk, apparently I am lowering my risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. And in addition, the studies have shown that people who walk even one mile gained improvements in their quality of sleep, reduced their risk of disability, and actual lived longer lives than their non-walking counterparts.
And finally, a study has proven—corroborated by MY own experience—that walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the many emotional benefits of exercise.
The study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were and those moods were reflected in their overall personality.
This wonderful medicine helps me to remember why I am alive, to connect with nature and often my neighbors, and allows me to start afresh every morning.
People would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a sports program that can guarantee those results. I get all of that, and more EVERY MORNING for free!
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