THE
ADVANTAGES OFWALKING
Walking is indispensible. You have to walk in your home, in
your street, in your office, in your work place, to a shopping centre and to so
many other places where you cannot make use of vehicles. However, these are
short walks. They are not long ones which have many health advantages. Llong walks
are also medically beneficent. They are preventive as well as curative.
There is an anonymous quote which reads as follows: I love
roads. I love lanes and streets: I love to walk, walk, walk, for it is an
opportunity for thought developing into a clear process, often leading to
self-illumination and discovery, thanks to the sound of one’s own footfalls.
Walking is not merely physical exercise keeping the body fit;
it is a spiritual training leading to the preservation of the being itself.
The English novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870) said : The sum of the whole is this: walk and
be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk
steadily and with a purpose. The
wandering man knows of certain ancients, far gone in years, who have staved off
infirmities and dissolution by earnest walking –hale fellows, close upon
ninety, but brisk as boys.
The physical benefits of walking are : good digestion, heart
health, bone health, muscle strength and weight management. The mental and
emotional benefits include stress reduction, improved mood and improved sleep.
People suffering from diabetes are advised to have a brisk
walk f0r 30 t0 45 minutes. Those who are suffering from high blood pressure are
also advised to walk.
Walking also results in discovery of new places and imagining
of new themes for creative activities.
I have composed most of my poems while walking in a garden.
You can walk alone or with a friend. Walking alone can be
more comfortable. A Bengali slogan says: Walk alone.
To conclude, here is a vital quote: Walking is the best
medicine. Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk
very far. All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
********
G.R.Kanwal
6th March 2025
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