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A power walk is one of the simplest forms of exercise that can boost your overall health by burning decent calories and improving your cardiovascular health. This exercise places emphasis on your arm motion and speed to maximize the benefits that you gain from fast-paced walking. It can be done anywhere and can be effectively started with another group of people.
In this article, we will provide you with insights on how to power walk, along with explaining the benefits that it provides and challenges that you might face.
What is Power Walking?
A power walk means walking at a higher speed at the upper end of the natural walking range. The typical speed of fast-paced walking tends to be approximately 4 to 5.5 mph. It is also important that for this fast-paced walk, your one foot should be in contact with the ground at all times.
Fast-paced walking also tends to have a dynamic effect on your mind, which includes improved mental functioning, better decision-making skills, and enhanced memory.
Benefits of Power Walk
1. Effective Weight Management
Research has shown that fast-paced walking helps in reducing body mass index (BMI), insulin levels, and weight. Fast-paced walking also helps you burn higher calories than normal walking along with enabling muscle toning.
2. Improved Cardiovascular Health
Research has shown that fast-paced walking can have a significant positive effect on your heart health. This is especially beneficial for people who have just recently suffered from a cardiac event. Power walking will help boost blood flow within your body as well as increase your heart rate.
3. Better Overall Health
Research shows that fast-paced walking will have a significant positive impact on your health in comparison to walking. The benefits of walking are wide ranging and that includes boosting the overall health of your body, such as better cardiovascular health, improved muscle toning, and effective weight management. Turning walking into fast-paced walking will further boost the benefits that the former provides.
Tips for Power Walking
To reap the maximum benefits of fast-paced walking for the overall health and well-being of your body, it is crucial to maintain proper posture and proper walking strides. Here are some of the tips that will help you make your power walk effective:
Body Posture – To maintain a proper form during the fast-paced walk, you should stand tall with your spine straight and shoulders relaxed. Make sure to engage your upper body muscles and swing your arms at a quick pace to burn more calories. Your elbows should be bent at a ninety-degree angle as you move them back and forth.
Stride Speed – Make sure that throughout your fast-paced walk, you keep a good rolling stride while pushing off from your toes. This is a common misconception that you should take larger strides during fast-paced walking, which is not true. Make sure to take shorter and quicker strides while fast-paced walking to go faster.
Challenges of Power Walk
Without proper body posture, you can injure yourself while fast-paced walking. That is why it is recommended to adopt a posture appropriate for fast-paced walking.
It is also recommended to wear proper shoes to avoid hurting yourself and to reap the maximum benefits from this low-impact exercise.
When performed with proper posture and correct movements, a fast-paced walk is a low-risk physical activity which is easy on your joints as well as builds the overall strength of your body. It will help in boosting the immune system of the body along with improving your mood and relieving stress.
When you are power walking, you should not be out of breath. Instead, you should feel a bit of trouble when talking. If you are completely out of breath and cannot speak at all, then you should slow down, especially if you are a beginner.
