Walking has a bit of a PR problem.
We know it’s good for us. We’re constantly being told to get our steps in.
But somewhere along the way, walking became the thing we do when we’re not really exercising.
I think we need to rethink that.
Because for women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, walking may be one of the most useful forms of movement we have.
And I’m not talking about slowly wandering around the shops while your watch counts your steps.
I’m talking about purposeful walking.
Walking briskly. Taking on hills. Changing pace. Covering distance. Getting slightly out of breath. Going outside and using your body to move through the world.
Walking does more than burn calories
One of the changes I would love to see in women’s fitness is for us to stop judging exercise primarily by how many calories it burns.
Walking offers us so much more.
Regular brisk walking can contribute to our cardiovascular fitness and overall physical activity, while hills and varied terrain can challenge our legs, balance and stability.
It gets us moving without requiring every session to become another punishing workout.
And when we take that walk outside, we gain something else.
Daylight. Fresh air. Green space. A break from screens. Conversation. Headspace.
Exercise doesn’t only need to challenge the body. Sometimes it should help us feel better too.
But is walking enough?
Not completely.
And that’s important.
Walking doesn’t replace strength training, and as women age I believe resistance training should be part of the picture.
But the reverse is also true.
Doing two or three strength sessions each week doesn’t mean we should ignore cardiovascular fitness or spend the rest of our time sitting down.
We need both.
And that’s exactly why STOMP was created.
We workout on the walk
A STOMP takes the humble walk and turns up the dial.
We walk with purpose, use the natural terrain and stop at exercise stations along the route to work on strength, mobility, balance and core fitness.
Then we walk again.
Your heart rate rises and falls. Your muscles work. You cover ground. You talk. You laugh. You notice the weather.
And, often without really thinking about it, you’ve completed a full-body workout.
There is also something wonderfully accessible about starting with a walk.
You don’t have to look a certain way.
You don’t have to know your way around a gym.
And you don’t have to be fit before you’re allowed to begin getting fit.
Don’t underestimate the walk
As we get older, I don’t think fitness should become about proving how hard we can push ourselves.
It should become about creating a body that keeps us doing the things we love for as long as possible.
So lift your weights.
Work on your strength.
Challenge your heart and lungs.
But pull on your trainers and walk too.
Walk briskly. Find some hills. Take a friend. Get muddy. Get outside. Make it part of your life.
The walk isn’t the bit between your workouts.
The walk is part of the workout.
And at STOMP?
We workout on the walk.
