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Why Should You Walk & TalkTM? ...
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'Walking' is a great, low cost, low impact activity that you can begin right away. And by adding a
'talk' to the mix you are taking the benefits of your walk to a new level.
Walking & Talking positively impacts your body, contributes to earth’s sustainability and emphasizes
the importance of face-to-face connections. Let’s explain how and why…
Let’s start by highlighting some of the Key BODY benefits…1,2,3,4,5
While walking, you reduce your blood pressure; the activity of walking helps to reduce stress on
the heart, decreasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.
While walking and TALKING you improve your cardiovascular functions, strengthening your heart and lungs.
Walking has a positive impact on your weight, burning and decreasing body fat, and replacing it with muscle.
Walking helps you tone your legs and butt and slim your waist.
Walking helps you sleep better. And we should be striving for at least 8 hours of sleep per night.
Walking helps to reduce cholesterol.
Walking helps build muscle strength and endurance
Walking helps you maintain healthier bones and joints, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and chance of injury.
Walking helps to minimize aches and pains.
Walking reduces your stress level resulting in numerous benefits to your body.
Walking gives you a renewed energy level.
Walking outdoors in the sun helps your skin produce Vitamin D an essential vitamin for good health. Studies Show that vitamin D is critical to the proper formation of the skeletal structure by maintaining the proper blood levels of calcium.
Walking reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer.
Walking reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes, helping to regulate blood sugar levels.
Walking improves the ability to do daily activities such as dressing, bathing, and grooming. It helps with balance, strength, and flexibility providing greater control of body motion.
Walking lengthens your life expectancy; active people experience a higher quality of life for longer.
Walking increases metabolism by increasing the calories needed to operate the body.
Walking reduces fatigue and provides a temporary burst of energy that lasts for several hours.
Your mind is impacted by the health of your body. Walking and talking can have a significant impact
on the health of your mind…
Walking helps to minimize stress through the release of stress hormones such as cortisol.
(Exercise and Endorphins)
Researchers studied women who walked at an easy pace for at least 90 minutes each week. They
found that women had significantly better cognitive function and less cognitive decline than women who
walked less than 40 minutes per week Cognitive function is needed to carry out the simplest to most
complex tasks. 3
Walking for 30 minutes, 3-5 times a week for 12 weeks has been shown to reduce symptoms of
depression. Depression is related to low levels of certain neurotransmitters like serotonin and
norepinephrine. Exercise increases concentrations of these neurotransmitters by stimulating the
sympathetic nervous system. 1, 3
Exercise exerts its effects on the brain through several mechanisms, including neurogenesis (the
creation of new neurons), mood enhancement, and endorphin release (the chemicals released by the
pituitary gland in response to stress or pain that create a feeling of euphoria. 7
Walking has continuously inspired creativity in me and allowed me to problem solve with clarity.
Walking provides me with a sense of calmness, completeness and a ‘can do’ attitude.
Walking is Green…
By replacing one car ride with a walk, you have helped to reduce greenhouse gases. Cars and
other vehicles are leading causes of global warming.
That same walk helps to lessen our dependence on oil.
Use the ‘Walk Score’ website to find out how your town ranks when it comes to walking vs.
driving. http://www.walkscore.com
Walking Promotes Face-to-Face Connections
Walking increases connections among people and businesses by promoting face-to-face interaction.
Walkable towns provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to survive and thrive. It's
easier for walkers to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don't need to drive and park
between destinations.6
So you might be contemplating what tasks and meetings you can replace with a Walk & Talk. Here
are some tips to help get you started…
Conference Calls can become an indoor or outdoor walk & talk instead.
Take sit-down, indoor meetings to the park or a local mall .
Sit-down breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings can become meals on the go with a quick walk & talk.
Staff or Team meetings can be taken outdoors or an activity can be incorporated.
Brainstorming and strategic sessions can significantly benefit from a walk & talk that inspires
creativity and clarity.
Integrate walk & talks into traditional business networking meetings.
Take a break from your normal routines and replace them with a walk. Here are some of the
daily routines and emotions that can be replaced or cured with a walk…
Watching TV
Listening to the Radio or Ipod
Working on the Computer
Sitting
Any kind of office, business or home-related work
Cleaning the house
Snacking
Complaining
Feeling stuck indoors
Anger
Worry
Hunger
Boredom
Start to walk, find some fellow walkers to connect with, and begin to improve the health of your
body, mind and business.
Note: Consult with your physician before starting any physical activity.
Additional Links to research that supported this article:
1 AARP: The Numerous Benefits of Walking
2 Walking for fitness: How to trim your waistline and improve your health
3 50Plus Fitness Walking: Benefits of Walking
4 TheWalkingCoach.com
5 About.com: Training Walkers and Coaches
6 Why Walking Matters
7 Effects of Exercise on the Brain
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"I loved the concept of keeping active while networking...and the people I meet in this group are awesome."
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Jeannette Fata, Interior Redesign Inc.
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