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Going for a walk

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Have you been outdoors today?

There's more benefits with half an hour's walk a day every time I look:

  • helps general circulation (g'bye cold feet and hands)
  • gives a push to digestion (there's nothing quite like bouncing those intestines about for a bit)
  • helps lymph circulation (lizards have two hearts, one for blood and one for lymph; we have a heart for blood plus the gluteus maximus for lymph - but our buttocks only pump lymph if they actually move)
  • helps stave off osteoporosis
  • makes you tired so you actually fall asleep at night
  • helps balance the liver:
    • exercise makes the liver build cells if you're an adrenergic stress person whose liver is geared for blood sugar
    • exercise makes the liver make sugar if you're an anabolic greaseball whose liver is geared for proteins and similar cell building materials
  • weight loss
  • strenghtens the lungs, and with them, oxygen uptake
  • lets you see what is happening outdoors in which season, so you're more connected to the nature around you
  • helps deliver more blood to the anal region, thus reducing hemorrhoids which are due to blood stagnation

etc. etc. etc.


Morag Chacksfield added to this, back in 2003 when I wrote that list for the UK herbalists mailing list:

"Another benefit to add to your list:

  • The rhythmical movement of all four limbs in a crosswise pattern - left arm forward with right leg has a soothing, integrative effect on the brain. (This cross-movement is adapted as one of the floor exercises used to help brain-damaged children). Buddhist monks walk for miles in a steady relaxed way as part of a tudon or 'walking meditation'. It puts you in touch with yourself."

See? More every time I look.