Power Walking For Beginners
Power walking for beginners is a fantastic way to get into shape, lose weight, and continue on the path to a healthy lifestyle, and optimal health.
You can power walk anywhere, anytime, and the risk of injury is really low. You are in control, you can power walk on a treadmill, across town, or down a country road.
As with everything else, you have to learn to do it correctly. Learning about the correct power walking techniques is a great way to start.
Power walking is not a casual stroll through the park. It is designed to get the maximum forward momentum, and give you as much speed as possible, which results in the best exercise experience.
Power walking is a very effective way of exercising, and it allows you to make better use of your energy, while decreasing the possibilites for injury. It also burns a ton of calories, so if you are doing this to lose weight, it is a perfect mix.
Here's How to Power Walk for Beginners!
In order to correctly master the skill of power walking, you will need to practice.
- Don't take long strides, they are not as efficient, and you tire more easily. Focus on landing on your heels, rolling through your instep, then propelling yourself with a push off your toes. (heel, ball, toe steps)
- Keep your head and neck in perfect posture, with your chin up, and look out about 10 or so feet ahead.
- Bend your elbows at a ninety degree angle. Close your hands to make a fist, but keep them relaxed. Swing them in an arc from your waist to your chest, while keeping them close to your body. This movement will help you walk faster, burn more calories and build your upper body strength.
Power Walk Stride
For optimum health and calorie burning, you will need to walk about 4.5 mph. Some say if you can do this pace you can burn almost as many calories as someone jogging at the same speed.
Not everyone will be able to start at this speed, it will take time, and motivation. Begin at a slower pace, and gradually work up to 4.5 mph.
How do I begin?
Start by charting a course of where you are going to walk. Plan on walking a mile. Get in your car and use your odometer so you will know where a mile starts and ends. Now walk the mile and see how long it takes you.
If the walk takes you:
- 20 minutes, you are walking approximately 3 mph
- 15 minutes, you are walking approximately 4 mph
- 13 minutes, you are walking approximately 4.5 mph
- 12 minutes, you are walking approximately 5 mph
If you are a beginner at power walking, you should do ten to thirty minutes a day 5 days a week. Try to add in two minutes to your workouts each week.
Always remember before power walking, take a few minutes to warm up, and then after you are done, do a cool down, and stretch those muscles.
In Conclusion
Power walking for beginners is no great mystery, it just takes a lot of practice, motivation, and perseverance. If you want to lose some weight, get in great shape, and work towards optimal health, this exercise might be for you.