In naturopathy, physical activity such as walking is considered one of the three foundations of health, along with diet and psycho-emotional balance.
“The High Authority of Health (HAS) recommends practicing regular physical activity throughout life to benefit from the positive effects on health, physical condition and autonomy.immediately reminds us of Gaëlle Kiersnowski, naturopath, who considers walking to be a preferred physical activity because it is easy to implement in the long term. In naturopathy, we consider physical activity (walking for example) as one of the 3 bases of health, with diet and psycho-emotional balance.
“The best time to walk is the one that suits you, the ideal being to take every opportunity to be moving” suggests our interlocutor who advises walking daily, at least 30 minutes (you can split it into 3 times 10 minutes). If you walk after a meal, adopt a slow pace so as not to interrupt digestion, which can only be done during relaxation. On the other hand, avoid intense exercise in the hours before bedtime so as not to delay falling asleep.
You need to walk at least 30 minutes a day, 1 hour ideally and even 1h30 to get even more benefits. People who walk at least 1 hour a day see their risk of dying reduced (more than 30% less if they walk 1.5 hours compared to people who do not reach this level of activity). Beyond the overall improvement in life expectancy, walking at least 1 hour a day helps you regain energy, improve your sleep, improve your mood, your mental health and your cognitive abilities ( especially when walking in a natural environment, ideally in a forest or at least in the presence of trees), to detoxify the body.thanks to the movement of the body, blood and lymphatic circulation is increased, allowing oxygen and nutrients to be brought to the cells and their waste evacuated. to revive general metabolism and the functioning of organs (liver, heart, pancreas, etc.), to boost immunity, to facilitate digestion, to strengthen muscles and tendons, to reduce joint pain and to improve bone health (impacts stimulate bone regeneration). Finally, it is a valuable tool for controlling weight and blood sugar, two sources of inflammation at the origin of many health concerns.
The benefits of walking are extended if you bring awareness to this exercise and focus on the present moment, your feelings (internal and external), your breathing, contact with the ground, the air, the sounds that surround you, the landscape…”Choose comfortable, well-fitting and flexible shoes to allow the foot to move smoothly, preferably closed and with a non-slip sole.” continues our interlocutor. Remember to hydrate yourself properly before leaving and take a bottle of water if your walk lasts more than 30 minutes. Keep in mind that it is necessary to seek regularity of the practice over time more than performance By listening to your body, adapt the intensity of the walk to your abilities for the day.
Thanks to Gaëlle Kiersnowski, Naturopath Health Educator OMNES in Etoile-sur-Rhône (26)