Let’s Take A Walk!

Many of us have doctors—or family or friends or a particularly persistent partner—who frequently encourage/nudge/order us to exercise.

“I know, I know,” we respond. “It’s just that exercise takes so much effort!”

Yes, exercise does require effort; that’s rather the point. No one’s suggesting you launch into a 90-minute spin class or run an immediate 5K. Exercise can be nice and easy. It might even be … fun!

So if you’ve put on a few pounds, or your joints feel a big creaky, or you’re not quite as cheerful as you used to be, there is a free, accessible and fairly easy solution: Take a walk!

“But I only have the energy for a five-minute walk,” you might say. “What difference would that make?” A lot! Because any physical movement boosts your metabolism. And even a brief walk, especially outdoors, can lower the stress hormone cortisol.

Take it up to a daily 20-minute brisk walk, and you can reduce your risk of heart disease by 30%. That’s an excellent return on your energy investment!

When we walk, we benefit more than our physical bodies.

Move a muscle, change a thought.
There are times—and we all have them—when we’re stuck in a mental malaise. We feel so blah we just want to lie around, which only increases our blahness. There’s a cure for that. Lace up those walking shoes!

Physical exercise can win us emotional peace and mental calmness. Many excellent solutions are found while walking.

Walk it off.
Even the best of us occasionally feel itchy, squirrely and out of sorts. When we’re jumping out of our skin in frustration or irritation, there’s a cure for that: walking!

Walk with me.
In our crowded lives, even important relationships can be neglected. If you have a friendship in need of repair or replenishment, invite them for a walk!

Before we set off on our life-changing adventures—and if you’ve been sedentary for a while, a walk around the block can rock your world—please equip yourself sensibly. You’ll need:

1.  Comfortable walking shoes, preferably with arch support.

2.  A cellphone, charged. Because you never know.

3.  Sunscreen (already applied) with maybe a hat or cap.

4.  Water. You can buy very cute refillable water bottles to carry in your pocket. (Make sure it’s a different pocket from your phone. Leaks happen.)

5.  A walking partner. If you’re recovering from an injury or extended period of idleness and you’re not entirely sure how nimble you are, the buddy system is a very good idea. It’s also motivating: when one of you feels iffy, the other can cheerlead you into activity.

Now, where shall we walk? First, explore your own neighborhood. Maybe you’ll find it’s the perfect walking spot. But if it’s too busy or boring, there are a zillion places in Los Angeles that are calling your name. (And by the way, it’s perfectly kosher to drive to your walk.)

Did you know you can go to the website Yelp, plug in your particular perimeters, and Yelp will steer you to a premium walking spot? In the meantime, here are some suggestions.

Take a walk on the wild side.
Nature! What other major metropolitan area has access to such natural beauty, all available for your next walk? There are many grueling hiking trails, yes, but if you’re a walking novice, let’s start smaller. The following parks provide ample space for leisurely walks:

Griffith Park, Mount Hollywood, Hollywood Reservoir, Holmby Hills Park, Pasadena’s McDonald Park, Topanga State Park, Will Rogers State Historic Park.

Window walking
Want to check out fashion trends and shopping opportunities while getting your steps in? Stroll around:

Old Pasadena, Larchmont Village, Eagle Rock, Atwater Village, the Beverly Hills triangle, Santa Monica Promenade, downtown Los Angeles.

Walk on the water
Okay, by the water. The point is, you can walk while enjoying a beautiful water view. Check out:

Echo Park Lake, Silver Lake Meadows, the Venice canals, the Strand in Manhattan Beach, Palisades Park in Santa Monica, and any of the beautiful beaches in Los Angeles County.

Single-focus walking
Sometimes you want to walk, just WALK, without stopping for traffic or watching your footing.

Many high schools and universities have running tracks that are open to the public at certain hours. Check your neighborhood for opportunities. The City of L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks also provides walking areas at a park near you.

With all these fabulous places to walk, there’s no excuse to stay seated. Let’s walk our way to zippy metabolisms and peppy dispositions. Let’s take a walk!