by Cathy Mcclellan

Created on: January 09, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Due to the current economic crisis, many people are experiencing higher levels of stress than usual. One of the great ways to relieve stress is by walking. It is a low impact exercise and you can start at your own pace and build up to longer walks. By the time you are through with your walk, you will be more relaxed and calmer. Life won't seem so hard then. Create a journal listing of all the stressors in your life. Identify the ones that are the most stressful. Then write down what you can do to relieve that stress. Changing over to a healthier way of living and incorporating a walk into your new way of living will lower your stress level.

As with any routine, it is best you consult with your physician first. He/she will be able to tell you what type of regimen to start with. Drive around your neighborhood and decide which routes would be best for you. It would be a good idea to purchase a distance meter, but if you can't you can always start your odometer on your car at the beginning of the route and follow it back to the ending. This will also give you a fairly accurate distance measure. Purchasing a good pair of walking shoes is also important. Make sure you wear comfortable clothing and most important of all is to do warm up exercises before walking, so you don't pull a hamstring or get a charlie horse.

As you walk, keep your shoulders back, your arms loose and let them swing and keep breathing even. The smell of the air, the wind blowing in your face and the even, steady breathing will calm you, which in turn reduces your stress level. Keep in mind, you need to relax so don't feel the need to power walk, just walk with a slow steady gait and short strides. You also need to walk in a peaceful place like a quiet park or around a pond or lake because a busy roadway will cause tension, which will not help. Walk for at least 15 minutes, at least once a week.

As you begin to benefit from the stress relief, you will want to walk for longer periods and more often. Doing meditation exercises as you walk is ideal. By focusing on your tension spots first, imagine the tightness in that area, breathe deeply and mentally tell that part of your body to relax. When relaxed, move to the next area and repeat the process. Including a relaxation technique into your walking regimen will strengthen your emotional wellbeing and give you a more serene state of mind, thus, reducing stress.

If you are not one to start a walking routine by yourself, invite a friend along, or walk the dog. Anything you can do to change your current routine is ideal. Changing your habits and doing healthier things for our body and mind goes a long way to healthier living. You may not be able to change the stressors in your life, but you can certainly learn to reduce those stressors and have a more peaceful and contented lifestyle.

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