by Mario Carini

Created on: January 24, 2009

In our modern society with its frantic pace, it's easy to develop the symptoms of stiff shoulders, back pains, headaches and the high blood pressure associated with a too stressful lifestyle. Learning how to relieve some of that stress should be a high priority if you hope to stay healthy and live pain free to old age.

You've heard it said that diet and exercise can help keep you healthy, but you don't always have the time to eat right or exercise to reap the benefits. When it comes to exercise you don't need to join a gym or run a marathon to relieve stress. One of the simplest stress relievers comes from taking a simple walk. It's one exercise that doesn't require specialized equipment and comes with many benefits no matter what your age. Here are some ways walking can help you relieve stress:

* It provides oxygen to the body and the brain. Many people live under a perpetual brain fog that clouds their reasoning ability and interferes with memory. Every part of your body needs oxygen to function. If circulation is impaired, complications can arise. Nerves can die and you can lose feeling particularly in the extremities of the fingers and toes. Walking helps the circulation and provides exercise for the heart. The heart is a muscle and like any muscle it must be used.

* The toxins in the environment is one major stress factor. From the food you eat to the air you breathe, your body cannot effectively remove the toxins unless you improve the circulation that helps to remove those toxins. Walking is a great way to detoxify both body and soul.

* Walking helps to alleviate stress by temporarily removing the environment that is one of the factors. Life in a cubicle can get boring. If you perform the same routine day after day, there is no variety. Walking gives you a break from your routine. A walk outdoors in crisp air, listening to twittering birds and the aroma of showy flowers can lift your spirits more than any cubicle can.

* It helps aid sleep. A stressful mind is filled with worries and fear and won't allow you the eight hours you need to recharge body and mind. A brisk walk a few hours before bedtime can help ease your transition into dreamland.

* The constant hustle of life doesn't allow you to use that gray matter between your ears. When a problem arises, you simply react without thought. Walking slows down the mental marathon to allow for better thinking with more clarity. That translates to better problem solving and stress relief.* Stress is largely in the

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