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All too often people fall into the delusion that gym equals health. The only place you can go to get fit and keep your body in good shape is to go to a gym, and all other places are just, well, life.

And, true, the gym is great for keeping active. But who needs a bunch of crazy gadgets and an expensive membership to get their body working? Nobody, to be honest. There's a very easy way to keep healthy, and it's as simple as putting one foot after the other for extended periods of time. Yes, walking is a great way to exercise.

Few people seem to realize as much. I can understand why, too: as a society we've come to embrace laziness as the norm, using cars and buses and trains and planes and whatever to get where we're going. And while that's fine for far off destinations, why use a car to get to a store that's twenty minutes away? Get off your idle butt and start walking. You'll get some much needed exercise and achieve your goal to boot, and while it may have taken a bit longer you'll also save time that might otherwise be spent in a gym.

Walking also forces you to get outside, and while there are plenty of pollutants floating around in the air the fresh outdoors is still going to be better for your lungs than any sterile, dull office. Walking is great stress relief, as well - there's something liberating about taking a few steps out into the world after being cooped up inside all day, which is an especially unattractive prospect during the summer. You'll feel the tension radiate off your mind and your body, which is always helpful to keep your brain ticking the way it should.

Walking is also extremely easy. We're built to walk, for pity's sake. Our bodies are designed in such a way that we can use our legs for long periods of time without having to sit down. The only reason we can't go too far is because we've loaded ourselves with fatty foods and too much idle time in front of the TV. Go for a walk every day for half an hour and I guarantee you'll have more energy and find yourself wanting to stay outside longer. Walking also offsets the rigors of other, more intensive exercises, placing a minimal amount of risk on your muscles while still giving you a good workout, especially if you can manage to plod along for an hour or more.

There's so little to lose and so much to gain by walking. Your leg muscles will get stronger, you'll have an easier time regulating your breathing and, best of all, you'll gain a new appreciation of the outside world. Not only that, but you'll gain it for absolutely free, and I can't think of a better exercise than the one that doesn't cost a cent.

Learn more about this author, Matt Bird.
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