by Ry Moore

Created on: August 10, 2009

Generally in our daily walking our minds are clattered with things to be done, problems to be solved, people to avoid, money to be earned, and a whole lot more ... stressful isn't it? We can't avoid stress, no matter how hard we try.

What we need is avenues to ease the stress; ways and means of relieving that building pressure on our mental and physical faculties. Research has shown that stress relief is primarily a mentally relaxing exercise which is best stimulated by a physical activity. I have found that walking is the most effective stimulant for achieving stress relief.

Walking as a mental exercise is completely different to walking as a daily act of necessity. Walking for stress relief requires a different gait (action) and a different focus. Recall that your objective is to deliver your mind from the weighty matters of your daily routine; and so ease the physical strain on your bodies.

Using a leisurely gait, walk slowly (not sluggishly) but erect along your chosen exercise route. Allow your eyes to be attracted to the sights around as you go by. Take in deep breaths of the air and exhale very slowly in correlation to your pace. Swing your arms freely and let them stretch. This is to stimulate your cardiovascular muscles and your adrenal glands. Try to complete at least one mile... but DO NOT set a target. Just walk and laugh and sing and smile; by the time you complete a mile you'll be relieved of the bad stress!

Your exercise route is also important as it helps you to change your focus. The beach, the river banks or even the mountain side is great. The air should be of good quality and the sights worth beholding. Allow your mind to be lost in these natural wonders: the sea, the waves, the birds, the rapids, the flowers.... and the people. Walk in the rhythm of their movements. The intention here is lighten the load on your shoulders and chest areas. It will be a beautiful and relaxing exercise.

Significantly, do not walk until you are tired. Instead walk to experience the relief. Many people make the mistake of setting a routine as to when they will take the stress relief walk; this in itself is stressful. This type of walk should be taken like a prescription, only when necessary. Thus if your daily regimen is one of high stress, then at the end of the day you should make a get away. Go to your exercise area and take the walk. If you need more than 30 minutes of this exercise, you should seek some medical help.

Stress like fire is good and bad for the human body. We need it to develop our intelligences and skills; but if it gets out of hand it will destroy and kill us. Stress must be kept in balance! Stress relief is also important. We need relief when it begins to weigh us down. So turn off the computer right now and go for a little stroll... to relieve your stress.

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