Health benefits: A recent AARP report states that walking 30 minutes, 5 days can week can help: manage your weight, control your blood pressure, decrease your risk of heart attack, boost your good cholesterol,lower your risk of stroke,and reduce your risk of breast cancer and type 2 diabetes. As one person so aptly put it," I have two doctors, my left leg and my right." (George Trevelyan)
Mental Health Benefits: Walking, particularly in pleasant surroundings, is also very effective in reducing tension and negative feelings. It has been shown to improve self-esteem, relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety, elevate mood, reduce stress, enhance sleep, and increase energy. In general, an individual who walks regularly feels an overall sense of empowerment from taking an active role in their health. The universal law of nature is that movement and growth are essential to life. Inertia and stagnation can strangle a person's spirit and creativity. Sometimes when you feel stuck, what's most important is to simply start moving. The first step will determine the next, and eventually you will find yourself in a completely new place, physically and emotionally.
"Movement in the body brings movement in the mind. It is a natural alchemy. So many of us seek this kind of movement in our lives, a fusion between being and doing. We long to restore wholeness within ourselves and to connect with one another and with the spiritual values that sustain and guide us." Carolyn Scott Korte, "The Spirited Walker"
Inspirational Benefits: For centuries, walking has also been recognized as a form of mediation and prayer. Some forms of worship include walking the labyrinth, circumambulating holy sites, or taking long treks on pilgrimage. But walking is especially effective as a spiritual tool in modern times when our lives are constantly moving at a rapid pace. It helps slow us down and bring us into the present moment.It helps clear our minds as we lose ourselves in the rhythm of breathing and moving. Walking in the wise company of nature can be a wonderful soul booster full of inspirational metaphors, such as the cyclical pattern of change, the vast horizon of possibility, and the interconnectedness of life.
So I encourage you to get outdoors! Take a walk in the morning before work, or during your lunch break, or as soon as you get home. Devote a whole Saturday or Sunday to go for a hike or explore a new corner of your state. And always be attuned to the metaphors nature is placing before you.
Copyright (c) 2007 Karin Marcus
However, the benefits of owning a cat are not constrained to having them as mere pets because cats, like dogs, can be trained to do tricks as well. Even if they are known as ?house cats,? it is important for them to be given the taste of the outdoor environment. This can be done through walking.
Yes, it is important to engage a cat in outdoor activities such as walking, just like the dog. This is because cats need further stimulation by having a taste of the activities gained by being outside. Walking them outdoors makes them feel entertained and stimulated.
Studies show that cats that are constrained inside the house show a significant sign of boredom and depression. These are not likely to be noticed since cats cannot verbally or even physically tell their owners that they are bored and depressed.
However, there were signs that were noted in a study that projects the negative effects of not having occasional walks outside the house. Scratching the furniture was noted to have a direct association with depression that the cat is experiencing.
The problem with most cat owners is that they tend to pamper their cats and they forget to give them the benefits of enjoying the environment. Hence, a growing health problem arises because most cats are found to be obese.
What people do not know is that even if they are known to be domestic animals and have been in ?close contact? with people for more than 3,500 years, cats are known to be born hunters. In fact, most zoologists contend that cats are the ?most graceful hunters? in this world.
For this reason, walking a cat is extremely important. Proper use of materials should be observed when walking your cat.
Walking your cat does not necessarily mean it is okay to leave your cats outside. They can encounter danger such as getting a disease or being hurt by neighbors or vehicles.
Try to train your cat to walk with a leash and a harness on. It is best to use a jacket as well so that your cat will be comfortable while walking.
Walking your cat is not a hard work. You just have to use the right tools and the proper training of your cat and you can be assured of a happy and stress-free feline at home. Find out more by reading our other articles on this topic and other subjects we have written related to it.
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