Introduction
Everyone knows that walking is good for your health. We’ve all heard the mantra: hit at least 10,000 steps a day. But why stop there? Walking can be more than just a step-counting chore. It’s an adventure, a creative burst, and yes, even a way to combat climate change. Sounds far-fetched? Well, let’s dive into the surprising perks of this most underrated mode of transportation and see how walking might just help save the planet.
1. Walking Connects You With Nature
When you are on foot, you move slowly, allowing you to observe more. It is a primal act—one that naturally slows things down. As you walk, you connect with nature, observing patterns, paying attention to leaves, trees, bushes, insects, butterflies, birds, and the interplay of light and shadows.
You also become acquainted with different walking surfaces. Walking in shoes feels different from walking in slippers, and both are distinct from walking barefoot. Similarly, walking on soil differs from walking on concrete or marble. The more you walk, the closer you come to nature. Walking is a fundamental aspect of human existence—a natural dimension of movement.
Walking is essential because when you walk, you understand something primal about yourself. Modern life, with its high-speed connectivity, cars, metros, and airplanes, might cause you to abandon walking as a habit. It can even turn walking into a task, like trying to reach 10,000 steps in a day.
This is similar to how breathing becomes a task when you experience a panic attack or anxiety. Trainers may ask you to focus on your breath, turning breathing into an act of counting. Otherwise, breathing is one of the most natural aspects of existence. It happens spontaneously, without any conscious effort—until something goes wrong and you are forced to pay attention to it.
Likewise, walking is a natural dimension of human existence. It is not too different from breathing. The more natural you become, the more you walk, and vice versa—walking brings out your natural qualities and connects you with nature.
2. Walking Is Good For Your Health
Walking is one of the best activities for your health. It activates your body, promotes healthy blood flow, strengthens basic muscles, and improves hand-eye-foot coordination, helping you stay balanced and agile. Best of all, it’s simple and doesn’t require an expensive gym membership. You can walk anytime, anywhere, making it an accessible and effective way to stay fit.
In addition to muscle tone and coordination, walking offers several other health benefits. It aids in digestion by stimulating the movement of food through the digestive tract, reducing bloating and constipation. Regular walking also promotes lung health by increasing oxygen intake, which helps clear the lungs and improves overall respiratory function. Studies have shown that walking can enhance cardiovascular health, reduce blood pressure, and lower the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. By simply walking each day, you can improve overall health in a natural, sustainable way.
3. Walking Helps You Know Your City Better
Walking is a great way to connect with your neighborhood and city. By walking, you can discover so much more about the area around you that you might otherwise miss while driving or commuting. It helps you get from point A to B, but along the way, you’ll uncover hidden gems—local shops, parks, or architectural details—that you wouldn’t notice otherwise.
Not only does walking enrich your experience of the city, but it also opens up opportunities for social interaction. You might bump into neighbors, strike up a conversation, or simply enjoy the solitude and peace that come with exploring on your own. Whether you’re in the mood for a casual stroll or purposeful walking, it’s the best mode of travel for short distances, helping you appreciate the little things that make your surroundings special.
4. Walking Cuts Down Emissions (And No, You Don’t Need Petrol to Walk)
Simple fact: walking produces zero emissions. You don’t need petrol, a car battery, or a membership in the “Road Rage Club” to get from point A to point B. Small distances that we usually cover with a gas-guzzling vehicle? Try walking instead.
Think about all the traffic jams, honking, fumes, and frustration you could avoid by simply walking. Plus, fewer cars on the road mean fewer emissions—and fewer emissions mean a happier planet. Saving the world doesn’t have to be complicated; sometimes, it’s just a matter of taking the scenic route on foot.
5. Walking Promotes Pedestrian Awareness and Calls for Smart City Design
Walking promotes pedestrian awareness and highlights the need for smarter city design. You don’t truly understand the brutal violence of air and sound pollution until you become a pedestrian. In so-called “smart cities” like Gurgaon, the lack of pedestrian-friendly spaces is staggering. The walkability index is so poor, they might as well rename it from “smart city” to “stupid city.”
When you start walking more, you begin to notice the glaring design flaws— lack of walkways, footpaths, foot-over bridges, and basic pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Furthermore, you get the firsthand experience of horrible urban mobility – whether it’s the assault of traffic noise, the suffocating air pollution, or the near-death experience of dodging rash SUV drivers. Suddenly, those GHG emissions and air quality stats aren’t just numbers; they’re the reason you’re gasping for breath and blinking back tears. Walking turns you into an unwilling expert in bad urban planning, but hey, at least you’re more in tune with the chaos!
6. Walking – Political Movement
Walking allows people to come together, side by side, in a way that’s both symbolic and practical. It’s a simple yet powerful gesture that connects people physically and emotionally, making it the ideal mode of movement for large gatherings and protests. Perhaps the term “movement” for political acts and cultural change even has its roots in the act of walking itself. After all, walking together has historically been a catalyst for unity and change.
Walking allows people to come together, side by side, in a way that’s both symbolic and practical. It’s a simple yet powerful gesture that connects people physically and emotionally, making it the ideal mode of movement for large gatherings and protests. Ever wondered why political upheavals and cultural changes are called “movements”? After all, walking together has historically been a catalyst for unity and change. So, if you ever feel like stirring up the masses for movement, try to see how walking helps you achieve your goals.
7. Walking Makes You Creative & Meditative
Walking can help you become more meditative and creative. Ever feel like your mind is stuck in a rut – walking gets your thoughts moving. Philosophers like Nietzsche and many other artists have attributed creative breakthroughs to the simple act of walking. The rhythmic, repetitive motion allows the mind to enter a simple trance fostering ideas and insights that might otherwise remain blocked.
Walking is also meditative due to its natural rhythm and simplicity. In fact, in textbooks like the Vigyana Bhairava Tantra, it is recognized as a legitimate meditation technique leading to a profound experience of God. Various religious and spiritual traditions also emphasize walking as a form of spiritual practice. For instance, pilgrims walking to Vaishno Devi or on other religious journeys engage in walking as a sacred act of devotion and devotional effort. The physical movement activates all parts of the body, yet it doesn’t demand too much effort, making it a mindful and spiritual practice that nurtures both body and mind. Walking, in this sense, becomes a profound practice of mindfulness and creativity.
Conclusion
Walking is one of the most fundamental and primal activities we can engage in, offering far-reaching benefits beyond just physical health. It connects us to nature, helps us explore our cities, supports political movements, fosters creativity, and serves as a form of meditation.
Walking is also a simple, yet powerful, way to contribute to environmental sustainability. By reducing carbon emissions and encouraging the development of pedestrian-friendly spaces, walking becomes more than just a personal activity—it’s a meaningful action toward a healthier planet. In short, walking is not only beneficial for you, but also for the world around you, making it one of the best ways to improve both your well-being and the environment.
