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| “Now shall I walk or shall I ride? 'Ride,' Pleasure said; 'Walk,' Joy replied.” ― |
One relative, about 70 years old walked in one day. Conversation comprised all under Sun and above earth. That slowly meandered into my asking him, "Do you walk daily?".
His answer: "In my long life, I've seen people as young as 50, who do walk, die faster."
His answer hardly surprised me. His character is to make fun of, on everything and everybody.
Two years passed by. In between, he, who till then had no major health complaints, had to undergo a bypass surgery. We dropped in at his house to wish him speedy recovery and good health. Time is the best evaporator. He didn't seem to recall our conversation two years ago. Narrating how he had the pain, later the surgery and his post surgery physical activity.
The Doctor mandated walking. Now the man is very religious and does not miss walking.
Fine, another friend, an adjunct and a visiting Professor of Computer science in Institutions of good repute all over India. Whenever he drops in, I was used to be astounded by his fitness. I asked him the magic.
The Professor of Computer Science's answer : "10000 STEPS".
The God's bad habit is endow man with probing mind. It doesn't matter if the man uses it only where it is necessary and much needed. I have got to confess I couldn't help contain my curiosity. I ventured further and asked him, "What do you mean? Are you so stronger walker to walk daily 10000 steps?"
His reply : "I'm not a sort to do walking as a routine exercise, but I see to it that I make 10000 steps in a day, while going about my daily activities, be it at home, institutions etc." Reply compounded my confusion.
Well,
I'm one to clock 6650 steps a day, i.e., 5 times 1330 steps. 1330 are the steps that take for me to walk 1 kilo meter. So you can do the math and I see to it that I make 5 kilometers walk my daily routine. If I walk nonstop, it takes 1 complete hour to finish this target of 5 Kilometers. However, ever since the Professor said about 10000 steps, it somehow sank into my subconsciousness. Then on dreamt of this desire. I could make more steps whenever I go on Girivalam at Tiruvannamalai or during walk to Kuntrakudi during Thaipoosam. But on daily routine, I just end up walking 5 kms only.
But this day, I felt I must somehow make it. And the bull's eye was hit.
After making it, there was a sudden flash. What is this magic about 10000 steps? Is it really making any value addition? Handy these days, To do some net research.
As is well known, I'm not a fitness expert.
I just share my experience, feelings and what I perceive.
My annual health routine involves consulting the cardiologist once in six months. To ensure I'm on right healthy track . Thank God. For the past two years, he had given clean chit.
And I thank him, he saved me from going for stunt sans any warrant. He cut down and slimmed the long list of prescription just to two medicines. More than the minimal medicines he prescribed, his prescription invariably and more religiously emphasized WALKING for at least 45 minutes a day.
In 45 minutes I would have walked only 3.75 kilo meters at my pace.
The undercurrent is don't strain yourself and push yourself to such benchmark as your physician prescribes.
The pitfalls in overdoing are, it may drain your energy, tracking your pedometer may become addictive, mechanism saps in and you may lose joy of walking.
If you love yoga, I would vouch walking + yoga would make a wonderful combo. I prefer not doing it immediately one after the other. You may take a break and do it. Morning or evening as it suits you.
Mind or don't mind.
Don't miss to walk.
Enjoy your walk and
Be healthy,
Be fit and
Be happy.
