Hoof It for Vernal Equinox
It seems we’re all counting the days until the virus is beaten down as more and more of us are vaccinated. But reality of that happening is still a few months away. Well, at least we’ve made it to the start of spring, the vernal equinox! Spring is always a time of renewal, nowhere more so than coming out of a Connecticut winter.
Since many of our favorite indoor activities are still out of reach, as the snow melts this is a good time to get into a walking routine for your physical and mental well-being. Since Pope Park is right next door to Park Place Towers, that’s a great place to start. You can even work your way over to the trails along the Connecticut River.
People scoff at the benefits of simply walking, but research has shown there are many. Here are ten reasons you should hit the road.
- Burn calories — Your calories burned depends on your walking pace, the distance covered, the terrain, and your weight, but you’ll burn calories.
- Strengthen your heart — Studies have shown that walking just 30 minutes a day, five days a week can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by about 19 percent. Longer distance and duration may reduce the risk even more.
- Lower your blood sugar — Taking a short walk after eating may help lower your blood sugar levels.
- Ease joint pain — It may seem counterintuitive to walk if your knees are hurting but walking actually helps protect the joints by lubricating the joint and strengthening the surrounding muscles.
- Boost immune function — A study tracked 1,000 adults during flu season. Those who walked at a moderate pace for 30 to 45 minutes a day had 43 fewer sick days and fewer upper respiratory tract infections overall.
- Boost your energy — Walking increases oxygen flow through the body. It also increases cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels. Those are the hormones that help elevate energy levels.
- Improve your mood — Studies show walking can help to reduce anxiety, depression, and negative moods. It can also reduce symptoms of social withdrawal, which is very important in these odds virus times.
- Extend your life — It appears that walking at an average or brisk pace lowers a person’s risk of overall death by 20 to 24 percent respectively.
- Tone your legs — Walking strengthens the muscles in your legs. If you find hilly areas to walk, that is even better.
- Creative thinking — Studies have shown that people trying to come up with new ideas were more successful when out walking than when seated.
Park Place is centrally located with numerous parks and trails close by, and we’re a short drive over to full-on wooded trails to the west. Scheduling a daily walk is a great way to lose the feeling that we’re all cooped up during these COVID days, and as shown above it’s a great way to help your body.
Happy springtime from Park Place Towers. If you have any questions about leasing at Park Place, give us a call at (860) 951-3400.
