Many people walk strictly for the physical health benefits. Other reasons to walk include stress reduction and social contact, along with saving gas and helping the environment!

If you don’t like exercise, find a way to enjoy your walk, rather than just putting in the time. We can connect with our neighbors and neighborhoods, enjoying yards and gardens along the way. In Boulder City, we have the opportunity to walk to many errands in a relatively small area. There are several walking paths that we can take advantage of, or we can walk in the open desert. Walking gets us outside, where we can literally connect with the earth, helping us to feel grounded. This can be really helpful if we are too much in the head. When we have too much going on and there is too much thinking, everything feels too tight. When we walk outside we have the opportunity to give our problems some space and to appreciate the beauty all around us. We can really feel our heads start to clear when we provide space and the movement of walking.

Walking with a friend is a great way to exercise. Friends help us see things from a new perspective. They bring us honesty, humor and connection. The next time you want to meet a friend for coffee or lunch, consider walking there and enjoy even more time together.
And of course, walking your dog is fun for you and the dog (just be sure to clean up so its fun for everyone else!). Most dogs go noodly at the prospect of taking a walk. We should all approach it with such enthusiasm!

Click here to view Pati's brochure regarding mind, body, spirit programs for those with cancer.

Contact Pati at patikearns@yahoo.com