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Walkin' And Talkin'
By
Lynn Serper |
 Changes
in months and seasons of the year tend to define what
personal qualities or activities take front row. From making
resolutions to sending cards of love to anticipating spring
weather, the month of May arrives with all its sensations of
nature. Beckoning everyone outside, May is a great time for
two healthy activities - walking and talking.
Dr. Oz and Dr. Roisen in their book “You, The Owner’s
Manual” recommend walking as an exercise for health and
longevity. As they observe, the human body is built for
walking so why not take advantage of this natural movement.
By putting one foot in front of the other and taking
advantage of beautiful days people can enjoy “smelling the
flowers.”
Whether it’s through a park or a new neighborhood, a golf
course or just walking to do errands, daily exercise through
walking as part of your daily life will improve both body
and brain health.
In addition, a visit while you walk will add more to human
health. There has been much studied and written about the
advantages of social interaction.
A few large studies found that those with strong social ties
with friends, family and community preserved their brain
health while those who were more socially isolated
experienced cognitive decline. Knowing that the risks occur,
combining walking and visiting can be excellent self-care.
Increasing activities to include walking and talking can
bring extra gifts to your life. Not only is our health
enhanced by good friendships and family relationships but
also, those relationships along with the physical exercise
of walking have been known to protect against the harmful
effects of stress.
Furthermore, persons who are cognitively healthy or who are
experiencing cognitive decline will benefit from the
physical and mental exercise gained from walking and
talking. Fortunately, the lovely weather will be here for a
while and day by day the physical and mental stimulation
realized from social walks will build physical and mental
skills. |
About The Author
Lynn Lazarus Serper, EdD, is president of Brain
Enhancement Services, Inc., and founder of The Serper
Method™, a nationally recognized workbook program for brain
enrichment. She can be reached by email at lynnserper@
serpermethod.com, or by telephone at (800) 240-3778.
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