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You don't need an expensive home gym to take your daily exercise, as walking has many health benefits that you can enjoy for free! Keeping fit is even more important at present, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, when many of us are stuck indoors for most of the day for safety reasons. When the lockdown began in the UK, people were allowed to leave their house for only 30 minutes' exercise daily. Then, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson relaxed the regulations slightly, people could go outdoors to exercise as many times as they wished, from Wednesday 13th May. The gorgeous weather should certainly be tempting everyone to step outside to up the ante! Why is daily exercise so important? Regular physical activity is important for our physical and mental health. Exercise improves muscle strength, boosts endurance and delivers nutrients and oxygen to our tissues. It helps the cardiovascular system to work more efficiently - and anything that is good for the heart is important! When your heart and lungs are in good health, you start to feel better in general and will be more likely to tackle those daily chores that you've been avoiding. The problem with the lockdown is that it's easy to get lethargic, watch a lot of television and overeat – I can certainly relate to that! ? Lethargy can soon make you feel depressed, especially if you live alone. Studies show that exercise improves your mood. If you need an emotional lift, there's nothing better than going for a walk, particularly on a sunny day, when you're taking in some beautiful scenery. The reason for this is that physical activity stimulates chemicals in the brain and subsequently can leave you feeling happier, less anxious and more relaxed. This, in turn, improves your self-esteem and confidence. How effective is walking? Walking is just as effective as any other sport and there are numerous health benefits from walking daily. The experts say walking for at least 30 minutes a day (every day if possible) is a good way to maintain or improve your overall health. Even if you can't manage 30 minutes, a little walking is still good for you. It increases cardiovascular fitness, reduces body fat, strengthens the bones, helps you to lose weight and boosts endurance and muscle power. It is also a factor in reducing your risk of developing conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and some forms of cancer. The beauty of walking is that it's free, you don't need any specialist equipment and you don't need to train to take part! As long as you wear sensible clothing, depending on the weather, with a comfy pair of shoes or boots, you're all set. How fast should you walk? If you haven't exercised much lately, set off at a comfortable pace and don't overdo it, until you get into the swing of things again. Physical activity doesn't have to be vigorous and you don't need to do it for long periods. A study of women who had been largely inactive showed even 75 minutes' walking per week improved their fitness, when compared to women who took no exercise. Simply go at your own pace and enjoy taking in your surroundings. For rural residents, this is a great time of year for going on a nature walk, where you'll see and hear the wildlife of the countryside. Even if you're an urban dweller, choose a route that you know you'll enjoy. You will come home with your skin glowing and your mind relaxed, with a great feeling of satisfaction, once you've achieved your daily goal. Over time, you can increase your distance and walk faster as you get fitter. Should you walk alone? As long as you adhere to the recent government guidelines on walking, you won't have any problems when it comes to the lockdown laws. You can walk alone, or with a member of your own household, as many times a day as you like now. You're not permitted to exercise with people who don't live with you just yet. These boots are made for walking If you're looking for women’s or  men’s walking boots, MA Griggs has an affordable range of  outdoor footwear and clothing for all the family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our store is open for Click and Collect, Phone and Collect, and website orders and deliveries. Give us a call on 01726 65656 for more information or visit the website.