by : Beatrice Stephenson

Power walking, or fitness walking, is one of the most effective ways of getting fit and improve many aspects of your body health, such as blood pressure, cholesterol level, weight, cellulite reduction and so on. To do proper power walking, there's some things to consider, because it differs a bit from what you would call normal walking or exercise walking. When you walk in an ordinary way, with your arms swinging back and forth along with your body, it doesn't really have so many medical benefits. It doesn't do much to warm up your neck and back muscles, boost energy burning so much and increase your heart rate, things that would fuel your walks up. To do that you need to put your arms in a 90 degree angle when you walk. This will make your heart rate go up and your blood pumping through your body more effectively. A better workout, simply. To further increase that effect, you could also try Nordic Walking poles. It's a kind of training gear that has become really popular among walkers and hikers, with its origin in Scandinavia.

You could also consider getting good shoes. Masai Barefoot Technology shoes was developed to help back pain, but has proven to be effective for toning and shaping legs, buttock and stomach muscles as well. And improved posture comes as an extra benefit with them. It increases muscle activity with up to 20%, so it's sure worth looking into. To start walking in a group or with a friend can be a good way to keep motivated and stick to your goals. It's usually easier if you do it with someone else. And since walking is such a good way of burning calories, you can chat at the same time.