Practical walking, home exercise and work-from-home fitness advice from Andy Kenny.
The best walking is the walking you actually do. Outdoor walking and treadmill (or walking pad) walking both count towards the HSE physical activity guidelines. The question is which one – or which mix – you will stick with. The case for walking outdoors Varied terrain: hills, kerbs and uneven ground work your legs and…
A walking pad can be a great way to move more at home – or an expensive thing to store under the sofa. These questions help you work out whether one suits you, and which features matter for your situation. 1. What will you use it for? Daily walking, walking at your desk, or fitness…
Walking is excellent for your heart, mood and daily energy. Strength training keeps your muscles, bones and joints working well, especially as you get older. Together they cover the main recommendations in the HSE physical activity guidelines: at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, plus muscle-strengthening activity on at least two days. A…
Plenty of people in Irish apartments and smaller houses want to walk more at home, but do not have room for a full-size treadmill. You have more options than you might think – some cost nothing. Option 1: Indoor walking routines (free) Follow-along “walk at home” routines use marching on the spot, side steps, knee…
Walking while you work sounds ideal: more movement without finding extra time. It can work well, but it is not right for every task or every person. Here is how to approach it sensibly. What does the research say? In a study by Brigham Young University researchers, published in PLOS ONE, adults walking at about…
Most walking routines in Ireland do not fail in summer. They fail in November, when it is dark at 5pm, raining sideways and the sofa looks far more appealing. Keeping going through winter is less about willpower and more about planning. 1. Move your walk into daylight In midwinter, Irish daylight is short. If you…
Walking is one of the easiest ways to start exercising. It needs no special skill, costs very little and can be done almost anywhere. The hard part is not the walking – it is making it a habit you keep. How much walking do you need? The HSE physical activity guidelines recommend at least 150…
Walking pads and treadmills look similar, but they suit different goals. The right choice depends less on the machine and more on what you want it to do for you: walk more each day, train for a run, or build general fitness at home. This guide looks at the question from a training point of…
Working from home removes a lot of walking you never noticed: the walk to the bus or train, the trip to a colleague’s desk, the stroll to get lunch. Many people only realise how little they are moving when they glance at a step counter at 6pm and see a three-figure number. The good news…