Staying Fit by Walking

By Jaz Mara

Can overall fitness be improved just by walking? Absolutely! 

Staying healthy doesn’t always require complicated workouts or costly memberships. Walking is so natural that it is often overlooked as an effective physical activity.

A daily 30-minute walk improves heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. This low-impact movement also strengthens muscles, lubricates joints, and enhances flexibility. Furthermore, walking boosts the immune system, reduces stress, improves mood and sleep and increases energy levels.

Tips to Jumpstart Your Routine

1. Use the right gear.

Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and supportive shoes with proper cushioning to avoid injury. The feet need the right amount of cushioning for the soles, and enough support and stability for both the arch and the heel. A cap and shades also make the walk more enjoyable.

2. Warm-up, cool down and stretch. 

Start and end with five minutes of slow walking to warm-up and cool down. Incorporate dynamic stretches at the beginning and end with static stretches.

3. Make it enjoyable.

Walk with friends, listen to your favorite playlist, podcast or audiobook, or try a “thinking walk,” a term coined by psychologist Jenny Martin to describe unplugging from technology to process thoughts. Some prefer a meditative walk to enjoy the silence and sounds of nature. Including your pet (don’t forget the leash) or a stop at a favorite café can also help maintain consistency.

4. Stay motivated and track your progress.

Staying motivated can be challenging, so find a way to fit walking into your day. Start with twenty minutes after work or before heading to your favorite sunset spot. Eventually, you will find more time to squeeze in more or longer walks. 

Track your progress after every walk, whether in steps or distance. Reflecting on how each walk felt and seeing your improvements ultimately becomes a new reason to stay on track.

Walking Routes to Meet Your Daily Steps

Boracay is a great place to develop a walking routine, with wonderful scenic paths and trails, each offering different difficulty levels as well. 

• Route 1 (Early Morning Coffee Walk): 

Bulabog Beach has a nice boulevard that is perfect for a morning walk. There are quaint cafés and restaurants along this stretch that are worth visiting. Less crowded than White Beach, a walk here watching the kitesurfers can easily cover 2,000 steps.

Bulabog Beach Boulevard. 📸 Jack Jarilla

• Route 2 (Beach Stroll)

A nice and flat walk from White Beach Station 1 near the Willy’s Rock grotto to Angol Beach covers approximately 6,000 steps.

📸 Jack Jarilla

• Route 3 (Errand Walk)

For an uphill challenge with stunning scenery, start at White Beach, Station 3 and pass through Kingfisher Road, the Mangrove Park, and Bulabog Beach. Head up to Mt. Luho and end in Sinagpa for a 10,000-step workout. You can conveniently combine this with errands and grocery shopping at the Shoppes at Station B Mall.

Mt. Luho overlooking Lapus Lapus Beach. 📸 Uize

• Route 4 (Boracay Newcoast Walk)

Explore a different side of the island with an adventurous trek through Boracay Newcoast. Walking from the main road entrance all the way to Lapus Lapus Beach (often referred to by tour guides as the “Boracay Keyhole”) and back covers roughly 10,000 steps.

Lapus Lapus Beach. 📸 Uize

Pro Tip: To hit a full 10 kilometers, extend your walk to the Balabag Barangay Hall to reach over 13,000 steps.

The First StepWalking is an underrated exercise with immense health benefits. There is no better place to build this habit than on the beautiful shores of Boracay, a routine that may eventually lead you toward a new passion for running.