Walking on the Beach for Exercise

I have recently taken to making long walks on the beach a regular part of my daily routine and found that it is an excellent form of exercise. Strolls along the sandy shores is not only a great way to work the little muscles in your ankles, legs, hips, and back, that you don't work on a regular walk or run due to the rocks and sand along the beach. By taking a long walk that may include going up and down some steep hills to get to the beach, you will get the heart pumping and the blood flowing through your veins. I have ended a several hour walk on the beach sweating and breathing heavy after climbing back up to the top of a large cliff to get to my car. By being adventurous you can find many interesting and secluded beaches that are off the beaten path and in my opinion these are the best places to not only get your exercise, but let your mind relax and contemplate all of the things going on in your life and how you wish to proceed. A long walk not only is great for the heart and lungs, but breathing in the fresh ocean air and enjoying the solitary environment that an unpopular beach can provide is truly relaxing and one of the best mental health fixes I know of. I have always benefited from thinking on long walks and the endless nature of a beach is perfect for these kinds of strolls to ponder anything from new business ideas to personal issues, or simply a daydream to escape the realities of the world at least for a few minutes.

The next time you are near the coast make sure and take a 30 minute walk and if you are lucky it might turn into a 3 hour jaunt. Always keep your eyes peeled for cool beach treasures from sand dollars to agates, you never know what cool things you may find on your next work out on the sand.

When exercising on the beach it is important to wear comfortable clothes that match the weather conditions, if you plan right there is no reason that you can't enjoy the beach in almost any weather.

Shoes - Having the right pair of shoes is very important and I prefer to have a light running shoe even though I may not be running on the beach much a light jog is good enough for me if I want to push it. The running shoes provide you the footing you need for walking over the rocks, wood, and any other obstructions you may encounter. I personally prefer an Adidas Clima Cool shoes as they are very light and breathe which I prefer versus a heavy shoe, since you already are getting resistance from the sand as you walk.

Jacket - Except for the summer months a wind breaker style jacket or heavier is preferred. the wind can be much strong right next to the water and it is best to make sure that you do not get too far and start getting cold and have a miserable walk back to your vehicle.

Pants - I do not got with rain gear or jeans when walking the beach as I like the comfort of a track suit style pant as it gives me the freedom of motion and yet warm enough. Only on a rainy day will I grab my boat slickers and put them on so that I do not get drenched while on my walk.

The best part of living a healthy lifestyle on the beach is finding all sorts of cool beach treasures while you are out on your walks, jogs, and runs. Keep your eyes open as you walk along and you will find all kinds of cool shells such as sand dollars. It is also possible to find interesting stones such as agates that are translucent or brightly colored and shine in the light. Other times you can find items that have washed ashore from the ocean such as floats from fishing vessels as well as interesting items that may have fallen off container ships. Other beach combing treasures come from natural disasters such as the last Japanese Tsunami that washed out to see all kinds of debris from coastal villages which will eventually find its way to the Western U.S, beaches because of the ocean currents. Have fun looking for treasures on the sand while staying healthy and getting your daily exercise.

If you prefer to just go for distance on your beach walks and much prefer keeping your eyes glancing at the crashing waves and seagulls flying by then take a few minutes to do a couple of exercises such as squats or lunges at your halfway point. Before you start walking back to your starting location, take a few minutes to do a few additional exercises to get the most out of your work out. By the time you are half way through your walk, your legs and body should be warmed up and feeling good and it also a good idea to take a few minutes to do some additional stretches to make sure that you do not injure yourself.

check out the video below for some ideas on additional exercise that can help you maximize your work out and get the conditioning and muscle strengthening that an overal healthy exercise regiment should include.