Walking is a great way to get in shape without breaking the bank (it's free and you do it everyday). But there are other benefits to this exercise that you may not have realize. Here's some fun facts to encourage you to lace up your walking shoes.

步行是塑身的超棒方式，不花钱，而且可以每天进行。但还有一些你不知道的好处。看了以下有趣内容，可以鼓励你系上运动鞋带。

Whether you stroll, saunter, amble or stride, walking is good for you. In his book, The Lost Art of Walking, Geoff Nicholson extols the virtues of walking, and delves into how and why we walk. Besides providing physical, psychological and social benefits, this simple, free activity can transform your life, he suggests. Here’s how:

不管是溜达、漫步、逛逛，还是大步走，步行都有好处。吉奥夫.尼克尔森在《消失的步行艺术》一书中，大力称赞步行好处，探究步行方式和原因。他说，除了生理、心理和社交方面的好处外，该简单、免费的活动还能改变你的生活。如下：

Promotes Good Health

From a health perspective, walking is the key to managing weight, controlling blood pressure, and reducing the risk of a stroke, breast cancer, diabetes and myriad other ailments. A brisk daily walk lengthens your life, decreases the risk of depression and elevates your mood and sense of wellbeing. According to Harvard teaching hospital Beth Israel Medical Centre, walking lowers total cholesterol and increases high-density lipoproteins (HDL) or the “good cholesterol”.

锻炼好身体

从健康角度看，步行在以下几方面能起到关键作用：控制体重；控制高血压；降低中风、乳癌、糖尿病和其他各种疾病的风险。每天轻快走，可以长寿，减少抑郁风险，提升精神气，让人感觉更健康。根据哈佛大学附属医院贝西.伊萨瑞中心的研究表明，步行降低总胆固醇水平，并提高高密度——即“好胆固醇”——水平。

Keeps You Mentally Refreshed

From a psychological viewpoint, walking offers an opportunity to clarify thoughts, to solve problems and to reduce stress. If you establish a rhythm that is relaxing and peaceful, walking can also become a form of meditation.

让你精神好

从心理学角度看，步行提供了以下时间：理清思路，解决问题，还有减压。假如进行放松、平和的步行，也是一种冥想方式。

Allows for Social Bonding

Walking regularly with someone else enables a friendship to blossom as the pair of you exercise. You can also schedule regular walk “dates” with your spouse or partner and use the time to discuss issues without distractions.

紧密人际关系

和别人一起进行有规律的步行，可以在锻炼中发展友谊。你可以通过安排好步行时间，和配偶或者伴侣进行“约会”；还可以不受干扰地讨论问题。

Lets You See the World Around You

Also, the best way to explore some of the world’s great cities – such as New York, London, Paris and Rome – is on foot. Walking stimulates the senses and enables you to enjoy a rich engagement with life around you. According to Nicholson, the poet William Wordsworth circumnavigated the world seven times during his lifetime. Wordsworth reputedly delighted in the simple truth that “going for a walk is an invitation for surprise”.

看看外面的世界

游玩世界上的大城市，如纽约、伦敦、巴黎和罗马，最好的方式也是步行。步行让感觉更敏锐，能让你发觉周围生活的丰富多彩。根据尼克尔森的说法，诗人威廉姆.沃兹华斯一生中环游世界七次。“出门散步，来自惊奇的邀请”，沃兹华斯一直心悦诚服地相信这个简单真理。

Here are some tips to get going:  

Get a walking buddy and commit to meet each week at a set time.

Get a dog and you’ll have a constant walking companion.

Choose a location that is picturesque but accessible.

Start with a moderate walk, then increase the pace and distance.

Include some hills and stairs.

Use an umbrella if it rains: the worst that can happen is that you get wet!

以下是几个小贴士：

1、找一个步行伙伴，坚持每星期在固定时间见面；

2、养一条狗，那步行伙伴就一直有了；

3、找个风景好、交通便利的地方；

4、开始步行要适度，逐步提高强度，增加距离；

5、要有一些山和楼梯；

6、如果下雨，要撑伞；如果淋湿了，那可糟了！