Walking and hiking for fitness is good for the mind and body. Get away from it all on a marked trail at the Oakland County Parks.

Benefits of Walking

• Reduced blood cholesterol, lower blood pressure and increased cardiovascular endurance.
• Boosts bone strength, burns calories, helps keep weight down, and improves your spirit.
• Increasing your steps means more energy; less stress and more balance in your life.

Tips to Get Walking

The popularity of walking as a fitness activity is growing by leaps and bounds.

If you're not a walker, start small:

• Park farther away from your destination
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Get to know your neighborhood -- how many steps to your neighbor's house?
• Seek out local trails (or walk your neighborhood) and make time for regular walks
• Set goals - resolve to add 500 steps to yesterday's total
• Try walking instead of driving when doing small errands
  find new areas to explore
• Walk the golf course instead of taking a cart
• Spend half your lunchtime eating, the other half walking
• Attend a Nature Center hiking program
• Join or form a walking club -- it's more fun with friends

According to the American Council on Exercise, walking is low risk and easy to start with proven health benefits. ACE reported in an eight-year study of 13,000 people that those who walked 30 minutes a day had a significantly lower risk of premature death than those who rarely exercised.

Regular walking and/or exercise can decrease chances of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon and breast cancers and osteoporosis.