Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-05-29
Walking and Its Uses.

Exercise is absolutely indispensable to the
physical we'll being of man, and walking is one
of the most useful of the various modes of exer-
else. AS people we ride too much and walk
too little. If we are in the country and have a
mile or two to go, we wait-perhaps long enough
to walk the entire distance-for horse to be
got ready, and then sit lazily in our seats while
this noble animal rapidly carries US to our des-
tination. If we are in the city, and have few
blocks to go, we get into an omnibus or a horse
car and sit our journey out, just as though we
were not created with legs the same as horses
are. The nations legs are rapidly diminishing
in size for want of exercise, hence the demand
tion is on the increase; so, also, is dyspepsia,
liver complaint, general debility, and other
physical arrangements, which result, in great
part at least, from a lack of muscular action.
The special advantage of walking, as an exer-
else, are many. Perhaps the most important is
that it takes us out of doors and keeps US there
in the pure air and the sunshine. The exercise,
which is gentle and prolonged, increases not
only the frequency but the fullness of respira-
ton, thus bringing much larger quantity of
oxygen into the lungs, and through them to the
blood, thereby giving the finishing touch to the
process of digestion, and vtalizing the red
current of life." Another advantage to respira-
ton is this: when person is sitting or stand
ing still, the exhaled air from the lungs, which
is unfit to be breathed again, fills the space
about the face, and portion of it is taken into
the lungs at the next breath especially is this
the case if the head is bent forward but when a
person is walking, and expels the air from his
lungs, his head is carried past the expired air
before he draws in another breath, and thus he
gets supply of pure air. with its full proportion
of oxygen, at every inspiration, and thus is the
vigor and vivacity which results from exercise
in the open air partially accounted for. Walk
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the gentle yet constant motion which it imparts
to them, and which is essential to their long
continued healthful action. 1t brings into ac-
tion and properly develops more muscles than
any other mode of exercise. 1t tends to equal
ize the circulation of the blood Pedestrians
rope dancers, and those who exercise their legs
a great deal, are not troubled with that almost
universal complaint - cold feet. The simple
reason is that exercise calls the blood to tht
parts exercised, and the blood feeds and warns
One great objection to walking is that it take
too much time. True, it takes some time more
as a general thing, than it does TO ride; but 81
does the accomplishment of anything desirable
and is not good health desirable? In the end
however, it results in the saving of time, by pre-
serving the health and increasing the vigor o
all the physical and mental functions. In ne
way is there so much time wasted to say moth
ing of vitality as in being sick, and yet people
are unwilling to give little time in keeping
we'll To obtain the greatest amount of good
from walking, it must, like everything else, be
done right. In the first place, it is always best
to have some definite object in view when going
out to walk some particular object or place o
interest to see, some purpose to accomplish, OIL
some friend to visit, and not walk merely for the
the purpose of walking, if any other object
can be attained at the same time. But better
walk without any other object than not walk al
all. The position of the body while walking is
of great Importance. The body should incline
slightly forward from the hips, if walking
slowly, and the inclination should increase ac-
cording to the rapidity of the walk. The head
should be kept line with the body, the
shoulders and hips held back, and the chest un-
impeded in its action by tight clothing or other
wise. The arms should be allowed to swing
freely at the side. The respiration should be
carried on entirely through the nostrils, and not
through the mouth. In commencing long
walk, walk slowly at first, and gradually in
crease the speed. Invalids, and persons who
are unaccustomed to walking, should begin with
short walks, being careful not to overdo, and in
crease the distance as their strength and endur.
ance increase. Any one who will practice this
precept never ride when you can just as well
walk-will not only be more vigorous and healthy
but can accomplish far more than he or she
otherwise would.