healthy you [
SUMMER WALKS
A brisk walk can leave behind upward or
400 calories an hour on the trail. A gentle,
contemplative stroll bums about half
that but has other benefits.
EXPOSE
YOURSELF
TO ‘D’ THIS
SUMMER
don’t spot one. But when
you mosey along and turn
your attention to
e v e ry th in g
you see, whatever you find
along the way wall be a
wonderful revelation.”
Wander anywhere—in a
state park, along a suburban
trail, or even on a city7
street.
WALK LIKE A YOGI
In her book
W a lk in g Yoga,
Ila Sarley, a founding-
member of the Kripalu
Center for Yoga & Health in
Stockbridge, Massachusetts,
explains an easy exercise
that can lift a troubled or
worried spirit. Summer is
a great time for this walk,
called ‘Walking Alone,’
because heat and humidity
set a languid pace that’s
perfect for reflection.
Choose a park or other
lovely setting, if possible.
First, warm up writh neck
rolls and gentle stretches,
and take some slow7
, deep
breaths while focusing
on the beauty7
around you.
Maintain this focus on
beauty7
throughout the walk,
and make sure that your
gait feels loose and natural.
Hurrying should be the last
thing on your mind. Devote
30 to 45 minutes so you
wron’t feel rushed.
BREAKAWAY BEACH
WALKING
A favorite destressor for
guests of Montage, a
luxurious hotel and spa on
Laguna Beach in California,
this rejuvenating 60-minutc
aerobic beach walk works
either solo or with partners,
says Julie Raistrick, spa
director. Start with 5 to 10
minutes of slow7
breathing as
you gaze out over the ocean
(or any other body of water).
Send worrisome thoughts
away, onto the ebbing
waves and eddies. Head
into thigh-high water and
walk briskly through the
waves, parallel to the
beach, for 10 minutes.
Exaggerate your walking
so that you bounce and
splash. Water provides
natural resistance—but it’s
so enjoyable you don’t
realize you’re exercising.
Next, head back to the
beach and walk hard
through the hot sand for
10 minutes. Then, repeat
the water walk. After about
40 minutes, sit on the sand,
face the w7ater, and stretch
slowly. Finish by resting
quietly for a few
minutes, breathing
slowly and deeply.
S h o rt w a lk s are a p e rfe ct
tim e to m a k e v ita m in D,
a n e sse n tia l v ita m in th at
h e lp s p ro te ct a g a in st
c a n c e r a n d o ste o p o ro sis.
Y o u r b o d y u se s su n lig h t
to m a n u fa ctu re vita m in
D. T h e re ce n t d isc o v e ry
th a t w e n e e d m o re
v ita m in D th a n p re v io u sly
re c o m m e n d e d — u p to
1 ,0 00 in te rn a tio n al
u n its a d a y — p ro m p te d
re se a rc h e rs to re v a m p su n
re c o m m e n d a tio n s. “ Fair-
sk in n e d A m e ric a n s sh o u ld
a im fo r g e ttin g 15 to 2 0
m in u te s o f su n tim e,
w ith o u t w e a rin g su n
b lock, th re e tim e s a w e e k
betw een 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,”
sa y s v ita m in D re se a rc h e r
Dr. M ic h a e l H olick, a
p ro fe sso r o f m e d ic in e at
B o sto n U n iv e rsity S c h o o l
o f M e d icin e . D u rin g th e se
tim e s, e x p o se a s m u c h
sk in a s th e law a n d th e
n e ig h b o rs w ill allow . T h e
excep tion: A lw a y s u se at
least S P F 15 su n sc re e n o n
y o u r face a n d ears, w h e re
sk in c a n c e rs strik e m ost.
A n d never let y o u rse lf burn.
/
ALL-TERRAIN \
LKERS
I M / i
STABLE AND WATERPROOF,
THESE N EW BALANCE 965
COUNTRY WALKERS GO
OFF THE BEATEN PATH.
$99, newbalance.com
1 9 2
JULY 2008 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTOS: (W OMAN) VEER; (SHOES) ANDY LYONS
