"Japanese walking": 5 effects the fitness trend has on your body

It's no secret that daily walking is healthy , and with simple tricks like walking backward every now and then, we can even turn it into a real workout . "Japanese walking" also pursues this goal – with success, as studies show.

According to media reports, the fitness trend is the brainchild of professors Hiroshi Nose and Shizue Masuki from Shinshu University in Matsumoto, Japan. But how does "Japanese walking" work?

"Japanese Walking": How it works

The workout consists of alternating between a fast and slow walking pace. You walk for three minutes at a relaxed pace, making it easy to carry on a conversation (plus, you can do this exercise perfectly with two or more people!). Then you walk for three minutes at a fast pace, making it difficult to talk during the walk.

Alternate these two paces for a total of 30 minutes. Ideally, "Japanese walking" should be on your training schedule four times a week; research has shown measurable health benefits at this frequency.

5 effects the fitness trend has on your body

The sport is also described as "high-intensity walking," similar to so-called "HIIT" (high-intensity interval training) workouts. However, the Japanese method is much more relaxed, making it suitable for beginners and older people—especially given its physical benefits.

In one study , scientists compared "Japanese walking" with walking at a constant low intensity and a daily goal of 8,000 steps and found five health benefits of the former:

1. The blood pressure of the participants decreased: minimizes the risk of cardiovascular diseases
2. The leg muscles improved: reduces the risk of falls
3. Body weight could be reduced: prevents obesity and thus possible subsequent diseases
4. General fitness increased: promotes general well-being in everyday life
5. The loss of strength has been limited, which begins around the age of 30 and progresses more rapidly from the age of 50: according to a long-term study, slows down the aging process

Further British research supports these findings: Those who exercise regularly or frequently in various phases of physical exertion (moderate to intense) live longer. International research also concluded that 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day, depending on age, have a life-prolonging effect – with "Japanese walking," we can easily and almost casually achieve this goal.

sas Brigitte

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