Today was a good day for a walk with a friend around a nearby lake. The temperature was brisk but the sun was shining and the Minneapolis Park Board did a great job of plowing the paths after last week’s big snow storm. If you don’t already have an exercise program, walking is a good place to start.

The human structure – legs, pelvis, and arms – is made for walking. Cornell researchers built a nifty model. This robot can walk, but it can’t stand still. Check out the cool video!

If you wonder if the hype about a walking program is true, this Mayo Clinic article sums up the benefits and provides tips to get started and stay motivated. Here’s some of what it says: 

Walking, like other exercise, can help you achieve a number of important health benefits. Walking can help you:

• Lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol)

• Raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol)

• Reduce your risk of or manage type 2 diabetes

• Manage your weight

• Improve your mood

If you want to keep track of how far you’ve walked, a pedometer is a useful tool. If you like tech toys, you might consider a GPS.  If you live in Minneapolis, you can also check out this table of  path distances.