A blissful beach stroll. Simply walking on the beach is beneficial to your body and your mind.

Simply walking on the beach?

Does hearing the word 'walk' cause you to feel some type a way?
All of a sudden, you feel tired? (~ shrug~)

I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. Truth is, I have a few female friends in the 40+ age range, who will share a few reasons and short anecdotes that they use to justify this paradox.

And some of these rebuttals result in more than a snicker. Yes, good roaring laughter as you nod in agreement with some of the remarks

Well, this walk is different. It is not a trod, a march or even a hike.
This is simply walking on the beach

Location, atmosphere, and mindset make the difference

So you say:

Do you know that it is HARD to walk in dry sand?

And dry sand gets unbearably HOT

Uumm...(wry smile) ~clean thoughts~ 😎🙂

Going for a daily walk on the beach will disrupt your calendar, it's out of your way, you can't seem to find the right beachwear - you say - and the list lengthens

And the young ladies showing their beach bods reminds you of proud moments of not so long ago, even though you've come to accept gracefully, your lovely curves

Valid excuses? Maybe

But
The discomforts are minuscule in comparison to the benefits you get from simply walking on the beach. Hands down.

So, ready?

It's a stroll

A simple beach walk is picturesque stroll. You watch the hues of blue roll out and lighten into white foam. You may see tiny sea creatures and birds, all moving with timely precision in their fancy gait.

Recently, my friends and I stopped by the beach after an evening drive. As none of them were interested in swimming, I convinced Vibs, to take a stroll and tell me how she felt afterwards.
So, we took a leisurely twilight stroll while watching the receding rays of sunset.

Walking close to the water's edge prevents you from encountering a shifting, sandy surface.
As the waves roll in, they wash over the shore
And that area has just enough moisture in the sand and hardness to prevent you from sinking as you set your foot down

Right there, Walk! Right there!

Sometimes you need to go further up the shore
To navigate the end of the swash as wave patterns sometimes scoop and cause sudden dips in the sand

You decide with precision where to place your feet

And it's

Exer...., that word. Still disgusted by the word or thought?

If you are intentional with a specific goal in mind, (such as tracking your steps), don't talk, just walk. And as a continuous effort to being fit and flexible or to maintain your physique, beach walking can be your effective solution.

I know this quest may be endorsed by some medical personnel who will never cease to remind you of the importance of exercise. You may have some friends who agree

If you have medical issues, I suggest you talk with your doctor before you take the first step

By the way, did you know that

All the muscles in your feet are at work when you walk? Walking prevents muscle atrophy

Simple walking helps you to balance naturally, without aid and keeps you grounded. Think of walking on the beach as a part of mild physical therapy

It's the barefoot connection

Is that your thing?

I bet when you were a child, it was a challenge, as it is with most children, to get you to wear shoes. Walking barefoot is natural

Do you know that there are nerve endings on the soles of your feet?
And these pressure points are being massaged by the sand as you walk?

That's why reflexologists recommend that you consult with your doctor before starting the reflexology process

I'm sure you can attest to the freedom of taking off your shoes, especially after a long day. Well, barefoot on the beach makes that freedom tastes sweeter

Of course, if you prefer, you can wear good water walking shoes which are perfect for the trek

As the water caresses your feet...

Playful, soothing.

Before you go, to the salon...

A foot massage works wonders, but here you won't have to worry about 'their' opinions regarding your crusty heels, or your corns and calluses
Plus you earn the liberty of a natural foot scrub owing to the sand's texture

What's the exciting part of the adventure?

The delightful game of seek and find, for colorful asymmetrically shaped seashells.
And surely the pumice stone you find somewhere along your exploratory journey

As you walk, you become engrossed in child-like jest as you compete with seemingly boisterous waves (you'd swear they started a challenge) to see how fast they can erase your footsteps

Happy. Smiling

Mindful strides

There's a popular poem, "One set of footprints in the sand' (author varies), which comes to mind every time I watch the footsteps disappear. The story is profound and reminds me in those moments of bliss, that whatever difficulty you encounter, someone somewhere, God, is looking out for you

Did I mention that walking on the beach is a time to 'breeze' out your head?

Yes, moments of introspection, reflection, to de-stress

A mind-blowing therapy

And you are open to greater awareness and appreciation of your surroundings as you look out for debris, algae, and dead shore creatures. And those which come to rest near the shore
They are all caught up in the ebb and flow of the delicate ecosystem.

And the other YAY part!

You get to share all of that leisure time walking with friends and family, engaging in chit-chat, playing with little ones or your pet

Mind you,
You won't even notice how much walking you've done or how far you've gone

By the way, the walk with my friend Vibs loosened her tongue.
I had to listen to her not-so-exciting beach stories and drama.

Of course, it's now on her to-do list. Even if it is just for a few minutes, to walk whenever she is in proximity to the beach.

Sweet memories.

Anyways, walking on the beach isn't just a physical but a mental reset

There you go, a holistic experience from simply walking on the beach,
especially when you really don't feel like swimming. Yes, sweetly addictive.

Try it and let me know!