Quotes on benefits of walking..

I'm a slow walker, but I never walk back.

Abraham Lincoln

Walking and barefoot walking - benefits ..

Seventeen health benefits of walking 

In very simple terms, I can conclude that walking is a very simple and effective exercise both for the body and the mind.

I know of very many people who have been walking and have enjoyed great health over many years.

Dr E Sreedharan, the longest serving employee of Government of India, (retired at the ripe age of 79 years from GoI), the Metro Man of India, who was the former MD of Delhi Metro, Konkan Railway, Kolkata Metro and now an advisor on Sustainable Transport to the United Nations, is an avid walker !!

Ever since my wife and myself started walking regularly for the past 18 months, we have had good health and no joint, backache problems at all .. It has improved our general health and beyond imagination.

My parents have been walking for decades, Now in Kochi at 92 and 86 years, they are very active mentally and physically, with no health problems at all ! My father if he had the option to walk and taking a vehicle, he would prefer to walk anyday.

Some of the fondest memories of my life walking was when I used to walk every sunday to the church in Trichur, Kerala, at age of 12 years, about 6 kms, enjoying the early morning sun and the cool breeze.

Having come to Bangalore, I find walking is being resorted to daily by Prof J Philip, former Director and President of XIME, which keeps him active, healthy and agile as never before. At age 78 he is very fond of walking.

Bangalore is known for its traffic snarls. To circumvent it, I too have started walking to and from office, these days. For the past three weeks, been walking about 3-4 km each, on average daily to office in Dollars Colony, Silk Board and back. Besides contributing to reducing the traffic snarls in the morning and evenings on Bangalore roads, it is very helpful to my purse too. How fresh I feel in the morning and in the evening after returning from work ! All Bengalorites do not get this luxury of short office commute from home, but it is a great benefit.

My advice to my fellow comrades on planet earth, wherever possible, in whatever job and responsibility, and in whatever capacity, do stretch your body, take a few extra steps daily. It is not difficult at all. It prepares your mind and body to achieve more, be more healthy and make life more enjoyable when you start walking with your life partner.

The psychological benefits of walking are a happy, trouble and tension free mind, positive and helpful, waiting for more of life's challenges to face them headon !

So why wait, from this evening itself, start walking ! If you can combine it with household responsibilities of shopping, running on errands etc, it serves dual purpose too..

Walking is contagious. Seeing and sensing your positive mind, mentality, health and thinking, your neighbours, relatives, colleagues and students, all of them will also get into this habit.

Let us walk for a better future of planet earth and for a better future for humanity.

Measuring one's "Consumption" Carbon Footprint..

 
1. A 10 step guide to understanding and reducing the carbon footprint http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/the-shrink-guide

2. Carbon Neutral project from australia - http://carbonneutral.com.au/measure-your-carbon-footprint/

3. Hertwich, Peters, "Carbon Footprint of Nations: A Global, Trade-Linked Analysis", Environ. Sci. Technol., 2009, 43 (16), pp 6414–6420, http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es803496a

4. ICT Footprint guide from EU -

5. Calculating the Carbon footprint - http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/calculate-your-carbon-footprint

6. Carbon footprint calculator http://www.carbonindependent.org/index.html

7.  Pl click here for ICICI Carbon footprint calculator

Why US does not walk the talk on Climate treaties..

The most polluting nation on planet earth, United States, does not want to walk the talk on any climate treaties. Instead it takes great pride in flexing its muscles at different venues of the world and exhorts other nations to take cuts, but not for themselves.

Why should the rogue nation of United States try its stunts on the rest of the world. After Australia with 30 T annual per capita CO2 equivalent emissions, US is next with 28 T annual per capita CO2 emissions. China is way back with about 8T per capita and India with 1.7 T per capita CO2 emissions.

If rogue nations are not ready to accept emission cuts, then the other stronger nations of the world should force them to fall in line. The question is who will bell the cat, US who refuses to accept any type of emission control ?

If US is so adamant that it will continue to spit out and damage the earth's atmosphere by unregulated CO2 emissions, the world should isolate it from all international climate talks.

Is it a difficult thing for the rest of the world to do ? If a nation like US insists on playing truant and cause untold hardship to the earth and hold it at ransom, the rest of the world should remain firm and get it to toe the international stand, even by force..

It will not be far when the world will have its sway to control this errant and devious country, US. The supposed keepers of the world's conscience, they are one of the worlds morally corrupt nation, even with a black American holding the President's office for the past six years.

 Is it high time to club US with the rogue nation of North Korea ?  Nations may be emitting dangerous gases, but they must be ready to accept their mistakes and see that it is not repeated for the better future of planet earth.

Will the rest of the world bell the cat ? Time will tell ..

ge..

Why walking is so healthy !!

Why is walking necessary ? (www.prevention.com, Matrica Heaner)

Ever wondered what happens to your body when you start walking?

Here's a minute-by-minute rundown of the amazing chain reaction walking and exercise has upon your body, it's truly amazing!

Minutes 1 to 5

Your first few steps trigger the release of energy-producing chemicals in your cells to fuel your walk. Your heart rate revs-up from about 70 to 100 beats per minute (bpm), boosting blood-flow and warming muscles. Any stiffness subsides as joints release lubricating fluid to help you move more easily. As you get moving, your body burns 5 calories per minute, compared with only 1 per minute at rest. Your body needs more fuel and starts pulling from its carbohydrates and fat stores.

Minutes 6 to 10Heartbeat increases and you're burning up to 6 calories a minute as you pick up the pace. A slight rise in blood pressure is countered by the release of chemicals that expand blood vessels, bringing more blood and oxygen to working muscles.

Minutes 11 to 20

Your body temperature keeps rising, and you start to perspire as blood vessels near the skin expand to release heat. As your walk becomes brisker, you'll be burning up to 7 calories a minute and breathing harder. Hormones such as epinephrine and glucagon rise to release fuel to the muscles.

Minutes 21 to 45Feeling invigorated, you start to relax as your body releases tension, thanks in part to a dose of feel-good chemicals such as endorphins in your brain. As more fat is burned, insulin (which helps store fat) drops--excellent news for anyone battling excess weight or diabetes.

Minutes 46 to 60

Your muscles may feel fatigued as carbohydrates stores are reduced. As you cool down, your heart rate decreases and your breathing slows. You'll be burning fewer calories but more than you were before you started. Your calorie burn will remain elevated for up to 1 hour.

All this happens without a single conscious thought from us - the human body is amazing.

Stay blessed -Stayfit
Walk / Exercise

(Source : http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/science-walking)

Who cares for the environment more ?

Even though he believes in keeping his surroundings clean and hygienic (showing off ?), an average American pollutes the world ten times more than an average Indian !!  Carbon footprint (CO2 equivalent emissions) per capita of 17 tonnes annually compared to 1.7 tonnes CO2 emissions per capita for an average Indian !

If we look at total country emissions, US gives out 314m x 17 T = 5.8 trillion T while
India gives out 1200m x 1.7 T = 2 trillion T ..

US still pollutes three times as much as India !! Also, US is not signatory to any of the climate change açcords. 

Still, who cares ?? 

Who cares for planet earth more ?

Even with this 1.7 tonnes for India, we are trying to reduce our footprint, because we are blessed with a great intellect, a fabulous, rich and oldest civilization, marvellous culture and abundant goodwill for humanity !

Those who can, let them think !!

George

 

Why the West will always trail India in cost innovation ?

In innovation literature rarely is cost innovation given as much importance as it should have been. An extravagant society, ignorant and dumb of a bleak future, which is planning its own downfall, rarely wants to look at anything that is even remotely mentioning costs.

Why ?

Not possessing Cost centered technological superiority is a great demotivator for any economy. If one pumps in any amount of money, polluting the environment and damaging it beyond recognition, acting selfish and increasing carbon footprint beyond any redemption, it is bad for that community and society. Exactly how the west is claiming progress and is feeling threatened presently.

The world knows why the West never wants to mention of cost based innovation, now or into the future, because they are a big failure there. They can never reach anywhere near the cost gains of giants India and China, be it solar energy harnessing for super critical applications or planning superior low cost space voyages and many other. 

Good for the world and humanity !!

Ge