This article was co-authored by Monica Morris. Monica Morris is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 15 years of fitness training experience, Monica started her own physical training practice and gained her ACE Certification in 2017. Her workouts emphasize proper warm-ups, cool-downs, and stretching techniques. This article has been viewed 435,467 times.

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To walk correctly, make sure you’re standing up straight and looking about 10 to 20 feet (or 3 to 6 meters) in front of you, since looking down while you walk is bad for your neck. You should also try to keep your knees slightly bent while you’re walking to decrease the impact on your joints, but don't do anything that feels unnatural. If you’re trying to walk more for exercise, focus on taking quick steps or walking uphill, which will help you break a sweat and get your heart rate up. You might aim to walk at a pace where you're still able to talk but too out of breath to sing. If you're just getting started, go for a 15-30 minute walk around your neighborhood 3 times a week to start building up your endurance. Keep reading for tips from our reviewer on how a fitness tracker or pedometer can help motivate you to walk!