We do it everyday, but it doesn't have to be just a way to get somewhere. Walking can be a great activity for both leisure and exercise. For leisure, you may enjoy a walk down your street or a path in the woods to admire your surroundings or have a conversation with a friend. For exercise, walking can be taken as seriously as you please.

Though walking is probably one of the most basic forms of aerobic exercise, it's more complex than you might think. Walking, race walking, or power walking as it is commonly called, is an Olympic sport complete with special techniques, rules, and regulations, including one foot being on the ground at all times, which distinguishes walking from jogging or running. The longest Olympic race walk is a whopping fifty kilometer stretch!

For the average person, walking for exercise will likely include a few basic things: a pair of specially constructed walking shoes; and, if you like, a pedometer, which is a device that tracks the number of steps you take. Proper walking shoes are vital to prevent injuries such as shin splints, especially if you plan on doing a lot of walking. Pedometers can be simplistic, only counting your steps, or you can purchase one with a variety of advanced features including calorie and speed calculators, timers and clocks. A pedometer is also a great way to record your progress towards your distance or weight-loss goals; motivating you toward even more success.

For general health or to lose weight, many recommend around 10,000 steps a day, which is typically about five miles. A good portion of those steps are taken naturally through out your day, but for serious weight-loss goals, an uninterrupted walk of 4000-6000 steps is suggested.

Walking may be something you didn't foresee to be be so beneficial; so you may want to thank your happy feet for keeping you healthy.