Japanese interval walking: the viral exercise trend that could put a spring in your step

Nicola Davis putting the trend to the test. The fast walking pace should be fast enough that you are not able to speak in long sentences. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

If the thought of pumping iron or holding a plank doesn’t put a spring in your step, maybe the latest exercise trend to dominate social media will: Japanese interval walking.

The idea is simple: alternate between three minutes of fast and three minutes of slow walking, ideally for 30 minutes at a time.