Walking is a great way to get a cardiovascular workout, especially if you’ve just started to exercise regularly—all you’ll need is a pair of good sneakers and a sidewalk.
However, depending on where you live, walking outside may not be an option year round. Treadmills are a good substitute, but they can be costly, take up considerable space and many people find them somewhat boring.
Lately, I’ve been enjoying my daily walks so I was disappointed when a week of soggy weather prevented me from hitting the pavement. Since I don’t own a treadmill and didn’t have enough time to make it to the gym, I turned to YouTube for an alternative.
I found Rachel’s Fit Pilates 10-minute walking workout and decided to give it a try. No equipment is needed for this workout, though you might want to use a yoga mat for comfort.
How to do this 10-minute walking workout
Rachel includes 10 exercises in this quick workout, all done to the beat of the music. You’ll perform each exercise for a full minute with a few seconds of rest between each move.
- Walk in place
- Side step
- Side step and front raise
- Side step and front-side raise
- Two steps forward and back with arms extended
- Side step and side bend with right arm raise
- Side step and side bend with left arm raise
- Side step and bicep curl
- Side step and tricep kickback
- Two steps forward and back with arms extended
Rachel demonstrates the more complex exercises during rest breaks, giving you a chance to practice the movement before starting your work interval.
What I found
It’s more like dancing or aerobics than walking
I’d never done a walking workout on YouTube before so I was curious to see how they are structured and how the instructors keep the workout interesting—walking in place for 10 minutes never seemed very engaging!
This workout answered that question. The walking part lasts the first two minutes but after that, it felt more like a dance fitness or aerobics class. Rachel incorporates simple yet fun choreography that also involves the upper body. Doing movements to the beat of the music keeps you engaged throughout the 10 minutes.
It takes a bit of coordination
I found the movements to be straightforward and simple, but they do require some coordination.
You’ll have a full minute to master each step, so even those with two left feet should catch on eventually. The great thing about YouTube is that you can pause and rewind the video if you need to. You can also move slower than Rachel if that works better for you.
It’s great for beginners and can be easily progressed
If you’ve never exercised before and have been wanting to start, this workout would be a great introduction. It’s relatively short, easy to follow and gets the heart pumping in a way that’s doable for almost any fitness level.
As a certified personal trainer, I’m no stranger to challenging workouts so this 10-minute routine wasn’t difficult for me. However, I could easily increase the intensity by adding some light hand weights, wear a weighted vest or strap on ankle and wrist weights.
Shop walking shoes
One of the many benefits of walking is that it doesn't require much equipment. However, if your footwear needs an upgrade, we recommend the sneakers below. They are all taken from our round-up of the best walking shoes and offer comfort and support during your strolls. You can use them for routines like the above, or this outdoor 10-minute walking workout.
Super soft, comfortable and supportive, these are the best shoes we've tested on Fit&Well.
This comfortable shoe is often less than half the price of its rivals.
The grippy undersole makes these shoes great for both slippery concrete and trail walks.
