Your daily walk matters in more ways than you think | CNN

Dana Santas, known as the “Mobility Maker,” is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and mind-body coach in professional sports, and is the author of the book “Practical Solutions for Back Pain Relief.” When people think about building strength, they likely picture lifting weights or taking a high-intensity exercise class. Walking is often dismissed as “just cardio” or something you do to reach your step count or get some fresh air. But walking acts as far more than a calorie-burning activity. It’s one of your body’s most fundamental movement patterns. How you walk affects pelvic alignment, core stability, hip mobility, balance, breathing and even how your nervous system regulates tension. In many ways, walking provides the basis for building and expressing strength. Although the act of walking is not a resistance exercise unless you add external load, without efficient gait mechanics, your strength training suffers. Think of walking as the daily foundational practice that sets the stage for how powerfully you can move in the gym and everyday life. Even modest strength training can counter age-related decline Every step you take is part of a coordinated s