Earlier this year, in the beauty of the spring weather, I started taking a daily walk. I called it my Gentle Walk because the point of this walk was to provide myself with a daily dose of sunshine, an opportunity to breathe in the fresh air, a chance to see the sky, and the habit of moving my body in a way that didn’t create a feeling of stress. I began to look forward to my daily Gentle Walk.
On my walk, I would listen to audio books, enjoy a boost of energy, sip my walking water, and feel the benefits mentally and physically of adding small doses of movement to my daily routine. Along the way I learned what I needed for a successful warm-weather walk, and today I want to share my favorite walking ingredients!
SHOES
These New Balances are my favorite walking shoes because they have lots of room in the toe box, superior cushioning, and last a really long time.
SKIRT
Looking cute and staying cool on my warm-weather walks is very important to me, and I am loving these skirts from Athleta.
SHIRT
I have found that purchasing a couple of really great shirts serves me better in the long run than lots of cheaper shirts that don’t fit well or wear out quickly.
BRA
I cannot say enough good things about all of the items from Athleta, but particularly their sports bras. They are my favorite, and after trying several styles, there’s not a bad choice.
SUNSCREEN
Mandatory for every walk, every time (even if it’s cloudy), I love the Supergoop Play SPF 50 sunscreen. It absorbs easily and doesn’t have that typical sunscreen odor.
AUDIO BOOKS
My walks are designed to be enjoyable, and listening to books is a contributing factor. It keeps my mind engaged and gives me something to look forward to when I lace up my shoes and head out into the heat.
BELTBAG
I walk with a belt bag (or do we still call them fanny packs?) strapped across my torso. I carry my ID, a tube of EOS lip balm, my Airpods, and my phone.
SUN GLASSES
Can’t walk without my sunnies! Sometimes I also wear a baseball hat for extra glare protection, but I also find that wearing a hat makes me feel sweatier when I walk in warm weather.
WATER JUG
One of the delights of taking a gentle walk (vs. a ferocious power walk) is the ability to carry along your favorite hydrating beverage. I like this Yeti insulated jug because it keeps my water ice cold and provides an easy to hold handle. I also particularly like the chug top, which makes it easy to drink a lot of water without spilling, no straw required.
SOCKS
I’m not a fancy sock girl, but I do like these from Target. They are smooth inside and provide a little bit of snug support without going overboard.
MEGA BABE
If your legs don’t touch, I am happy for you. For the rest of us whose legs do touch when we walk, chafing can be a real buzz kill. Thigh Rescue by Mega Babe is a life-saver. I keep this on hand year round, and if you’re interested in a great follow, the founder Katie Sturino is doing amazing work in the body positivity space. I love following her and fully support her stance of changing harmful beauty standards in the fashion industry and culture at large. Her book is really great as well.
LET’S WALK
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