The first time I heard about walking in a circle exercise, the thought didn’t really get to me. It almost sounded silly. Why do we walk in circles when I can walk straight or even do some proper training? But after doing just one week of walking in circles for 30 minutes a day, I started feeling different — in my legs, on my balance, and in my core.
The aim was not to work up a sweat or keep track of the steps taken. It was the time for movement with the mind set, the control and the rhythm. What was at first a challenge from the heart to the rest of the body became a way to feel fitter from within that was completely unexpected.
What Is the Walking in a Circle Exercise?
The walking in a circle exercise is exactly what it sounds like. You walk in a moderate-sized circle — around the yard, inside a room, or out in an open space in the park — at a consistent speed. At every five minutes’ mark, you go the other way. First, in a clockwise motion and then in an anticlockwise way. That tiny adjustment of the direction lets the muscles that are less loaded than in the regular walking mode do some extra work.
While walking forward primarily engages your leg muscles, the circular shape of your walking also involves your core, side hips, lower back, and even your ankles. The constant turning keeps your body in balance. And when you perform the reverse move, it also works the other side of your body much as before.
Why I Tried It for a Week
I was in search of a high energy but current physical conditioning routine to facilitate my agility and balance and also without necessarily having to go to a gym. I take care of my business sitting down all day, and on top of that, long treadmill exercises have always ended up hurting my knees. The walking in a circle exercise seemed soft but still potent — something I could do even when I was exhausted.
The actions I took to perform the single loop, I chose a flat area of my balcony, and I set the time for 30 minutes. At the beginning, I took it slowly the first day and made sure I was not dizzy or straining. Every five minutes I changed the direction as I turned around.
How I Found the Situation after 7 days
I could recognize the difference on the first day in any way. But by the third day, little things began to be visible to me: My balance was much better when I was crouching down, I didn’t incline much on one leg while walking, the stiffness in my lower back wasn’t so severe in the mornings.
It was day 5 when the most remarkable change occurred. I was aware of my core being involved. Initially, I was not anticipating that a walking exercise would help me make my abs stronger, but my walking in a circle routine activated such small stabilizing muscles that are usually not in use.
With the seventh day, going around the circle was not an alien thing anymore. It was indeed something like moving meditation. My heart rate was stable, and I actually felt connected to the earth. I could hardly wait to get my half-hour each day.
Is The Simple Movement of Walking in a Circle Like This Virtual
The walk around exercise has such a subtle but very everlasting impact. True it is that it’s not as effective as other high impact activities like sprinting or weight lifting that requires more energy because of the little strength involved.
There were some benefits which I potentially saw, like a great motivation:
- My back was not so down and hunched during the day.
- My steadiness while walking on an uneven road has surely become better.
- There was not as much tightness in the region of my hips and back.
- I was left with a peaceful and positive mindset each time I finished the session.
Furthermore, the gentle repetitive movement provided a mental reset, it was more like walking meditation. It also helped me to clear my thoughts and reduce my stress level.
Ways to Attempt it by Yourself
If you’re eager to engage in the activity of walking in a circle, here are some hints:
- Choose an empty, even area with a minimum of 1.8–2.4 meters width
- Put on high-traction shoes
- Decide on a 30-minute reminder and every 5 minutes, go to the opposite direction
- Have a slightly tightened stomach as you walk
- Walk with your head held high, without your shoulders slumped, and breathe deeply
A mere quarter of an hour per day may be sufficient to begin to notice positive effects. And for the elderly, people recovering from an injury, or those seeking balance training, it could be the safest way to build up the core and not put too much effort in.
What Happened Lastly
To the untrained eye, the walking in a circle exercise might not look like it has any tangible benefits, but as is often the case, the easiest of gestures can bring the best outcomes. In less than 10 days, I had become more conscious of how I walked, felt especially good in the midriff, and extremely happy with the way I created movement.
It is not a very popular exercise for physical fitness — but it is an efficient, non-aggressive activity which is a lot of things in one: it is nice and comfortable for the practitioner and also difficult at the same time. I see this as the mainstay of my regimen.
