International Walking Day Stop for a minute. Go out of the house. Don't run, don't go to work or the store. Just walk. Wherever your eyes look. On June 13, the world celebrates the International Walking Day (World Walking Day). An unofficial but very necessary holiday. In the hustle and bustle of cities, where we move by car, bus, metro, we have forgotten how to walk. And yet walking is the most natural movement of man. It heals the body, calms the mind, saves from depression. On this day, millions of people in different countries leave their cars and go to parks, forests, embankments. Let's figure out why a walk is not a waste of time, but an investment. History of the holiday: from WHO to social media The World Walking Day was initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the 1990s as part of a campaign to combat inactivity. The European regional office of the WHO proposed celebrating it on the first Saturday in June. Later, the date was linked to June 13 — the day when summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere, and the weather is favorable for walks. In Russia, the holiday has been popular since the 2010s, especially in environmental and fitness communities. In 2026, Walking Day falls on a Saturday, which is ideal for a family outing. Health benefits: walking as a medicine Regular walking at a moderate pace reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 30%, type 2 diabetes by 40%, hypertension by 35%. Bones and joints are strengthened (prevention of osteoporosis). The work of the intestines improves, the level of "bad" cholesterol decreases. Walking burns calories (about 300 kcal per hour at a brisk pace). But the main thing is the psychological effect: a walk in the fresh air reduces the level of cortisol, improves mood, increases creativity (by 60% according to studies). It is enough to walk briskly for 30 minutes 5 times a week to notice the difference. How walks affect the brain During walking, blood circulation in the brain is activated, me ... Читать далее