pend an hour online and you’ re likely to come across new ways to walk. People march around their neighbourhoods with smartwatches strapped to their wrists, vowing to get their steps in. Influencers document their cosy cardio sessions in dimly lit living rooms with a walking pad and a comforting TV show. In some cities, hundreds of people have gathered for long-distance group walks.

Baby steps

Although the act of putting one foot in front of the other for exercise is trendy at the moment, it has lasting virtues as a form of movement that is accessible to most people, and one that is backed by research.

“ Walking, especially as you age, has most of the health benefits that people associate with exercise and physical activity,” says Panteleimon Ekkekakis,

chair of the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University.

These health benefits include better mental health, improved sleep and a lower risk of heart disease, dementia and several cancers. Regular exercise can produce an immediate mood boost and, as you age, it helps you hold on to your physical and mental abilities, keeping you functional and independent later in life.

To take advantage of these benefits, >

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26 | JAN / FEB 2026 COSTCO CONNECTION