Inspired by Aristotle

Since Aristotle was not a citizen of Athens, he could not own property. That is why, he and his followers would meet at the Lyceum and go for long walks. His followers became known as peripatetics, which means “given to walking about”. On these walks, he would lecture his students on subjects such as logic, metaphysics and politics.

2300 years later, this way of teaching still holds value. So what are the benefits of walking?

1. Gets your creativity flowing

A Stanford University study found that: “Walking had a large effect on creativity. Most of the participants benefited from walking compared with sitting, and the average increase in creative output was around 60%”.

Since most of us spend many hours sitting in offices, our minds are not able to create new and innovative ideas as easily. So if you get your feet moving, you’ll have the capacity to think in a more open and creative way.

2. Improves your mood

Nobody likes to feel lethargic. What’s the cure? You know it, walking! Several studies have been published on the benefits of walking and higher energy levels. One such study, released in 2015 by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, demonstrated that 200 minutes of walking a week leads to better emotional health.

3. Improves physical health

Because of our sedentary lifestyle, more and more people are developing diabetes and heart disease. Walking can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels. It will even help you lose weight.

4. Better sleep

Getting enough sleep at night is one of the keys to a healthy and productive life. Because of stress and other negative factors, it’s not always easy to fall asleep at night. According to the Sleep Foundation, walking and exercising will help you fall asleep quicker, for longer and help you get a better quality of sleep.

5. Stress relief

Stress is one of the biggest issues affecting people’s health. Did you know that walking clears cortisol, the “stress hormone”, out of your system and also helps stop the never-ending stream of worries going through your mind?

6. Improves brain health

When you go for a walk, your brain receives an increase in blood flow. This is important if you want to have a well-functioning brain. In the long-term, it will also help lower your chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

7. Allows for human connection

Going for walks with others is one of the best ways to socialize and get to know someone. Because you’ll be in a better mood, you’ll be able to enjoy the time together. And because you’ll have more blood pumped to your brain, you’ll be able to think more clearly and creatively.

I’ve just listed a bunch of reasons why walking is good for you. But how does that relate to learning and improving your language skills?

Your physical, emotional and mental health are 100% tied to your ability to learn. If you are stressed or in a bad mood, you won’t be motivated to learn. If you don’t sleep well at night, then you won’t have the energy to sit through an English lesson. If your physical health is weak, you won’t be able to focus on learning.

So, who’s ready to go on a walk with me?

P.S. Our lessons can be done while on a walk or the traditional way (in an office).