When it comes to exercise, there's a very common assumption that more is better: the more intense a workout is, the more you must be getting from it. After all, have you really accomplished anything if you don't nearly black out setting a new PR in the squat rack and then almost throw up doing 2-minute AMRAP burpees in a weighted vest? That kind of workout has its place, but it's definitely not the only valuable kind of exercise - or even the most valuable. Consider that.The most effective exercise is the one you'll do consistently. Many people in this world find 2-minute AMRAP burpees to be nothing short of cruel and unusual; if that's what "exercise" means to them, they won't be doing it for very long. A good workout plan is one that puts you at the lowest risk for injury. If you're constantly driving yourself to the absolute extreme of what your body can take in every single workout, you're at a very high risk of injury because you're always pushing the limit of what you can do. You don't get stronger in the gym. You get stronger when you're recovering. If you're doing extreme intensity (as hard as you can go) and extreme frequency (every day or only 1-2 rest days per week), you're not recovering enough and eventually it's going to make you weaker, not stronger. Not everyone can do burpees and barbell squats even if they wanted to. Does that mean they should just give up on the whole idea of exercise and invest in a very comfortable couch?Heavy squats and half-marathons are great, but they're not the only workouts worth doing!There are all kinds of reasons why walking (and other forms of gentle exercise) might be the right choice for all kinds of people. For the hard-charging fitness lovers, walking is a way to break up intense workouts with active recovery. Getting in motion helps your body recover by increasing blood and lymphatic flow around muscle tissue, but a gentle movement like walking is easy on any aching joints or pulled muscles, and it won't make a problem worse. For people who don't consider the gym their second home, walking is also an ideal "starter exercise." You don't need any special equipment, or even a gym membership; you can do it anywhere, and you can do it at almost any weight, age, or state of health. If you hate "exercising," walking also makes it easy to sneak in activity while you're doing other things. "Walking" doesn't have to mean "walking laps around a track." It might mean taking a walking tour of your city, going for a walk with a friend to talk things over for a while, taking a nature walk to see some local plants and animals, or exploring parts of your neighborhood you've never seen before.