If your idea of a good workout involves breaking a sweat, getting your heart rate up and finishing feeling totally spent, Celebrity Traitors star Miranda Hart wants you to take a different approach.
The comedian and actor revealed that one of the simplest forms of movement – walking – is a regular part of her routine. And not just any walks – short, slow-paced walks with a focus on mindfulness and nature. Speaking to BBC Woman’s Hour, Hart said she does 20-minute, ‘very slow’ walks around a field over brisk ‘power walks’.
She doesn’t chase a particular step count, pace or calorie burn, and she’s found that slowing down has completely changed the way she experiences movement, while improving both her physical and mental health.
‘I walk slower,’ Hart told Woman’s Hour. ‘And so I look up more and I look around. And it’s the slower pace that really calms my mind.’
Miranda Hart’s walking routine
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Pace: Very slow
- Location: Around a field
- Frequency: Daily
- Focus: Getting outside, moving gently and being present
There are no complicated intervals or weighted vests involved, and yet Hart’s walks have been instrumental in rebuilding a ‘mind-body connection’ to help her ‘trust her body again’ after being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2020. But it’s not just about the mental benefits.
Why slow walking still counts as exercise
While a gentle 20-minute walk won’t provide the same cardiovascular stimulus as running or a faster-paced walk, it can absolutely still contribute towards your overall physical activity.
In fact, one study discovered that women over 50 who walked slower burned more fat than those who sped through their strolls. The researchers theorised that walking at faster speeds could leave you breathless, which makes your body more likely to use blood sugar (a.k.a. glucose) for energy. At slower speeds, you may be more likely to burn fat instead.
Other research shows that while it might not count towards the 150 minutes of moderate physical activity recommended by the NHS, even slow, leisurely walks can boost your fitness when they replace sitting time.
A big bonus of Hart’s slow walking routine for anyone who finds traditional exercise intimidating, exhausting or simply unenjoyable is that rather than waiting until you have the time, energy or motivation for a full workout, all you have to do is get outside, walk for 20 minutes and pay attention to what’s around you.
It’s a refreshingly low-pressure place to start: no personal bests, no step targets and no need to finish feeling exhausted.
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As Women’s Health UK’s fitness director and a qualified Pilates and yoga instructor, Bridie Wilkins has been passionately reporting on exercise, health and nutrition since the start of her decade-long career in journalism.
After earning a first-class degree in journalism and NCTJ accreditation, she secured her first role at Look Magazine, where she launched the magazine’s health and fitness column, Look Fit, before going on to become Health and Fitness writer at HELLO!
Since, she has written for Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, The Metro, Runner’s World and Red. Today, she oversees all fitness content across Women’s Health online and in print, spearheading leading cross-platform franchises, such as ‘Fit At Any Age’, which showcases the women proving that age is no barrier to exercise.
She has also represented the brand on BBC Radio London, plus various podcasts and Substacks – all with the aim to encourage more women to exercise and show them how. Outside of work, find her trying the latest Pilates studio, testing her VO2 max for fun (TY, Oura), or posting workouts on Instagram.
