In an age dominated by digital screens and sedentary lifestyles, the simple act of walking has emerged as a powerful antidote to the myriad health challenges faced by modern society. The benefits of walking for health go beyond the physical, and include fostering a sense of community and connection. In this age of connectivity, where social interactions often occur through virtual platforms, we’re sitting more than ever. According to the Mayo Clinic, and its analysis of 13 studies, “those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to that posed by obesity and smoking.”From the streets of bustling metropolises to the serene pathways of suburban enclaves, we delve into the transformative impact simply putting one foot in front of the other can have on your health: from asking whether walking is good for heart health to finding out why walking two miles a day is good. Walking for health in numbers 3.2 million According to WHO data, insufficient physical activity is responsible for 3.2 million deaths each year — the fourth most frequent cause worldwide.10,000 steps10,000 steps have long been touted as the magic number when it comes to walking for health, but a new study shows fewer than 5,000 may be enough to see a benefit. The figure 10,000 came from a Japanese pedometer marketing campaign, and stuck! 4,000 steps A study of more than 226,000 people worldwide showed that 4,000 steps was enough to start a reduction in the risks associated with dying prematurely.2,300 stepsAny steps are helpful for your health. Just over 2,300 is enough to benefit the heart and blood vessels — although the more you do, the more the health benefits. 1,000 steps Every little helps, and for every extra 1,000 steps beyond the 4,000 steps taken, reduce the risk of dying early by 15% (up to 20,000 steps).Is walking good for heart health?According to the NHS, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.Research published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology found that walking as few as 2,337 steps a day started to lessen the risk of dying from heart and circulatory diseases.Unlike running, or other high-intensity fitness targets, walking is accessible for anyone of any age. To boost the health benefits, aim to walk at a brisk pace, meaning you can talk comfortably but would be too out of breath to sing.Is walking two miles a day good for you?The NHS recommends that adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week, which includes brisk walking.In most cases, walking two miles a day will take about 30 minutes, so doing that for at least five days a week should be enough for overall health and to reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers.How to get your people moving more At YuLife, it’s an understanding of the preventative power of simple daily activity, such as walking, that’s been the basis of the YuLife app.Businesses providing Group Insurance to their employees with YuLife, all receive access to the app, which provides single-point access to all of their employee benefits. But, in addition, it features a rewards system that encourages daily interaction and small steps towards health goals, including walking. By walking for five minutes, employees receive YuCoin. For walking 10 minutes, they receive more. For 30 minutes, even more. The amount depends on their earn rate (which increases with the insurance cover they have) but even if you don’t log in, you’re accumulating YuCoin for your activity, and you can earn for:Every 2,000 steps walkedEvery km cycledEvery five minutes spent on mindfulnessYuCoin can be exchanged for vouchers and discounts from brands such as Amazon, Nike and ASOS — and more options are always being added. The result? Real-life rewards for taking the small steps to more activity — that ultimately improve the health of your employees.“Health and wellness has become quite complicated and people sometimes feel that it’s not accessible to the mainstream,” says Sammy Rubin, Founder of YuLife. “Even just working out can become quite a complicated thing. But actually, it’s much easier than people think.“It’s about going for a five-minute walk, it’s about walking up the stairs rather than taking an elevator, it’s about doing a five-minute strength workout in the kitchen, it’s about taking 10 minutes on a train and meditating. At YuLife, we’re here to make better health accessible for everyone.”About YuLife.YuLife is working to reimagine the insurance industry by protecting lives, rewarding living and inspiring life. We’re on a mission to transform traditional insurance into a life-enhancing experience each employee will value and use daily. How does it work? Our award-winning app uses behavioural science and game mechanics to reward your people for living well while offering protection in case of crisis. And with our top-rated employee assistance programme, your team gets access to mental, financial and social support, virtual GPs, nutritionists, life coaches and more to help them live their best lives.Because we believe that your employees should benefit from their insurance from day one — and that wellbeing should be accessible every day, for everyone.Request a demo for your team today.