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Whole bodyIndoor walking · Level 1 of 3: Supported start

Short indoor walk

Walk a short route at home, resting as you go.

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Captured movement, awaiting exercise review. Only the body is shown. Chairs, supports and equipment are not.

What you need

A clear floor

Getting into position

  • Clear a loop or a corridor with nothing to trip over, such as loose rugs or cables.
  • Wear supportive shoes rather than slippers and use your usual walking aid if you have one.

How to do it

  1. Walk the loop slowly for the first couple of minutes.

  2. Walk at a pace where you can talk but not sing.

  3. Sit down and rest whenever you need to.

  4. Slow down for the last couple of minutes.

Keep in mind

  • Talk, don't sing.
  • Turn with small steps.

Where you should feel it

Your breathing and heart rate going up, and your legs working. You can still talk.

Stop or change something if you feel

Chest pain, breathlessness that doesn't settle with rest, or pain in a joint.

A gentler starting point

Walk for less time, or rest more often.

When it feels easy

Take fewer rests, then try the steady walk.

Your next small steps

Change one thing at a time. Stay on a step until it feels steady, then take the next.

  1. Walk at a comfortable pace, resting whenever you need to.

    5–10 minutes in total, resting as needed

    Move on when: The whole session feels comfortable on the talk test, two sessions running.

  2. Add a minute or two of walking in total.

    10–12 minutes in total, resting as needed

    Move on when: The whole session feels comfortable on the talk test, two sessions running.

  3. Take fewer rests, walking a little further between each one.

    10–12 minutes in total, two or three short rests

    Move on when: You only need two or three short rests, two sessions running.

  4. Add a minute or two, keeping your rests short.

    12–15 minutes in total, one or two short rests

    Move on when: The whole session feels comfortable on the talk test, two sessions running.

  5. Keep going without stopping, slowing down instead of resting.

    15–20 minutes, resting only if you need to

    Move on when: You can keep going for 15 minutes without needing to stop.

Next level up
Steady continuous indoor walking coming soon

Levels in indoor walking

Each level is a separate variation. Move up when the last step on this page feels steady, and back down on a harder day.

  1. Level 1 · Supported startShort indoor walk (this page)
  2. Level 2 · FoundationSteady continuous indoor walking coming soon
  3. Level 3 · More challengeLonger indoor walking session coming soon
  4. Level 3 · More challengeIndoor walking with appropriate pace changes coming soon

Explore related content.

Everyday focus
Keeping going, Building a routine
Body area
Whole body
Muscles
To be confirmed
Equipment
No hand weights needed
Movement format
Walking
Starting point
Starting a routine
Age context
Older-adult focused

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