6 Tips for Indoor Walking

There's good reason to get moving. Moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking, reduces women's overall risk of death from all causes. Walking also lowers your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and breast cancer.

What about weight loss? In combination with diet, walking can take off excess pounds while also building your cardio-respiratory fitness. Even for obese individuals who don't attain their ideal weight, such activity—when done regularly—reduces the risk of health decline.

So many places, so little time

When locations are convenient, indoor walking fits easily into any schedule. "People can take a walking break during the day," says Kit Keller, an organizer for the advocacy group Wisconsin Walks. "The trend is toward collaboration so that public buildings, schools and businesses can be opened for greater good health uses." A county technical college has connected buildings, which employees and students use for exercise walking, Ms. Keller says, while some local governments maintain community indoor tracks to promote walking in all seasons.

In many regions, schools and colleges open their indoor tracks and other facilities to the public. The local recreation department in Wheatland, NY, encourages residents to walk the hallways at the Wheatland Chili High School from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. Seven times around the halls equals one mile, according to town recreation director Diane Jennings, who says the program is very popular.