You will feel and look so much younger and healthier with good colour in your cheeks after regular exercise. It will boost your general health and your brain and memory. This will increase your vitality and make you a more interesting and happier person.

The easiest form of exercise is simply walking but it should be done at a pace fast enough to increase your heart rate or breathing. This need not be so fast that it affects talking. Depending on your age and fitness you should start a programme of walking by building up slowly to a level where you can comfortably walk at least 2 kilometres in 15 to 20 minutes. If you do this regularly four or five times every week you will have a reasonable level of fitness.

One advantage of walking is that you need no equipment other than a good pair of shoes and good weatherproof clothing. If you are going out of ground that you know it is sensible to carry a compass and a map. If you are going hill walking you should follow the advice of the local area, but in general this is a very uncomplicated sport.

It is usually possible to combine a walk with part of your normal routine. Get up a little earlier to walk to work, or make a slightly longer walk to the bus or train. If you do this by a different route every day and concentrate on improving your powers of observation (see other articles by me) this will rewarding as well as enjoyable. You will be amazed at what you see and learn which you had never noticed before.

If you can't do this and have to go out specifically for a walk, try to walk with a friend. Apart from the company and interest, this will bring a greater discipline and continuity.

Walking becomes more than a means of getting exercise, it becomes an interesting hobby in its own right if you make a habit of exploring new places. Get out at weekends to walk in the countryside, or through different parts of your town.

Fast walking is an increasingly popular sport and does require an increased level of fitness which you may have to build up to, but it is not necessary to do this to keep basically fit.

Orienteering is another walking sport which can be done at any age and adds both a competitive and a mentally demanding aspect to it.

Walking holidays both in Great Britain and abroad can be arranged to include any particular interests you might have and have the advantage that you can cover some of the most spectacular scenery and go on to new ground all the time while your baggage is moved ahead to the next night's accommodation for you. These holidays can be highly recommended.

You can learn much more about exercise to improve your memory and many other things through the web site in the resource box which was written by a family doctor who has trained senior managers from major international companies, government departments and the armed forces.