It is honestly hard for me to arrive at any single form of exercise that is my favorite. I enjoy many things, and I believe that variety is truly the spice of life.
Perhaps the best answer is the most logical one. Walking. Until the modern age most human beings would have done an incredible amount of walking out of necessity. It is probably an activity for which we are ideally suited.
Personally I have found very few modern cities that create an enjoyable walking experience. Thus, I prefer to walk in the outdoors, amid nature and far away from the chaotic bustle of the city. Technically I think we would call this hiking, but its really the same idea.
There was a time in antiquity when our ancestors built cities very differently. We refer to those ancient designs as walking cities – a term that has become popular in newer design circles. In Athens, for example, teachers would take their classes on walks around the city. Instead of sitting in a stuffy classroom, the teachings would be delivered over the course of the walk.
In fact Aristotle and other noted Greek philosophers created an entire school around the idea of combining walking with teaching. The school was loosely housed in the Lyceum and was called the Peripatos.
Personally I feel like we could use a little more walking in our education system.
Image: Aristotle and his disciples – Alexander, Demetrius, Theophrastus, and Strato, in an 1888 fresco in the portico of the National University of Athens

Leave a comment