For many people, walking 10,000 steps a day feels like the ultimate health goal. It’s known to help with weight loss, better metabolism, burning calories, and improving heart health. Fitness trackers and health apps encourage us to hit this number every day. And there’s a good reason—walking regularly can help burn calories, improve heart health, lower blood pressure, support mental health, and even reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases.
But let’s face it—life gets busy. Between work, family, commuting, and endless to-do lists, walking 10,000 steps a day (which usually takes over an hour) can feel like an impossible task. So what if there was a smarter, shorter way to get the same—if not better—results?
That’s exactly what fitness coach Eugene Teo recently shared on Instagram. According to him, a Japanese walking method can offer 10 times the benefits of regular walking—and it only takes 30 minutes.
What is this Japanese walking technique?
In his reel, Eugene talked about how even he struggles to reach his daily step count. “Some days, I only manage 2,000 steps. I still aim for at least 8,000—but sometimes life just gets in the way,” he said.
That’s when he suggested trying a method discovered by Japanese researchers. It’s called interval walking, and it involves:
- 3 minutes of fast walking
- 3 minutes of slow walking
- Repeat this cycle 5 times (for a total of 30 minutes)
That’s it. No special equipment. No long hours. Just a brisk walk with short breaks.
What are the benefits?
According to Eugene, this method showed surprising results when compared to walking 10,000 steps. This walking style includes:
- 29 times more improvement in aerobic fitness
- 10 times better leg strength
- 3 times better control over blood pressure
“This is perfect for people who don’t have an hour or two every day to walk. In just 30 minutes, you can get amazing health benefits,” Eugene explains in the reel.
A good option for busy professionals
Even though walking 10,000 steps is still a good goal, it can be hard to fit into your daily routine. This Japanese walking trick could be the solution for busy people who want to stay healthy but don’t have much time.
“All movement is good. But if you want to get the most from your walk in the least amount of time, try this,” Eugene said in the video.
So next time you feel bad about not meeting your step goal, remember—you can still stay fit with just 30 minutes of smart walking.
