6 minutes to a healthier you? Learn more about the '6-6-6 walking challenge'

Africa Melane speaks to fitness presenter Liezel van der Westhuizen.

Listen below:

Heard of the 6-6-6 walking challenge?

The 6-6-6 walking challenge is a new fitness trend and can be done in two ways:

1. Walk for 60 minutes a day at 6 am or 6 pm, with six-minute warm-ups and cool-downs.

2. Walk for six minutes, six times a day, six days a week.

It's a low-impact exercise intended to help improve health and add some movement into your life and walk at a pace comfortable for you, explains Van der Westhuizen.

"While six minutes, six times a day, is much more doable than a whole 60 minutes at once, if you do the 60 minutes, then it's done and dusted after one day," adds Van der Westhuizen.

You can step away six times during your workday, before or after meals - make the six times during the day work for you, notes Van der Westhuizen.

You can be as gentle, brisk or intense as you want with this walk or add some music to make it more enjoyable.

Benefits: 

• Reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Improved heart health.
• Reduced stress.
• Enhanced mental clarity.
• Increased oxygen delivery.
• More elastic muscles.
• Looser joints.
• Greater range of motion.
• Enhanced mood.

If you're looking to get active and make a first step towards fitness, 'my first go-to is just start walking,' says Van der Westhuizen. 

"Don't overwhelm yourself thinking 6-6-6, six times a day, 6 am, 6 pm - whatever works for you, do that," she says.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.