Simple walking is one of the easiest and most effective ways to step into a healthier lifestyle. But if your main goal is calorie burning or muscle toning, it may be time to try power walking.

Although power walking doesn't involve the hip wiggling of Olympic race walking, it is distinctively different from leisure walking. "Power walking is done at a faster pace, and greater attention is paid to form and technique," says Helen Battersby, a walking coach with JeansMarines, a marathon walking and running organization in Toronto.

Here are three quick steps to help transform an easygoing walk into a high-energy workout.

New power walkers often make the mistake of leaning forward from the waist or hips in an effort to move faster, notes Battersby. Instead, keep your shoulders back and down, and keep your eyes looking up to the horizon. This tall posture lets you pick up the pace without the risk of back or neck pain. Morag Mottram, a personal trainer in Banff, Alta., asks her clients to imagine there's a string tied to the top of their heads pulling them up and lightening their steps.