Darpan News Desk City of Surrey, 18 Jun, 2021 11:19 AM
Before you go:
Get some good, supportive walking shoes to lessen the chance of injury along trails. Waterproof options are great for our climate.
Bring water to stay hydrated if planning on a lengthy walk. Park water fountains remain closed during Covid-19, so best to bring your own. Don’t forget Fido if walking the dog!
Find a walking group to join. Meeting new people with a common interest makes walking more enjoyable. Learn more about walking resources in Surrey.
While walking:
Connecting with others while walking is beneficial to mental health. Even phoning a friend while walking is valuable if you can’t connect in person.
Walking can be a form of meditation. Noticing the sights and sounds of nature is highly beneficial, not to mention the increased oxygen coming from the trees and plants.
Walking after dinner can aid digestion, control blood sugar and boost metabolism.
Step it Up a Notch:
Walk with light weights to burn more calories.
Create a playlist of quicker tempo music. You’ll get your heart rate up as you walk along.
Set a goal, whether it’s to increase your daily or weekly steps, number of kilometers covered or number of parks you visit. Reaching your goal is fun and keeps it interesting.
Train for a charity walk. It provides a goal and purpose to keep you motivated.
Consider a walking holiday when travel resumes. Walking holidays and treks are popular in the U.K. and many parts of Europe.
Walking with Families:
Make a game of it for kids! How many interesting plants, bugs, flowers, etc. can each child find along the way. Take photos too.
Connect with other families…new Moms. Great way to catch up while being active.
Walking for Seniors:
Consider walking poles for added stability along hills and trails. The top of the handle should be at waist/hip level and your elbow at 90 degrees.
Always have a phone with you for added safety.
Try an outdoor walking track. The rubberized surface provides cushioning and traction with every step.
Flexibility is not only key for improving mobility and healing aches and pains, it can free up blocked energy pathways, and can open new realms of fitness capabilities.
There is more conversation on topics such as sleep, energy, digestion, hormones, lifestyle and emotional health vs. just the archaic model of calories consumed and intensity of exercise.
While physically caring for yourself mostly involves getting enough water, sleep, nutritious food, and exercise each day, it can also include things that make your body feel good.
Today we live in a fast-paced world where our lifestyle has become so hectic that we often neglect the most important thing – the nutrition that our body needs to lead a healthy life.
Scientists typically estimate that a vaccination rate of about 70% is needed for herd immunity, where entire populations are protected against a disease.
