Increased demand for health walks at Idle Valley
Tuesday 4th October
The nation is slowly but surely taking to its feet and enjoying the great outdoors as a way of improving their health and well-being and the Idle Valley Nature Reserve is the perfect venue for health walks and for training the leaders who lead those walks. Becoming a health walk leader is a great incentive for making and keeping a commitment to exercise and a great way to meet people, to motivate them and make them feel good.
It has been proven time and again how beneficial simply being outdoors in a rural setting can be for relaxation and de-stressing. Walking a mile in 20 minutes burns around 200 calories and regular walking (30 minutes five times a week) is proven to radically reduce the risk of heart disease, improve circulation, reduce blood pressure, slow down the onset of osteoporosis, the list of health benefits goes on and on. Walking is cheap, sociable and can be done anywhere at any time. It is shocking to think that the treatment of complaints, niggles and conditions caused by inactivity costs the health service over £8bn.
When did you last take time out for a 30 minute walk?
Di Fisher who has just qualified as a health walk leader said ‘It’s a great way to make a contribution to the community and motivate yourself to take regular exercise at the same time. The other great thing about being a health walk leader is, you don’t have to be super-fit, you just need to be fit enough to lead the walk comfortably. I think this makes the whole scheme really relaxed, warm and welcoming’.
The Idle Valley Nature Reserve currently runs 2 health walks every month on the first Saturday and the second Tuesday. Volunteer health walk leaders are always wanted, so if you are interested in being part of the health walk program, simply contact Sara Smith on 01777 713945 or visit the reception which is open 10am to 4pm 7 days a week, and the weekend Café is open Saturdays and Sundays 11:30 till 2pm.
