I Can Walk...Can You?
I can walk!
Walking is an easy and enjoyable form of physical activity. It’s fun and it will help you to feel great and improve your health.
Regular walking will:
- Increase your energy level and stamina
- Relieve stress and tension
- Help you sleep better
- Help you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight when combined with healthy eating
- Reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, adult onset diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, high blood pressure, obesity, falls and injuries, and certain cancers
- Strengthen bones and muscles
According to Health Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines, adults and older adults should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more.
If you make walking a regular part of your day, those minutes of physical activity will add up quickly. Here are some easy ideas for walking every day:
- Skip the elevator -- use the stairs
- Walk one or two extra blocks to the next bus stop
- Walk your kids to school
- Take a walk break rather than a coffee break at work
- Make your dog smile -- go for walks more often
- Try a family walk in the evening
- Walk to work, your next doctor’s appointment or to the grocery store
I can walk…can you?
In some communities, being able to walk safely and comfortably in your neighbourhood is a challenge. Some neighbourhoods don’t have sidewalks, and some are located in busy traffic areas. Many residential areas are located a far distance from schools, services and shops, making walking difficult.
Walkable communities are designed for walking and encourage citizens to rely on their cars less and choose walking more often. In Canada, more than half of car trips are less than five kilometres in length - ideal distances to cover by walking, cycling or in-line skating. Consider walking instead of using the car the next time you make a trip under one kilometre.
You can speak out for a walkable community. Ask for a Walking Charter to be adopted by your municipal council. Talk to your councillors about creating trails in your community that include sidewalks and bike lanes that connect people to places they need to go.
www.icanwalk.ca will provide you with tips and tools to make your community more walkable.
To learn more about walkable communities, click here.
Yes, you can walk!
You can obtain a free Walk This Way self-help kit by calling the health unit’s resource order line at 1-877-721-7520, ext. 8323. This kit will assist you to start an individual or group walking program. It also includes a reusable calendar to keep you motivated.
Some more thoughts:
Page Last Updated: Monday, September 19 2011
