EXPENSIVE gyms, personal trainers, people posing in Lorna Jane on the school run.
Forget about all that nonsense and go for a free walk as part of Heart Week (May 4 – 10).
Bombarded by training programs and health fads, many have forgotten that the simple act of regular walking can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, manage blood pressure and cholesterol, support bone strength, boost mental health and build social connection.
• Look out the sneakers and get walking for Heart Week (May 4-10).
As part of Heart Week, The Heart Foundation is holding walks across Australia to get people back into regular strolls, including a Women’s Heart Week Walk at Galup Reserve (Lake Monger) in West Leederville.
For more than 30 years, the Heart Foundation Walking program has supported hundreds of thousands of people across Australia to start and stay walking.
Originating in Queensland as the Just Walk It program in 1995, Heart Foundation Walking now boasts hundreds of groups across the nation.
“Heart Foundation Walking is free, but the benefits are priceless. It’s come-one-come-all, with groups walking all year round in over 830 locations across the country,” says physiologist and Heart Foundation advisor Elizabeth Calleja.
“At the Heart Foundation, we work every day to achieve our goal of heart health equity for everyone.
“We do this by supporting more people to be active by building and supporting a community of walkers. Our Heart Foundation Walking program is Australia’s largest free walking network and offers people a variety of locations and ways to walk with us.
“The Heart Week Walk events aim to highlight the importance of regular physical activity in preventing heart disease, which continues to be Australia’s leading cause of death.”
Local walking groups include the South Beach Friday Striders, who meet on Friday 8am The Meeting Place, 245 South Terrace, South Fremantle.
Coogee Cruisers—Thursday 8.30am Coogee Cafe, Powell Rd—and Phoenix Walkers—Wednesday and Friday 7.45am Phoenix Shopping Centre (Post Office entrance) Spearwood.
For contact details see cockburn.wa.gov.au/Community/Health-and-Wellbeing/Heart-Foundation-Walking-Groups. For more heart health info see heartfoundation.org.au.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK