Here’s the second guest monthly blog from Sue Weller and Allyn Edwards from Stone’s The Ishta Centre. This month: get moving!
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here are four main areas of health that require constant attention, that is what you eat, how much exercise you do, what your outlook on life is like and how much sleep you get. Basically people are generally either deficient in one area or more or have too much (toxic). To remain physiologically balanced requires a balance in all four areas. It is difficult in this day and age but not impossible. With the increasing risk of chronic health conditions we feel it is essential that we all work at trying to get the best balance possible.
Let’s start with moving more.
It’s been another long winter and it is time to venture outside. Staying cooped up inside isn’t healthy, it can leave you more susceptible to winter colds and feeling down. Doing some moderate exercise like walking has been shown to not only lift the spirits but can also help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, obesity and some cancers. Good enough reasons to get started? But, don’t just jump in there if you haven’t been doing much exercise over the last few months. It’s good to have a structured plan and here is a link to the British Heart Foundation beginners 10 week plan. For those of you who are regular walkers but want to up your game they also have an intermediate and an advanced plan.
Avoid damaging yourself by warming up and cooling down.
In order to warm up the muscles start slowly for the first 5-10 minutes of the walk. Then do some simple stretches, continue with the walking at a brisker pace and towards the end of your walk cool down by walking slowly again. Finish with more stretches. Here’s a good site for more information and advice on the essential warm up and cool down exercises. A useful tip is to aim to do 80% of what you are able so you don’t pull a muscle or become too stiff. That way you will not be put off continuing but will with regular walks be able to go further and tackle steeper hills.
Stone Circles: Lately we have had the wonderful opportunity of having winter walks around Stone. One of our Christmas presents was a booklet from Stone library called Stone Circles. The walks vary in length from two-and-a-half to 12 miles. The walks are over a variety of terrains and are generally on public footpaths that you just wouldn’t know were there. It has been a great boost to our winter well being. Maybe the library still has some left. Stone Ramblers are also a great group if you’re looking for some great walking with great company.
Enjoy getting outside.
This monthly guest blog is written by Sue Weller and Allyn Edwards of Stone’s natural health centre, the Ishta Centre, on Kings Avenue. If you need some personal advice please contact them at the centre on 01785 616010 or via mail@ishtacentre.co.uk
[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ ]If you’re interested in doing a monthly guest blog for A Little Bit of Stone, please do get in touch by emailing blogs@alittlebitofstone.com[/box]
