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National Start! Walking Day to be held April 8
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What
is an effective exercise that is free and convenient? Walking, which
not only is free and accessible, but also one of the best forms of
exercise.
To encourage walking for health, Health 1st, MUSC’s Employee Wellness
Program, is collaborating with the American Heart Association to
organize this year’s National Start! Walking Day on April 8.
Participating employees will gather during two different times (11:30
a.m. and 12:30 p.m.) at two different locations, the Horseshoe and in
front of Ashley River Tower. Each group will walk to the second site
and back, and will receive a green apple when they reach the end of
their 2/3-mile walk. The goal is to have at least 100 employees
participate in the walk. Bring comfortable walking shoes to work on
April 8 and join the fun with your friends and coworkers.
Now that spring is here, it is time to get outside and enjoy gorgeous
weather and become more active. According to “The Culprit
and the Cure,” written by Steven Aldana, Ph.D., the following tips will
help you improve walking and activity: walk briskly during lunch hour;
park farther away from the store; take a family or solo walk after
dinner; find an exercise buddy for work or home; use a push mower; walk
your kids to their friend’s house; take longer walks with your dog; do
yard work; get off the bus one stop early; pace the sidelines at your
kids’ games; choose an exercise activity that you like; go to the park
for a walk or bike ride; avoid labor-saving devices (i.e., use a rake,
not a leaf blower); dance to music; choose activities you like so you
will stick with them; take the stairs instead of the elevator; walk in
place while watching TV; and walk instead of sitting.
To maintain your new healthy, more active habits, set realistic
exercise goals. When you reach your goals, make sure to reward
yourself. Ideas for rewards might include buying a new pair of walking
shoes; getting a pedometer; buying a nice water bottle; or getting a
massage.
More information on National Start! Walking Day will be featured on the Health 1st Web site at http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/health1st.
Editor's note: The preceding
column was brought to you on behalf of Health 1st. Striving to bring
various topics and representing numerous employee wellness
organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to
provide MUSC, MUHA and UMA employees with current and helpful
information concerning all aspects of health.
Friday, March 27, 2009
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