Walking together is a social means of improving health
Kalvender is a member of BowHaven, a user-run mental health centre for people living in the Tower Hamlets area of London. BowHaven wanted to get help with starting their own walking group, and signed up for the Ramblers’ Association’s new urban walking programme ‘Get Walking
Keep Walking’.
‘Get Walking Keep Walking’ encourages people in deprived areas to improve their health and well-being by taking up walking and making it part of their everyday lives.
The project coordinator Maike Neuhaus started them off with an introductory ‘Welcome to Walking’ session, an informal workshop about the benefits of regular walking and how to overcome the barriers to it.
The group then went on walks together over a four week period, monitoring their progress by using the free step counters and logbooks they were given, noting down all walking activity and improvements. After going on the first few walks together Kalvender said he was feeling fitter and healthier, and had lost some weight. He also felt he had clearer lungs and improved breathing.
Each walk was circular, starting and finishing at the same place. The first one took about thirty minutes, with subsequent walks slowly building up to around an hour. They walked in parks, on pavements, and along the canal. Although the participants lived locally, they mentioned that they discovered things they didn't know before like certain roads or parts of the park.
Kalvender says that his favourite part of the walking group is “enjoying the social aspect of walking with the group and having a chat with a cup coffee afterwards.” Another member of the group said that the walks helped improve their mental well-being, and they enjoyed conversations with others on the walk. They also liked to “get out in the open air more after being mostly stuck indoors for long periods.”
Group member Karen found it easier to walk with a group instead of on her own. Using the step counter to monitor her progress she has already lost over a stone in weight.
Karen describes the walking group as “It’s an activity I look forward to. It’s enjoyable and improves my health.”
Kalvendar, Karen and the rest of the group are now feeling fitter and healthier. They continue to walk regularly now that they have the tools and confidence.
Kalvender is a member of BowHaven, a user-run mental health centre for people living in the Tower Hamlets area of London. BowHaven wanted to get help with starting their own walking group, and signed up for the Ramblers’ Association’s new urban walking programme ‘Get WalkingKeep Walking’.‘Get Walking Keep Walking’ encourages people in deprived areas to improve their health and well-being by taking up walking and making it part of their everyday lives.The project coordinator Maike Neuhaus started them off with an introductory ‘Welcome to Walking’ session, an informal workshop about the benefits of regular walking and how to overcome the barriers to it.The group then went on walks together over a four week period, monitoring their progress by using the free step counters and logbooks they were given, noting down all walking activity and improvements. After going on the first few walks together Kalvender said he was feeling fitter and healthier, and had lost some weight. He also felt he had clearer lungs and improved breathing.Each walk was circular, starting and finishing at the same place. The first one took about thirty minutes, with subsequent walks slowly building up to around an hour. They walked in parks, on pavements, and along the canal. Although the participants lived locally, they mentioned that they discovered things they didn't know before like certain roads or parts of the park.Kalvender says that his favourite part of the walking group is “enjoying the social aspect of walking with the group and having a chat with a cup coffee afterwards.” Another member of the group said that the walks helped improve their mental well-being, and they enjoyed conversations with others on the walk. They also liked to “get out in the open air more after being mostly stuck indoors for long periods.”Group member Karen found it easier to walk with a group instead of on her own. Using the step counter to monitor her progress she has already lost over a stone in weight.Karen describes the walking group as “It’s an activity I look forward to. It’s enjoyable and improves my health.”Kalvendar, Karen and the rest of the group are now feeling fitter and healthier. They continue to walk regularly now that they have the tools and confidence.