Most of us go on a health kick at some point. We decide to stop our bad habits, eat all the right foods, and get fit. But, after a few weeks, we ‘fall off the wagon’. We get bored and lose our motivation. |
However, when you are part of a group, the others notice if you don’t turn up anymore. This can be a powerful motivator to keep you going. |
Walking groups are groups of people who want to walk regularly with others. There are many walking groups appearing all over the place. |
If you are already fairly fit and walk regularly, participate in a charity walk, ‘walkathon’ or rally for a good cause. These walks are a great way to get involved in the community and can do a lot of good for an organisation. |
| There are lots of reasons to join a walking group. It won’t cost you a lot and you can meet new people. You exercise better and go further when you are walking with others. |
Walking with others can also help you to go places you might not try on your own. You feel safer walking with a group, particularly if you have health problems that worry you or you are concerned about how safe it is to walk on your own. |
Joining a group can help to keep you motivated. It also adds a bit of accountability so that when you don’t feel like being active, there is someone you can talk to who might have felt the same way themselves. Best of all, it's FUN. |
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| The nearer to home the walking group is, the more likely you are to attend. Look for a group that is near you. START A CLUB | If there isn’t a group already in your area, you might like to start one up. You can start a walking group just among your friends and family. But the more people involved, the more fun and productive your group can be. Your local library, doctor’s surgery, shopping centre, the newspaper and social clubs are all good places to let people know about your group. |
| We are social creatures. Spending time with other people helps us to avoid depression and loneliness. It makes us feel worthwhile and gives us something to look forward to. |
That’s part of the reason that group physical activities can be even better than exercising alone. |
how can i join? | Most clubs require you to do a few walks with them before joining, just to make sure you fit in with the group. Information for individual clubs can be found on their links. |
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COMMUNITY 
