vernonia’s
voice
health & wellness
july/aug
2007
17
Exercise walking is number one. Stride On...
By Judy Heller, Founder and President of Wonders of Walking
Did you know exercise walking has been the most popular fitness
activity since 1990? It grew 1.5% in 2006, with 87.5 million Americans
walking for exercise. This is very exciting for those of us who are avid
walkers and enjoy striding for health, fitness and/or competition.
Our bodies can benefit from all forms of physical activities. If you
have not already created the habit, now is the time for you to make
time for regular fitness activity by walking. Running is a great aero-
bic exercise, but few of us have bodies to survive the high impact
landings per mile.
Walking benefits you in other ways too; it helps lower the risk of
heart attack, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis, breast and colon can-
cer. It helps reduce weight, cholesterol levels, constipation, depres-
sion, age-related dementia and at the same time increases muscle
mass, bone mass, reshapes thighs and flattens bellies.
Eighty-seven and one-half (87.5) million Americans are rediscover-
ing that walking briskly makes them feel good! It relieves tension,
elevates self-esteem, builds self-confidence, improves circulation,
and can also boost the immune system. Walking, a sport for a life-
time, can unlock the energy, positive attitude and vitality that make
each day a pleasure.
For anything to become a habit it must be fun! Design a strategy.
Schedule walks with a friend, join a group or club, and/or set a goal
to participate in an event such as the Willamette Valley Walk Relay
or Portland Marathon. Come discover what the Greek Physician
Hippocrates knew: “Walking is Man’s Best Medicine.” Go on, put
on your shoes, and celebrate the wonders of walking!
Walking facts of interest:
• Walking is one of the most effective exercises for weight loss be-
cause it can be performed regularly for long periods of time
• Walking is a natural locomotion that, when combined with proper
technique, can provide a challenging, motivating, and exhilarating
total body workout for everyone
• Walking uses almost all 650 muscles and 203 bones in the body
– more than any other sport
• It takes roughly 2,000 steps to walk a mile and most people will
walk from 3,000 – 6,000 steps in a day
• Research suggests walking 10,000 steps a day leads to better health
Judy Heller has changed and shaped the way people think about walking for the past 13 years. One of the region’s foremost experts
on walking, Heller is a well-known fitness and walking coach and a master racewalker who has trained hundreds of people and
organized some of the region’s most respected recreational and competitive walking events. To learn more about the organization she
founded, Wonders of Walking, go to www.wondersofwalking.com
Cedar Mist Studios
Yoga Classes
All levels
Drop-ins welcome
Thank you
We would like to thank Randy
Aultman for his support. We
want to thank everyone who
helped with the Barbeque for
KUPL and Cycle Oregon. With-
out those volunteers we would not
have done the job. Thanks to
those dedicated Lions, and also to
those that worked extra shifts -A
special thanks to them.
Larry and Gail Snethen
Vernonia Lions
Body Mind Spirit Fitness
Tuesday & Thursday 9-10:30am
Tuesday 6-7pm. Wednesday 5-6pm
Meditation workshop 8/29 6:15-7:15pm
503.429.2103
Deborah Steffen RYT, HHP
CedarMistStudios.com
Vernonia Dental
Dr
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622 Bridge Street
Vernonia, OR 97064
phone (503) 429-0880
fax (503) 429-0881
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