Boost your health, but don't run up huge bills!

It’s now mid February, the new year’s resolutions to keep fit and join the gym are long gone, however the thought of improving your wellbeing still looms as the country is constantly reminded of growing obesity levels, heart disease, depression and cancer in even the younger generations.

Whilst a gym membership may seem daunting, not only to your schedule but to your bank balance, but there is an alternative to huffing and puffing on the treadmill for a lot less money. Walking. The idea is simple, but incredibly effective. Various medical researches have shown that just 30 minutes of walking per day can actually reduce the risk of heart disease by a huge 30-50%. Many people are also surprised to find how easy it is to fit these 30 minutes into the average day.

Many people assume that you have to pop on your pair of new running shoes in order to make a huge difference. However, small swaps can be made and easily integrated into a daily routine; walking to the local shop rather than driving, taking the stairs rather than the lift or escalator- even walking around the supermarket doing your weekly shop for 30mins will help improve your fitness levels (even better if the trolley is full!). Best of all, these options come with no extra cost! So there’s no need to sign a year’s contract to get fit, you can get your lifetime contract for free and reap the benefits as you get older.

For further information, please visit www.sportsdirect.com

(EDITOR: A pair of sensible walking shoes from Sports Direct have certainly help me with my aim to walk at least two miles a day.)

Boot on the other foot with VIVOBAREFOOT

This December the ultimate destination for barefoot movement opens in Central London. Based at Great Marlborough Street for a limited period of time, the first highly anticipated VIVOBAREFOOT pop-up store gives customers a unique opportunity to access a team of experts who, in a few minutes, can revolutionise their everyday movement technique.

VIVOBAREFOOT – the original and authentic barefoot shoe brand since 2003 – is on a mission to reveal the truth about barefoot movement. With the help of certified coaches, the pop-up shop will offer consumers a barefoot consultation in the Training Clinic with video gait and plantar pressure analysis, abolishing the many misconceptions around barefoot once and for all. All VIVOBAREFOOT certified coaches are personally instructed by Lee Saxby, acclaimed the world’s best barefoot coach by author of Born To Run Christopher McDougall.

Modelled on the original VIVOBAREFOOT Experience located on Neal Street, Covent Garden, the pop-up store is a stone’s throw from world famous Liberty department store and the vibrant buzz of Carnaby Street’s flagship stores.

Jonathan Pennington, Marketing Director at VIVOBAREFOOT comments: "We’re delighted to be launching the first ever VIVOBAREFOOT pop-up store and bringing the truth about going barefoot to an even wider audience through this unique environment. There is so much misinformation out there about barefoot movement and with the largest collection of barefoot shoes across performance, lifestyle and kids, we’re excited to be able to truly educate people about how learning to move barefoot can actually have life changing results.

"The hustle and bustle of Great Marlborough Street encompasses all that is great about London life and our spot, that used to be a hairdressers, is quirky enough to catch consumers’ imaginations."

VIVOBAREFOOT makes the most proprioceptive soles in the world giving the wearer the ability for their body to sense the forces acting on it. To learn more visit 14 Great Marlborough Street, London.

www.vivobarefoot.com www.facebook.com/vivobarefootshoes www.twitter.com/vivobarefoot

Walk your way to health with PruHealth and the National Trust

PruHealth and the National Trust have reported that over 32 million people plan to head outdoors to enjoy an autumn family walk, new research has shown.

 

Over 16 million (33%) say it's the season's beautiful colours that makes autumn walking so special.

To celebrate the season and to promote the virtues of being active, the National Trust is holding its first ever National Festival of Walking this October half-term, with at least 50,000 people expected to participate.

The National Trust has partnered with a leading health insurer PruHealth to organise around 1,000 events all over the country, from barefoot walks to silly walks, adventure walks to wildlife walks.

The festival is the perfect opportunity for the public to get outdoors and have fun, especially with 41% of adults saying they don't spend enough time with their families.

William Wake from the National Trust's outdoors team said: "From leaf kicking to finding conkers and wrapping up warm, there is something simply delicious about an autumn walk.

"We're asking people to tell us what they think makes autumn walks so special, to see if we can identify the perfect formula for a family outing this half term."

Events are taking place at 180 sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 22-30 October.

There will also be more than 800 free walking routes available to download from the National Trust website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks.

People can also log their own favourite walks on an interactive map on the website, and join a debate on the best things about autumn walking on the National Trust's Facebook pages or on Twitter using #walkfest from October 20.

Dr Katherine Tryon, Head of Clinical Vitality for PruHealth, added: "The Walking Festival is a great way to get active with the whole family, and there are walks to suit all fitness levels.

"Government guidelines recommend we walk 10,000 steps a day, and just thirty minutes of brisk walking each day can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, maintain a healthy weight, improve self-esteem and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

"The average walk at the National Trust is three to four miles, which is approximately 6,000-8,000 steps - well on the way to reaching the target while having a fun day out. When you're healthy, you can get more out of life - come along and see."