San Francisco dwellers know that walking is one of the easiest ways to get the exercise you need to stay healthy. According to WebMD, to get the two and one-half hours of moderate activity a week (brisk walking, cycling, yard work) experts recommend to stay healthy, for walking, it’s fine to walk in spurts of ten minutes throughout your day.
Besides organizing a bunch of errands so you can get in some daily jaunts, there are other ways to ensure you get your dose of daily peripatetic activity: use the stairs instead of the escalator; park farther away from work or the store; set up a walking program with a co-worker at lunchtime; plan family outings around walking together; and join a walking group to meet people interested in walking as a fitness activity.
One organization dedicated to walking is Walk San Francisco. This group’s mission is to help make San Francisco a city that is pedestrian-friendly (San Francisco: the best and worst city in which to walk.)
One of the events that Walk San Francisco helps promote is Sunday Streets. Introduced by Mayor Newsom in 2008, Sunday Streets creates a safe, car-free environment for people to bike, walk, and rollerblade in different San Francisco neighborhoods.
On June 12th, Sunday Streets is headed to the Bayview, Dogpatch and Potrero Hill neighborhoods. The 2011 Sunday Streets program will work to highlight each neighborhood’s unique character and often overlooked community attractions and institutions.
A great way to get acquainted with Walk San Francisco would be to attend their SoMa Alleys and Gardens Walk on Saturday, June 18th. You will walk the alleys, visit a park and beautiful community gardens, and end with optional wine-tasting. The walk is free for Walk San Francisco members and $10.00 for non-members. You can RSVP on the Walk San Francisco’s website.
Walking is the cheapest way to get regular aerobic exercise which is exercise that increases your heart rate for an extended time. This, in turn, enables your heart to carry more blood, oxygen and nutrients to your entire body. The results of better body functions are: lower blood pressure; the maintenance of a healthy weight; prevention of anxiety and depression; prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones.
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.~John Muir
Comments