Home & Lifestyle winter 2018

Walking – Exercise your body and mind

T here’s no easier way to feel better, get in shape, slim down and enjoy the outdoors than walking. No need to pay gym fees or buy fancy equipment. One of the many great things about walking is that everyone knows how to do it. But if it’s your main way to exercise, a few form tweaks will help you burn extra calories. Body - Stand up straight, as if a string is pulling your spine upward. Don’t lean forward as if you’re heading into a stiff breeze. Eyes - Look straight ahead, not down. Arms -Relax your shoulders, bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle, and move them back and forth (not across your chest) as you walk. This helps propel you forward and gives your arms a light workout. Don’t bring your hands up near your face or develop a punching motion; just drive your elbow back at waist height. Hands - Keep hands relaxed, in a loose fist (don’t clench or flap them around). Legs - Your stride should feel right to you. Aim for a smooth, rhythmic, natural pace. Feet -Once you hit your natural stride, your foot will roll from heel to toe. Then think about pushing off with your toes -- it helps you walk faster and burn more calories. Find the right walking shoes- The toe should be wide enough that toes aren’t pinched. If you have any foot issues like bunions or Morton’s neuroma (a pinched nerve between your third and fourth toe). The shoe should be long enough that your

big toe doesn’t touch the end. The heel should be flat and relatively straight. You don’t need that big, wide, flared heel that some running shoes have for stability, since walkers land with less force. Flexibility is key because walking is a rolling motion, and your shoes need to work with you. That means they shouldn’t be stiff. Bend the shoe in half and twist it a bit to test its flex. It should give easily. The shape should be a natural curve to facilitate walking’s heel-to-toe motion. If you push the shoe’s toe down on a flat surface, the heel should rise slightly. The cushioning depends on your foot type. More cushioning increases comfort for someone with a high arch, for instance. If you have any issues with your feet, go to a store that specializes in walking or athletic shoes, and have a fitting expert help you find shoes that will work best. The Fitting- Keep it personal. A good salesperson will ask about your walking goals (how often, how far, on what surface) and observe your stride length. He or she will look for pronation (whether your foot rolls inwardwhen youwalk) and check your arch type (high, low, flat). You may need to try on lots of shoes to find the ideal pair. Wear the socks you plan to walk in when you try on shoes. Walk around the store in each one for several minutes. Worry about the style last. You want to look good, yes, but feeling great during and after your 10,000 steps comes first. Choose the shoe that fits and feels the best.

T he Health Connection was launched in June 2014 as a new, free “family well-being event” with entertainment and activities for all ages and proudly returns for its 4th year to its spiritual home at Brentwood Village Kincumber Saturday 28th July from 10am to 2pm. Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre, Brentwood Village and Lendlease have teamed up with Fixx Events again to present “The Health Connection,” at Brentwood Village, Scaysbrook Drive, Kincumber. Free all day activities for the children will include eco inspired arts and crafts workshops from Art Tank, Taronga Zoo Reptiles Display, Free Face Painting, Magician, The Big Yellow Bus Kids Gym, Jumping Castle and Party Chameleon Circus Games, whilst the live music, yummy fresh food, soups, cakes, juices and lifestyle talks can be enjoyed by all. This year will feature more interactive health checks for the whol family including diabetes testings, hearing checks, spinal checks and podiatry checks in a festive ambience, but there will also be quiet spaces where patrons may take the opportunity to sample a natural therapies treatment, live yoga, meditation or movement class. “It is always a great atmosphere,” Colette Baron, Manager of the Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre, said. “It’s a beautiful venue with superb gardens and a fabulous auditorium that can accommodate the whole event in the case of rain, so it’s an all-weather, as well as an all-ages event.” Local wellness practitioners will present reflexology, massage, naturopathy, sound therapies, food solutions, orthopaedics, herbalism, organic skincare, yoga, hemp information, food talks and Open Day for a Healthier Community

meditations and sound healings for patrons to try, or perhaps simply to chat and discover more about them. This is a great opportunity for the local community, families, residents, local businesses and health practioners to attend the event again and be interactively involved in this family wellness event with 3000+ attending. Sponsors include Cater Care, Mitre10 Kincumber, Bendigo Bank Branches Central Coast, Star 104.5 FM, Belle Property Coastal, Bendigo Bank, Taronga Zoo, Central Coast Mariners and Lendlease.

For more information, contact Fixx Events 0416 923 655, info@fixxevents.com.au or Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre:

& Lifestyle Magazine | Winter 2018 45

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