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6 Friday, August 30, 2024brooklintowncrier.com Brooklin is Tanya Tierney Country! Call or Text: 905.706.3131 office@tanyatierneyteam.com 49 Baldwin St. Brooklin *Based on units sold TREB MLS statistics Proudly the #1 Realtor in Brooklin since 2012* For Sale!SOLD! Our world of sedentary habits has resulted in more people having or are at risk of metabolic disease. This includes cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes. However thankfully, there's an excellent way to be active: walking! Walking even 20 minutes a day provides "feel good" endorphins, improves brain health, reduces risk of many diseases, and, with the impact of the ground, can promote bone health. Even former runners and athletes from various sporting backgrounds can benefit from all that walking offers. Cooler out there As summer winds down, the cooler temperatures provide the best time to create the habit of getting out the door. Start by setting a realistic goal of perhaps three times a week and build up from there. If you're cautious in the winter months, hopping on the treadmill or heading to the mall to walk are great ways to keep this healthy habit going. To keep things fun, try changing your route, make fun playlists to jam to, tap into your favourite podcast or audiobook, include a social with friends, or set a destination to head to for coffee before returning home. If you were once a competitive runner or athlete, maybe setting up a friendly challenge with friends or even just yourself is the motivation you need. Opting for walk intervals for a challenge and increasing your heart rate is a fantastic way to bring in variability. Workout ideas For instance, try this: 5 minutes easy warm up walking followed by 4 sets of 2 minutes brisk walking with 1-minute easy walking.- Complete with 5 minutes of easy cool down. Another workout idea with music is to pick up your pace on every chorus. The chorus of a song is generally upbeat and is sure to get your legs moving faster. Lastly, to make your walk experience more enjoyable, I recommend you dress for the season. Have appropriate footwear to prevent slips and falls in the winter with relatively new shoes that are comfortable. Wear clothing that wicks away sweat, keeps you dry and most importantly, you feel good in. Walking only takes two feet and a heartbeat, but motivation is found within. I encourage you to move your body and invite family and friends to join your journey. The support may surprise you and your body will thank you for it. Brittany Dunbar, MSc, is a Brooklin sport nutritionist and personal trainer. Email: brittfandc@gmail. com The Joys of Walking By Brittany Dunbar