Would you like to improve your health without buying expensive equipment or joining a gym? Then get out your walking shoes, comfortable clothes, and start walking. Researchers have found that walking as little as three 10 minute increments (30 minutes total) five days per week has a positive impact on individual personal health and fitness.
A good way to get in the habit of walking for wellness is to participate in the annual Walk Across Arkansas program. Walk Across Arkansas is an 8 week exercise campaign where you and your team set personal goals for physical activity and try to meet them. A participant from Mississippi County stated, "I feel better and have more energy when I walk regularly." Another participant from previous years explained, "I like the Walk Across Arkansas program because it encourages me to keep up with my minutes walked."
Here's how to get started. A team consists of 2 to 10 people. The team captain needs to visit the uaex.edu website and select the WAA icon. Register the team and as captain. Then every member including the captain must register as an individual participant under that county and the specific name of your team. Registration is open now. For the next 8 weeks beginning February 15, 2016, members record their minutes walked daily. If members don't have computer access, the team captain can register the members and record their minutes online. The program ends April 10. There will be a short evaluation at the completion of the program so record minutes in a timely manner.
Does any other activity/exercise count? Yes, as long as you exercise with intention for at least 10 minute increments, and it raises your heart rate or makes you sweat, it counts. So sign up today, it's easy, it's affordable, and it works. For more information, contact Dr. Pamela Pruett at the Mississippi County Cooperative Extension office at ppruett@uaex.edu or at 870-762-2075. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.