For many of us, lockdown has meant spending less time being active or being outdoors. But now lockdowns lifting, let’s get more active outdoors and enjoy the benefits of fresh air or being in nature too.
Here are some ideas to help build your fitness and strength in the outdoors, which in turn can help your wellbeing and overall health:
- Go for a walk (or jog) in the park or woods, or along the riverbank or city streets
- Enjoy an after-dinner walk
- Take grandchildren or children on a treasure hunt
- Walk or trek, with a healthy picnic to finish
- Climb up a hill
- Cycle to work, or for fun
- Play a game in the park: frisbee, rounders or football
- Work out at an outdoor gym, where equipment can include bikes, cross-trainers and weight apparatus.
More ideas here with the British Heart Foundation's Nine Ways to Get Active Outdoors.
Walking and cycling around York:
Lots of information and ideas for walking and cycling here: Walking & Cycling | Live Well York
Get active in the great outdoors with these country walks around York, and these Walking Maps from iTravel York.
Walk the city walls
Walks in the city centre: from a Selfie Trail to a York Cat Trail to a Chocolate Trail! #LoveWalking - Love Walking in York | Visit York
Wildlife walks in York: Wildlife Walks – iTravel York
20 tips, from Living Streets, to help you fit 20 minutes of walking into your day.
Why not try running some of York’s best views and settings? York Knavesmire Harriers have put together two routes (5km & 10km).
Did you know it takes less than an hour a day to walk 1000 miles in 12 months? Doing so dramatically boosts your immunity and cuts your risk of diabetes, heart attack, obesity, stroke and depression.
Being more active with an underlying health condition
Here’s how to build regular activity into your life when you've got a long-term health condition: Being active with a long-term condition (csp.org.uk)
If you’ve got an underlying health condition and want to get walking, visit: Walking for Health - Walking for Health | Home
Helping keep children active
We all want our children to be healthy and happy, and here are some ideas to keep them active and well: Fit for the Future leaflet - England version | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk)
Please remember:
- Follow any medical advice you’ve been given
- Do what you can and start slowly. It’s fine to push yourself a little, but don’t do anything that feels uncomfortable
- Stop if you feel any pain or are lightheaded, and rest and stay hydrated
- A little soreness after exercise is normal for the first day or two.