This post represents a collaborative writing effort by two members of the GCC Employee Wellness Team, Louise So and Lori Walk. Louise is a member of the Fitness and Wellness faculty, and Lori teaches English and reading courses. Both share a passion for empowering others to be their healthiest selves. They support campus initiatives like Exercise is Medicineand the new aqua fitness opportunity at the GCC pool. Each of their posts will share personal experience and research in support of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness.
We know what to do, and yet we often don’t do it, right? We know that movement is key to a healthy lifestyle. Did you know that you might be living with a terrific health partner? In his video “23 and a Half Hours,” Dr. Mike Evans tells us that 67% of dog walkers achieve the universally recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week.
Accountability is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As Dr. Mike Evans reminds us, people who walk their dogs are healthier. Dogs make excellent accountability partners. First of all, they will tell us when they are ready for a walk, and it is usually when we least want to walk. Louise repeatedly tells her dog (and her kids), “But I just sat down!” That’s when we and the dog need to walk the most!
On campus, we can use walking to aid cognitive processing. In Lori’s 75 minute classes, students take brain breaks involving walking and talking. Sometimes the topics are curriculum based. Other times the focus is on building community. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 10 – 30 minutes of sunshine can provide Vitamin D, improve mood, and reset sleeping challenges. College students definitely need support in those areas. Even just two laps inside or around the perimeter of HT2 results in a higher energy level and better thinking. Music can be a motivator for movement, but Psychology Today also points out the mental health benefits of silent walking. Let’s face it. There are no bad consequences of walking, especially when we are outside and enjoying nature.
At GCC consider joining a 10 – 15 minute Wellness Walk Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. The walks start at the SE corner of the library facing the Center for Learning.
If the scheduled times don’t fit your schedule and you want help starting a group at a different time, contact Louise or Lori.
Walking specifically supports the physical and emotional wellness dimensions. Hippocrates was promoting walking over 2000 years ago. He’s known for saying that “walking is man’s best medicine”. He strongly promoted walking as the most accessible, effective, and free form of exercise known to prevent chronic illness.
Louise and Lori are both fond of this quote attributed to Hippocrates: “If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk.”
To summarize, “if you just sat down, get up!” Your dog and your future healthy self will thank you!
References
“23 and a Half Hours”; See Dr. Mike Evan’s Video 23.5 Hours (at approx 5:40 mins)
Contributors: Louise So and Lori Walk, members of the GCC Employee Wellness Committee