NCTV Episode 102

Continuing with the series of bitesize health tip videos which can be found here on my YouTube Channel, this episode includes:-

  • On Location – The South Downs – Stunning Views
  • A Walk & Talk
  • The Physical Health Benefits Of Walking
  • The Mental Health Benefits Of Walking
  • Posture Tips

Transcript

If you’d prefer to read the content within, rather than watch the video, then feel free to read the transcript, as follows:-

Hello and welcome to NCTV, Episode 102. Today I’m taking you for a walk and talk with me on tour up on the South Downs near Storrington and the month of May is the National Walking Month.

So today will be a good opportunity to tell you a bit about some of the health benefits of walking. First of all, it’s great for your cardiovascular system. It gets your heart pumping, improves your circulation, and lowers your risk of things like diabetes and heart disease.

Secondly, it’s also great for your joints and your skeletal system; so everything gets moving well, you’re working your muscles – strengthening through there, and also it supports your joints helping to stave off the likes of osteoporosis.

It’s also great for your mental health. It reduces stress, boosts your mood, and it helps for enhancing cognitive function.

Some things you can do whilst walking is focusing on your posture. Think about having your head held high, looking out in front of you far enough so that you can see what’s ahead and you’re not going to trip on anything. Just make sure that you’re not putting your head down, looking too close to the ground and letting your head and shoulders drop forwards. By focusing on good posture whilst you’re walking, it’ll help to stop strain in the neck as well as promote better spinal alignment.

It’s also good to pay attention to your breathing, so be sure to take deep diaphragmatic breaths in through your abdomen and through your nose, and then breathing out through your mouth. That way you’re going to oxygenate your body well, reduce stress and it also help you to feel more energised.

To encourage you to do it a little bit more, it’s good to make walking more of a social thing, so be sure to invite your friends, family, or work colleagues, even just for a little stroll out and about at lunch or anytime you feel like you need to go for a break. Having people there with you obviously makes it a little bit more enjoyable, but also it improves your social connections and it’s great for your overall health and wellbeing.

This is effectively a part two, so if you wanted to find out more, you can see Episode 29, which covers more in depth of the facts and figures surrounding walking, some of the adverse effects of being inactive, and it also give you some top tips on ways to get yourself more active in the first place.

So whether you’re strolling through the park, hiking up the mountains, or just taking a walk around your neighbourhood or even the South Downs here, then just remember every step you take is a step towards better health.

And that’s it for this week’s bite size bit to help your health flourish. Hope you enjoyed this episode. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you again next time.

Remember, keep moving, stay healthy and enjoy the month of May – National Walking Month.

Bye.