Walk With a Doc at Whetstone Park, Columbus OH

Several states in the US support healthy communities with a Free Program called Just Walk with a Doc. it is one in which regularly scheduled morning walks are organized and led by at least one physician that supplies information and encouragement. In Ohio, these particular walks are held in several cities and Columbus, Ohio has the highest number of doctors that participate - 21 doctors that are reasonable, open, and friendly.

Walk A Little at Your Own Pace to Start Your Weekend

The beauty part of this program is that walkers are free to proceed at their own pace without the stress of being pushed, drilled, or even criticized for not keeping up with the pack.

There is not a "training push" to "keep up" and the walking group is absolutely safe. Walkers stay with slower moving people and it's OK, because it's not a race. Further, the walks begin at 9:00 AM and often on a Saturday, some walks held weekly, and not at 5:00 AM or 7:00 AM. Some former walking and other exercise programs have begun, I think, too early for the general public around the county. Some involved autumn weekend exercise getaways and I always cringed when I saw an instructor get the older, senior citizens up at 6:00 AM and insist that they run a mile in the dark, cold morning immediately upon awakening.Some of these elders had never run before in their lives. Walk Wwith a Doc is not like that -- This is an easy, safe, healthy program led by reasonable people - doctors who volunteer.

Just Walk is a free and non-profit, arranged for everyone that wants to increase their health and well being through walking. Not only doctors, but certified specialists and a range of other healthcare professionals are on hand to help and supply information that is true and effective for your health.

FREE GIFTS

A selection of items are provided free to walkers in this program and the gifts include:

• Healthy Snacks
• Pedometers
• Healthy Recipes
• A chance to speak with doctors for free

Many people think about walking, but want to know what the doctors do themselves to stay healthy. Plus, it is encouraging to walk with a doctor and sometimes more fun than the mall walking that folks do in our shopping malls an hour before the stores open. Another plus is that sometimes doctors and nurses get a bit out of shape and want to improve their health, so they do it with the rest of the walkers from all ages, all experience levels, all incomes, and just about all parts of town. If you're in town ion vacation or other travel reasons on a weekend, feel free to join a walk.

KIDS TOO!

This walking program is also effective and appropriate for children and youth, especially given the status of increased sedentary living and increased excess weight among our nation's kids in general - and the national initiative for Let's Move. In fact, its our cities pediatricians that are most prominent in their participation in Just Walk with a Doc.

Out of the current 21 Physicians in the Columbus programs, 20 specialize in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and one is a Cardiac Specialist. Don't think the pediatricians are just for kids on these walks; though; they can answer your questions, too -- They have the full training in medicine and then MORE training in order to specialize in pediatrics. I believe that if any reliable doctor does not have an answer for you, he or she will get it for you. Docs can't know everything all the time; that's why they carry iPads in hospitals and look up additional information and take several professional development seminars every year. These walks are probably a way for them to learn more as well, through ongoing experience!

WEBSITE AND CALENDAR

Check out the website below and review the calendar of walks and other events given for Columbus, Ohio and cities in several other states. For example, another walk is set in Columbus for September 18, 2010.

Several other walking locations are found in the inner and outer suburbs of Columbus in Franklin County.

Lewis Center, Westerville, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Franklin Park Conservatory (Historic Near East Side), with new walks to begin in Grove City and Dublin.

All the walk programs are different; for example, the Franklin Park Conservatory walk includes prayer.

If you don't have another exercise program - or even if you do - walking can be added to your daily activities easily if you are mobile. Even if you walk slowly, you can begin at any level - some people will take a cane or a walker when they begin walking in a variety of programs. There is no competition. I have seen younger and older individuals start with a walker and move about 100 feet, eventually work to two canes or one cane, and begin to walk farther and a bit more quickly. Many saw additional progress. Give it a try!

My first martial arts instructor told us that in Korea, the people walked in the mountains so much, that they founded their martial arts systems on legwork and kicks and that working the legs even in walking is beneficial to overall health. I remember he said that if you cannot or don't want to do martial arts, then just walk. From that, I'd have to say that walking is one of the basic exercises that works -- We know that the health effects of walking can spread through all of the body's systems.