By Bobbe Ann Crouch
FITNESS
If You Hate Exercise... Photo by Kyle Shepherd The Norton Healthcare Get Healthy Walking Club walks the Louisville Zoo in the mornings before the zoo opens to the public.
G
ood news! Walking may be one of the best forms of physical exercise for seniors, especially for those who hate to work out. Walking is easy to get started, it has a low risk for injury, it can be done at any intensity, and the bonus — it’s social. According to Dr. Howard LeWine of Harvard Health, “If you want to stay healthy and mobile well into old age, start walking today — even if you’ve already edged into ‘old age.’” Walking improves cardiovascular health, lowers risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Louisville is home to many great walking groups such as The Norton Healthcare Get Healthy Walking Club, who walks at the Louisville Zoo March through October each year. If you are someone who needs to be distracted into not thinking about exercise and you love animals, this is the group for you. (It’s free, too.) The Zoo Walkers’ loop at the Louisville Zoo is a paved surface through the animal exhibits. The course combines flat areas and hills with the sights and sounds of the zoo for a nontraditional and challenging twist on exercise. Individual walker members can enter the zoo and sign in between 8-9:15am but must exit by 9:30am. Directional signs keep
walkers on track and provide special health tips along the way. “During the walking months, most walks are self-led,” says Hannah Hernandez with Adult Prevention & Wellness at Norton Healthcare. “We have a lot of stroller walkers — moms or grandparents walking their babies — but we also have a lot of 60+ aged members. We host group walk dates where walkers can chat and walk with Norton Healthcare representatives. We are actively working to expand and improve the club with additional activities in 2020.” Louisville native Phillip Willis says, “There’s nothing like being at the zoo early in the morning for a brisk walk. The backdrop of the animals and their sights and sounds takes me back to childhood visits there. The course isn’t flat either, so I feel like I am getting a pretty good workout.” Registration for the coming 2020 season is currently open through Norton’s website or by calling its office. Walkers will receive a membership card, an invitation to the Get Healthy Walking Club Expo on July 11, opportunities to participate in other events, and eligibility for prizes and giveaways. According to Hannah, the day of the Expo, “walkers are invited to stay all day at the zoo. During the event we host free health screenings, group walks, exercise demonstrations, and a kids zone.”
IF YOUR BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’ LOUISVILLE ZOO GET HEALTHY WALKING CLUB When: March 1 through October 3 Location: The Louisville Zoo Cost: Free to join with other opportunities to participate in Get Healthy Events Contact: nortonhealthcare.com/ walkingclub or 502.899.6842
DERBY CITY WALKERS When: first and third Saturdays of each month Location: 3000 Freys Hill Road Cost: Membership fee per year is $5 per individual and $7.50 per couple Contact: Bob or Carol Miller at 502.454.4929
16 Winter 2019-2020 / TodaysTransitionsNow.com
LOUISVILLE HIKING CLUB When: various times Location: Various locations. Guided hikes range from 1-2 miles for short hikes and 4-5 miles and more for the longer hikes. Cost: Membership fees are $20 per person or $30 per family. Contact: louisvillehiking.org
BECOME A MALL WALKER The Mall St. Matthews 7:30am M-Sat and 10am Sunday Oxmoor Center 7:30am M-Sat and 10am Sunday Jefferson Mall 9am M-Sat and 11am Sunday