Page 81 - Guerin Media Ltd | Active Retirement Ireland Members Annual 2016
P. 81
WALKING IN IRELAND GET ACTIVE
Exploring Ireland - Off the beaten path!
“Recreational walking is one of the easiest, fastest growing and most
enjoyable activities that anyone can do”
Walking is a wonderful, sociable, fun and healthy lifelong experience more enjoyable. Experienced walking enthusiast
activity. Whether you are in the city and enjoy a daily walk Jean Boydell offers some tips and advice on how to get into
around the block or join together with your local group for a trail walking in Ireland, and generally how to get organised
special adventure there are a number of initiatives to support for your walk. We hope if helps you in getting out there and
and enrich your experience. You may have notices that there active on Ireland’s great trails network!
are many different ways to walk as there are people. However, NEW TO WALKING?
through bringing a little awareness to your own particular If you are new to walking, why not start with well-known
gait you can work wonders for your health and well being walks close to where you live, such as in a local park or along
– walking can be a form of meditation as we focus on our a beach. As you get comfortable with these you can venture
breath and open our senses to the beauty or bustle that further afield, trying something a little harder as you grow in
surrounds us, feeling our connection with the earth beneath confidence.
our feet. We can find comfort in our own well worn routes Move on to easy walks, mostly level with a good underfoot
but it is also healthy and good for our neuro plasticity to do surface. It is better to do a walk well within your capabilities
things a little differently on occasion! than to exhaust yourself. Build up slowly to increase your
FitWalk Ireland are offering special community training fitness.
programmes each five weeks long across Ireland. When walking, take your time, pace yourself and enjoy your
Go to www.fitwalkireland.com to find out more. surroundings and if you feel as if you are getting tired, don’t
Why not boost your brain and feed your senses in the beauty be afraid to rest or turn back!
of the Irish countryside? The Irish National Trails Office has WHAT ABOUT THOSE FUNNY POLES!?
785 way-marked trails for you to explore. These are open to The use of “Nordic” walking poles transforms ‘normal’ walking
walkers but also runners, cyclists and even pony trekkers! To (where most of the work is done by the legs) into a complete
locate a trail near you, go online to the website www.irish- body workout! Studies have found that the correct use of
trails.ie and click your county on the map. You will be shown a Nordic poles can increase intensity and burn as much as 40%
variety of trails, including mountain treks listing length, grade, more calories than ‘normal’ walking. Nordic Walking also helps
type and duration. Here you can choose from short walks to to improve muscle strength, posture and neck and shoulder
long hikes, adventure and horse trekking trails. stiffness. You can try out this latest innovation in walking
You might get together with members of your local ARA, take technology at your local outdoor store to see if it’s for you.
the air, exercise and feel great.
Whether it’s walking in your local park or taking on the www.fitwalkireland.com
challenge of a day-walk on one of the many trails around the
country, good planning and preparation will always make the
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 81
Exploring Ireland - Off the beaten path!
“Recreational walking is one of the easiest, fastest growing and most
enjoyable activities that anyone can do”
Walking is a wonderful, sociable, fun and healthy lifelong experience more enjoyable. Experienced walking enthusiast
activity. Whether you are in the city and enjoy a daily walk Jean Boydell offers some tips and advice on how to get into
around the block or join together with your local group for a trail walking in Ireland, and generally how to get organised
special adventure there are a number of initiatives to support for your walk. We hope if helps you in getting out there and
and enrich your experience. You may have notices that there active on Ireland’s great trails network!
are many different ways to walk as there are people. However, NEW TO WALKING?
through bringing a little awareness to your own particular If you are new to walking, why not start with well-known
gait you can work wonders for your health and well being walks close to where you live, such as in a local park or along
– walking can be a form of meditation as we focus on our a beach. As you get comfortable with these you can venture
breath and open our senses to the beauty or bustle that further afield, trying something a little harder as you grow in
surrounds us, feeling our connection with the earth beneath confidence.
our feet. We can find comfort in our own well worn routes Move on to easy walks, mostly level with a good underfoot
but it is also healthy and good for our neuro plasticity to do surface. It is better to do a walk well within your capabilities
things a little differently on occasion! than to exhaust yourself. Build up slowly to increase your
FitWalk Ireland are offering special community training fitness.
programmes each five weeks long across Ireland. When walking, take your time, pace yourself and enjoy your
Go to www.fitwalkireland.com to find out more. surroundings and if you feel as if you are getting tired, don’t
Why not boost your brain and feed your senses in the beauty be afraid to rest or turn back!
of the Irish countryside? The Irish National Trails Office has WHAT ABOUT THOSE FUNNY POLES!?
785 way-marked trails for you to explore. These are open to The use of “Nordic” walking poles transforms ‘normal’ walking
walkers but also runners, cyclists and even pony trekkers! To (where most of the work is done by the legs) into a complete
locate a trail near you, go online to the website www.irish- body workout! Studies have found that the correct use of
trails.ie and click your county on the map. You will be shown a Nordic poles can increase intensity and burn as much as 40%
variety of trails, including mountain treks listing length, grade, more calories than ‘normal’ walking. Nordic Walking also helps
type and duration. Here you can choose from short walks to to improve muscle strength, posture and neck and shoulder
long hikes, adventure and horse trekking trails. stiffness. You can try out this latest innovation in walking
You might get together with members of your local ARA, take technology at your local outdoor store to see if it’s for you.
the air, exercise and feel great.
Whether it’s walking in your local park or taking on the www.fitwalkireland.com
challenge of a day-walk on one of the many trails around the
country, good planning and preparation will always make the
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 81
