Walk serves best

Some things are best shared. Like, walking. Regular walkers will vouch for the fact that walking and company go well together. Walking as an exercise requires a good deal of motivation and commitment that can fade when you walk solo, especially if you plan to continue. That’s why walking clubs are such a good idea. A walking club brings together health enthusiasts who walk to work out. They also use this time together to carry out community work or to help people understand walking and fitness better.


The few that are heard of are either cultural clubs that also organize walks or are small groups that function in residential areas across the country.
If there’s no walking club in your locality, it is a good idea to start one.

Step 1 Organize the club area-wise
One person should take the initiative of getting a group of walkers together. The rest can then pitch in to decide the days, time, distance and route of the walk.

Step 2 Rope in fitness trainers and experts
It is important to know the right technique to get the maximum benefit from a walk. An expert can tell you the how and wherefores like warm-up and cool down exercises and also the right walking gear. Experts can advise members on diet, general health and hygiene, especially for the aged.
Walk serves best
Step 3 Collect a nominal membership fee
A fund comes in handy. Besides giving the club a more official whiff, it can pay for the professional trainer or be used to organize community service activities by the club. If the budget permits, all of you could also go out for a movie or a dinner.

Step 4 Include strength training routine as a support activity
Ask your trainer to include strength training twice a week to bring in the benefits of an overall workout and also improve performance. Add some nice music to it and you will fall in love with your workout.

Step 5 add variety
The walking club need not restrict itself to local parks or walking tracks. Organize special walks through museums, malls, zoos and sites of historical importance to spice up the workout.


The better the club is organized and planned, the more the benefits that accrues to individual members. A schedule for the month gives the feeling of purpose. Try to provide at least one outing, a group discussion of general interest and one training session a week for the group.
always walk
For example:
* On the first of every month, a trainer can teach the group warm-up and cool-down stretches and exercises to strengthen the lower body, or techniques to improve speed.
* A week later, a nutritionist can speak about the right diet to improve exercise performance or to lose weight.
* In the third week, a doctor can advise on the seasonal health concerns.
* The last week of each month can be devoted to socializing where the group bonds over fun activities. The members can plan a mini-break to a nearby getaway with interesting walking trails.
* The club can also have a schedule of walking events planned for the year and introduce a system of registering members for these events so that minimum participation is ensured.
* If the club funds permit, a small amount may be collected at each event so that the club can provide facilities like refreshments.
* The club can identify measured walking tracks for the event and give members a logbook to keep a record of their speed and distance covered.
* The member who logs the maximum distance or clocks the best speed can be rewarded at the end of the year.
* The club may also organize an occasional pet walk or involve the entire family for some events.

Competition lends an extra edge to any activity. Pitch the older members against the younger ones. Add speed walking for younger members and, on demand, even include running! Enroll as many members as possible so that the club is self-sustaining and encourage volunteers to take on responsibilities. The possibilities for a walking club are unlimited. With time, spirit and a touch of ingenuity, it can be much more than just walking for the sake of health.