Logo

Active Living



Active Living

What is Active Living?  Active Living means adopting a lifestyle that strives to accumulate movement and physical activity throughout the day. 

Some active living activities include:

walking the dog, or walking on errands

biking

hiking

heavy housework

jumping rope

gardening

dancing

For more information about Active Living, please see the Active Living network.

A more active lifestyle helps to:

  • prevent heart disease
  • prevent some forms of cancer
  • build bone strength
  • manage stress and improve mental health
  • manage chronic diseases such as diabetes or arthritis
  • combat cognitive decline as we age
  • maintain a healthy personal weight


Featured Activity: Walking

  • Most people can walk easily
  • Walkers don't need any special equipment
  • You can walk inside or outside
  • You can walk with other people, pets or alone
  • You can walk right outside your home or worksite, or you can travel to a local trail or state park
  • Walking can be incorporated into daily living activities such as shopping or running errands.

Walking and Relaxing on the Kingston Levee Trail, 2002

photo courtesy of Mark James, Personna Photography

Walking safety & comfort:
Dress for the weather, and bring water. 
Comfortable shoes are important. 
If you will be walking at a time of poor visibility (night, a foggy or rainy day), wear something bright or reflective. 

 
Tools for Walking   Walking Programs in the Wyoming Valley

A pedometer is a device that counts steps.  Many pedometers can also convert that information into distance traveled and calories burned.  Tools like pedometers can help us measure our levels of activity and inspire us to do more.

example pedometer

The 2003 AMA guide Assessment and Management of Adult Obesity suggests using a pedometer because, "Studies indicate that individuals who accumulate 10,000 or more steps per day are probably performing enough physical activity to meet public health recommendations for physical activity."

To use a pedometer, take a few days to establish a baseline number of steps, then gradually increase steps to 10,000 per day.  Aim to increase your steps by about 2,000 per day during a particular week until you reach the 10,000 steps figure.

 

Move away from a sedentary lifestyle with walking:

The Arthritis Foundation has developed a program called "Walk with Ease" to introduce people with arthritis and others to walking, and offer support for establishing a personal walking plan.

Walk with Ease

To contact the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation about this and other programs, email

info.epa@arthritis.org or call

570-823-2888 for the Northeast PA regional office.

Sheltered walking :

The Jewish Community Center of Wilkes-Barre features a sheltered walking program in their gymnasium.  Walkers move to the music of Sousa.  For more information contact Florence at 570-824-4646. (This program is for JCC members only).

Click here to go back to the top of the page



Links to online tools and information to increase daily physical activity

National

US Health and Human Services' Small Steps to Better Health.

CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's Physical Activity site "Energize your life" .

President's Council on Physical Fitness.  The President's Challenge now includes programs offering recognition to adults for moving to active lifestyles, as well as its traditional child-oriented program.

Pennsylvania

ShapeUp PA features team-based incentive programs to get active or lose weight

The Pennsylvania Alliance for Nutrition and Activity is an organization dedicated to addressing issues of physical inactivity and poor nutrition choices.  PANA's efforts are especially oriented towards working with Pennsylvania school and school districts.



Click here to go back to the top of the page


Wyoming Valley Wellness Trails Partnership
15 Public Square, Suite 600
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701
(570)823-7000