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Welcome
to Oxford Brookes Health Walks
 These
walks have been specifically designed to promote the physical health
and mental wellbeing of all our staff and students. We have aimed
at providing our community with:
1.
a way of increasing levels of fitness
2. a way of enjoying routes which highlight the flora and fauna
of Headington Hill Park and the Wheatley and Harcourt Hill campuses
3. with routes which get you away from the hustle and bustle of
the University but which can be walked in a lunchtime, taking approximately
20-25 minutes
4. a method of relaxing and, if need be, "de-stressing"
5. a guided route to walk and talk with a friend or colleague
If you are not used to exercise or feel unsure
about your present level of stamina or fitness please discuss your
health before starting and contact Emma Tompkins, Occupational
Health Nurse or your local GP
Before setting out you will need a map of
the route and a pair of suitable shoes.
Getting Started
But
Why walk?
| Research
has shown that regular walking can: |
| Increase
stamina and energy levels |
| Increase
fitness |
| Lift
mood and can make you feel positive about yourself |
| Reduce
stress by releasing the "feel good hormones", endorphins, thus
overcoming the stresses and strains of everyday life |
| Improve
heart health - regular exercise can halve the risk of heart
disease, can reduce blood pressure and the risk of a stroke |
| Reduce
weight |
| Improve
lung capacity |
| The
more you do the more you feel able to do |
| Reduce
pain in those suffering with osteoarthritis of the knees |
| Reduce
the risk of osteoporosis - weight bearing exercise encourages
bone regeneration. If you are post-menopausal, regular walking
actually increases bone density |
| Gentle
or moderate exercise such as walking improves the immune system |
| Reduce
the risk of bowel cancer by 40% |
 We
have calculated the calorie expenditure and fitness rating of the
walk as well as providing a map and description of the interesting
plants and trees to look out for on the way.
Enjoy!
Anna Hinton, Health Visitor
Emma Tompkins, Occupational Health
School of Biological and Molecular Science
The Environment Forum
Call
for volunteer walk leaders to support the creation of a Health
Walks Club. Training provided.
Contact: etompkins@brookes.ac.uk
Green
Commuter Plan
Please
tell us if you found this Web site useful!
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