Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good afternoon to you, wherever you may be...
I am The Mad Macedonian! Writer, Blogger, Poet, Humorist, Cyclist, Walker, Photographer, Cat Lover, Genealogist, and more!
Friday was Day 15 of the 2011 Sit Spot Challenge, and I've been getting close to nature in the middle of Huntington Beach, right in the heart of Orange County.
If you missed the start of this adventure, then check out this post, and follow the link at the end.
I read an article last week, on "Health and well-being across generations and natural physical environments" by my friend Randy Eady, and among the things discussed is walking barefoot in the park. ;-D
He discusses 7 barriers that he says are myths, and assumptions, that "too often prevent this kind of engagement in physical activity and nature across the life span."
Over the weekend I spent my 20 minutes a day traipsing barefoot around the western section of Central Park, in Huntington Beach, Ca..
It is a smaller section of the overall park, and hosts a lake, a Disc Golf course, the Shipley Nature Center, a Dog Park, and a currently unused diner.
Not as nature intense an experience as the rest of the park, by a long shot.
My friend reports that "A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reinforcing that walking “barefoot in the park” for 30 minutes could reduce blood pressure and improve balance."
Soooo, I brought a bag to stuff my shoes, & socks, in, and pranced about barefoot on the pavement, and in the grass over 3 days. ;-D
Another point made in the piece is that "Green exercise (activity in the presense of nature) clearly leads to positive short, and long-term health outcomes."
Do your footsies hurt? Are your toesies tuckered out? Do even the family pets give you a wide berth when you go barefoot at home?
Head to the park, & let yer feet breath in the fresh air because walking barefoot in the great outdoors turns out to be "a simple, natural way to increase foot health". ;-D
Hat Tip to Randy Eady, and his article in the March/April 2011 issue of The Journal on Active Aging, from The International Council on Active Aging.
7 barriers to life span engagement: health and well-being across generations & natural physical environments - PDF : Download ICAA JAA Barriers_Eady_Sprg11
His websites: Ko~Sha~Rey Rhythms Therapeutics
Randy's Blog at Children & Nature Network
Sit Spot Challenge 2011: Day 16 - Fans of Cat Blog Dispense Heartfelt Advice
****UPDATE - 4/20****
The Full May/June 2011 Journal in PDF is quite interesing to browse through.
Randy has just alerted me that he has been chosen an ICAA Champion, as part of their new "ReBranding Aging" Campaign that has just launched.
Learn more here, and on the We Know Aging Blog.
****END UPDATE****
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