Walking is the common denominator – whoever you are and wherever you can do it, it makes you feel so much better…
‘Walking has seen me through the most challenging times’
Camilla Dallerup, original Strictly Come Dancing pro & motivational author
‘Walking is so important to me for my physical and mental health. It’s seen me through the most challenging times. Normally I walk every day, twice a day and time is scared. I don’t do anything else when I walk – the phone is away, I listen to the sounds around me, notice how my body feels, what I’m thinking, enjoy the trees and flowers... I grew up with a family that valued walking together and I intend to carry on that tradition.
“When my dad passed away last year my sister, mum and I walked a lot, connecting and talking. I often do walk and talk sessions with clients too in my coaching business because walking helps us shift stagnant energy and get grounded. Walking to me is special!
”In lockdown I’m all about sticking to a routine through challenging times whether it’s the challenge we are all going through at the moment or grief, breakups or loss of a job. Today I spent just a couple of minutes mask free breathing in the air and admiring all the flowers in bloom on our walk, felt so good! (and then the mask went back on).”
‘I’ll never take it for granted again’
Sarah-Jane Mee, presenter, Sky News
“After 14 days in self isolation getting outside for an hour every day has made my fiancé Ben and I realise how much walking is incredible ‘innercise’ as well as exercise. We live in central London and strolling the empty streets of the capital we are seeing it with new eyes and noticing its beauty – from birdsong to big buildings. We’re expecting our first baby together this summer and it’s a great time for us to clear our heads and focus on the things we are grateful for. We will never again take for granted all these things we enjoy on our walks.”
the dogs set us a great example!
Karen Hauer, Professional Dancer on Strictly Come Dancing
‘My partner David and I love walking our dogs around the commons, Cannizaro Park and Wimbledon Park! Until recently Government rules have meanr we can’t take them for as long walks as we’d like but we’ve found a lovely little lot of green grass near a church in our area and the three of them play and chase in there with utter delight. We love seeing them running around together, their faces just beam and it makes us happy to know they’re happy. They set us a great example!’
‘clears my head’
Michelle Ackerley, TV Presenter and Co-Host of BBC One’s Health Check UK Live series
“My beautiful daily walk along Richmond’s riverside is much needed to clear my head. Not having a garden makes this walk during lockdown more invaluable than ever. While I’ve been co-presenting BBC One’s Health Check UK Live during the Covid-19 crisis with Dr Xand van Tulleken, we’ve been extremely lucky to get our daily ‘social distancing’ exercise live ‘on air’ in the studio with our guest presenter Mr Motivator!”
’Walking totally transforms my mood’
Emily Dean is a co-host of The Frank Skinner show on Absolute Radio and host of the Walking the Dog podcast
“My daily walk with my dog Raymond, is one of the few anchors in life right now - and it's a non-negotiable part of my day (you try saying no to a pleading mini Chewbacca). We do a few circuits in Highgate’s Waterlow Park which is such a tranquil place, and I’m rebooted afterwards. Walking totally transforms my mood, all the noise in my head gets turned out, and I can feel my body thanking me for lifting it off the sofa. Raymond's highlight of our walks is chasing leaves - but then we’re all different.”
‘Walking’s been a lifesaver’
Claire Irvin, Travel Editor, Daily Telegraph
"These are the fields around our village in North Herts. It's a hidden pocket on a chalk ridge and in this glorious weather could be the Cotswolds. We are so lucky to be surrounded by so much open space. Walking here has been a life-saver."
‘My daily lifeline’
Anne Frankenstein, Radio Presenter, Jazz FM
“My daily walk is my lifeline, a chance to reconnect with the outside world, clear my head and enjoy the birdsong and sunshine and all the other wonderful things that Spring is bringing us, even in these challenging times.”
Missed you!
The walks comedian Marcus Brigstocke and DJ Emma B missed most during lockdown…
“Walking in the Lake Disrict – especially around Derwent Water.”
“My daily walk – 12km or thereabouts in Reigate Hill for my #walk1000miles 2020 challenge”
