Touch

 .. your sandy toes.

THE SEA MOVES ME 

After returning from a somewhat different than usual February Half Term family holiday, what with all the ski resorts being shut this year due to covid regulations. I went to another favourite place - The Atlantic Coast.

 If you are looking for a beach way to stay fit but don't like the waves see below!

• Walking in sand requires a greater effort than walking on other hard surfaces because your muscles and tendons will work harder as your foot moves around in the sand.

• Walking at a slower pace allows your feet to sink in the sand  and this means more effort than walking fast or even jogging.In fact it requires 2.1 to 2.7 times more energy than walking on other hard surfaces. 

• Instead of pounding your joints and feet on hard pavements or other surfaces, sand acts as a natural cushion & supports your joints. 

• Studies say that most of us our Vitamin D deficient.  You will soak up natural Vitamin D from the sun as you stroll around in the sand.

• Walking on a beach is so relaxing listening to the sound of the waves that most people walk further distances than they normally would on treadmills, tracks or even in town streets.  

• Health advocates say that walking barefoot actually grounds us as it it reconnects us to nature’s beauty and therefore helps reduce stress too

• For most of us burning calories is one of the benefits of any exercise so it is great to know that walking on a beach is that you will use 20 to 50 percent more calories than you would walking at the same pace on a harder surface.

• Jogging in sand uses a wonderful 1.6 times more energy than jogging on hard surfaces.

By Suzanne Richardson - Coward