A SOLUTION for people searching for a pleasant and social form of exercise contiues through the Mount Gambier Heart Foundation Walking Group.
Due to the easing of COVID19 restrictions, the body is actively promoting its sessions again to find new members for their weekly stroll through the railway lands.
Three sessions per week are available for anyone in the Limestone Coast community, which are pet friendly and maintain social distancing.
The group holds a session from 9am each Monday at Vansittart Park aimed exclusively for people who are experiencing heart problems.
Organiser Peter Heness said the walk catered for people of any ability.
“The Monday morning sessions are for people who have had heart problems and it is up to them if they want to walk, but we are always there if they need us,” he said.
“Even if they do one lap, a little bit of walking is always better than sitting on the couch.”
The other two sessions take place on Wednesday and Friday evenings at the railway lands from 5.30pm.
Mr Heness said the walks, which take between 30 to 45 minutes, had a number of positive impacts.
“Most of the group bring their dogs as well, so we and the pets both get a benefit out of it,” he said.
Although a recent Heart Foundation survey of 300 people found around 30pc of participants increased their walking time during lockdown, Mr Heness said his groups were losing numbers.
“We have not had any new ones for a while,” he said.
“We have lost probably three or four on the Wednesday and Friday sessions and the Monday numbers are going down as well.
“We could always do with more people.”
The walking groups are free to join and anyone wanting to take part can call Mr Heness on 0421 287 901.
