More than 2,400 years ago, Hippocrates said, “Walking is a man’s best medicine.” It seems that he was correct. Walking has benefits not only for your physical health but also for your mental health.
Walking is an automatic human function, and it serves many practical roles. Yet modern man seems determined to walk as little as possible. Why is this and what has happened in our society to create a culture of driving?
Our cities have gradually become designed around cars and automobiles, so much so that the Surgeon General’s made a Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities. So, the big question is how do we do this?
I am currently a fellow in the Iowa Walking College. Through this education, I am learning about creating an environment to encourage walking as a health activity and a mode of transportation. This is a slow culture change and infrastructure change. Cities need to be built with store fronts, wide sidewalks, appropriate cross walks and interesting things to see.
Newton is on the right path, there are many positives around the square, including sidewalks, storefronts, greenery, benches, garbage cans and barriers between pedestrians and vehicles. I want to encourage our community to take a walk daily for exercise or as transportation.
The Jasper County Health Department invites you to Walking Wednesday. Every Wednesday at noon we take a walk around the square, five laps is about a mile. Everyone is invited and feel free to walk at your own pace. It is a great time to socialize and get some exercise. I hope to see you there.
Kristina Winfield, RN, BSN
Public Health Coordinator
Newton