Move More

Everybody knows that being physically active not only contributes to increasing people’s well-being but is also essential for improving and maintaining good health. 

Being active all through your life course is essential to leading a healthy and fulfilled life.  Regular physical activity has a huge list of benefits to health including:

• Feeling more relaxed and sleeping better
• Giving you more energy
• Improves your mobility and flexibility
• It also helps protect against heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, becoming overweight or obese and depression

To gain these health benefits adults should be physically active at a moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes a day on five or more days a week.  Being physically active at a moderate intensity means getting your heart rate to beat faster, your breathing will be increased, you will feel warmer but still able to hold a conversation.

The 30 minutes of physical activity does not need to be done all at once, in fact it can be split into two sessions of 15 minutes or even three 10 minute sessions throughout the day.  This can mean even the busiest of people can get their 30 minutes in a day!

The easiest and most effective way to keep active is to incorporate it you’re your everyday routine and life activities. 

Did you know that the following activities can count towards your daily aim when done for 30 minutes or more: 

• Walking
• Cycling
• All types of active housework including:
  • Cleaning and dusting around the house
  • Hoovering up
• Gardening and DIY including:
  • Painting and decorating 
  • Mowing the lawn

Don’t forget that being physically active can also include active recreation and active sport.  So if you fancy going to the gym, swimming or trying a dance class, cycling, with family and friends or playing team sports such as tennis, rounders or football in the park…they all count and they are all fun!

City Wide Walking Project

In Leeds we have a City Wide Walking Project which is a central point of contact for walking groups and people wanting to know about walking groups in their area.  We have over 50 regular walking groups all over Leeds so If you would like to find out if you have one in your area please ring Rob Ashford the project co-ordinator on 0113 2307060.  

Swim4Life

Are you under 16 or over 60 years of age?  If you are then you can SWIM 4 FREE at any Leeds City Council swimming pool.  This fantastic opportunity is part of the Swim4Life project involved in the massive Change4Life campaign.  

Simply go into your local swimming pool with your identification and you can SWIM 4 FREE!