In a nod to Diabetes Awareness Month, a new community program in Haines challenges residents to do one thing: walk.
Beginning on Nov. 18, individuals are invited to walk quarter-mile laps inside the Haines School to increase their strength, flexibility and endurance.
Community Education Director at the Haines Borough School District, Earleen Lloyd is partnering with SEARHC nurse and certified diabetic educator Lisa Schwartz to bring “Walk Fit” to Haines. The program, designed by Lloyd, will offer personalized goals and health tips to community members.
Walk Fit will be free and open to all adults, and high school students. Participants will be required to sign a waiver.
Each walker will be loaned a pedometer for one week, and the results will help Lloyd and Schwartz set step goals based on individual capabilities.
To start, Lloyd said she’ll complete a 10-minute evaluation of body mass index, strength and endurance to serve as a baseline for gauging improvement.
“But you don’t have to do any of that, you can just come and walk,” she said. Additionally, there will be eight strengthening stations that participants can utilize. Schwartz said the activity is non-competitive; participants are only competing with themselves.
The program will be held during community education hours from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Schwartz plans to give informal talks on different aspects of health and diabetes prevention, like how stress influences blood sugar, which can lead to diabetes.
“Any type of exercise, including walking, will bring down your blood sugar,” Schwartz said.
The women encourage interested participants to join Walk Fit before the holiday season, so they can better control their weight around a calorie-heavy time of year. Haines residents can join Walk Fit any time Nov. 19 through May 2019, when the school will close for summer break.
Lloyd recommends everyone bring a walking partner, or find one there.
“You’d be shocked at how many miles you can put in when you’re yakkin’,” she said.