Your ‘personal trainer’ takes the fitness lead

IT IS not only pets that benefit from going walkies. A dog is effectively your most reliable personal trainer. Everyone knows an active lifestyle is good for your health — so pounding the pavements and running around the park with your furry friend is definitely a move in the right direction.

It is recommended we do 150 minutes of physical activity per week to stay healthy. That is just 30 minutes per weekday.

A regular half-hour walk not only enables your four-legged friend to build vital muscle and burn calories but also provides the same benefits for the human on the other end of the lead.

Getting the blood pumping with some physical activity will keep your blood pressure in check and your fat levels down. It can eliminate back pain, while protecting your body from common ailments, keeping you feeling younger for longer.

And it is not just your physical health that reaps the rewards. Exercise is known to reduce stress and release the positive hormones, which contribute to a healthy mind. Feeling more relaxed and happier in yourself is the key to a healthy lifestyle. The same can be said for your dog.

Being active together will strengthen the bond between you. It will also give you both a sense of accomplishment and of connection to the world around you and will increase your mental alertness, energy and positive mood.

So grab a lead, pull on your walking shoes and get moving.

The Maccabi GB community dog walk and show promotes sport, health and wellbeing, as part of its campaign for an active Jewish community. This event has been a longstanding communal favourite and the reason is simple: all members of the family can get involved.

On Sunday, May 28, the Maccabi GB Community Dog Walk and Show returns to at Sunny Hill Park, Hendon, north west London. See maccabigb.org/ communitydogwalk to find out more