NEW PROJECT
Nicola Findlay
A new initiative aimed at making fitness more accessible and sociable for people over the age of 50 has launched in East Kilbride.
Mall Walking – a project which originated in North America – is being delivered by South Lanarkshire Council’s Seniors Together project in partnership with South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture (SLLC) and EK, East Kilbride.
Participants are given maps offering three different walking routes through the centre and enabling them to log the distance they clock up.
Once a month, SLLC reps will be on hand to provide a ‘functional fitness’ MOT to help mall walkers see what improvements in health and fitness their efforts have delivered.
And it can also pinpoint where small changes could make the mall walk even more beneficial.
The council’s spokesperson for older people, Councillor Jim McGuigan (Bothwell and Uddingston) said: “The great thing about this project is that it is so informal.
“The walks are not guided or led by professionals. People are simply encouraged to go along, pick up a map and start walking.
“There are so many benefits to walking for good health and, in addition, this project allows participants to continue walking even if the weather isn’t so great.
“There’s always a place to stop or a wide range of excellent facilities to take advantage of.”
Mall Walking is free and open to anyone who visits the centre, although Seniors Together are working to promote the opportunity to those who are, or are close to being, retired.
Maps are available from EK Central Library, which is the official starting point of the route, and where SLLC will visit each month to offer the fitness checks.
Helen Biggins, chairperson of Seniors Together, said: “Studies in North America have shown that shopping centres are the second most popular walking option for older people.