Walking and wellbeing: A Q&A with Dee Allbrook

How does walking help improve my wellbeing?

Dee: “So walking, if you look at the five pillars of better mental wellbeing, you are encouraging activity in the body which can make that connection between mind and body.

There tends to be a few people coming along to our BeWell@StepOne wellbeing walks, and that interactivity with others can help relieve stresses and strains on the mind.”

How do I practice mindful walking?

Dee: “Mindful walking is a great way to concentrate and relieve your focus from your outside external cares. When you’re completely surrounded by wildlife or the sounds, you become engaged in a different thought process. You look out for the different plants, you hear the sound of the water, you breathe in that gorgeous oxygenated air. All of these things help to develop a more mindful experience.”

How do I know if I’m walking fast enough?

Dee: “So I think the most important thing is not to beat yourself up about going too fast. Everybody’s pace is different. Comparing yourself to somebody else within the group is not what’s expected. It really is not a race. It really is about everybody starting and finishing together.

If you join one of our walks and you need to head off because you find it a little bit too difficult, you can do so, we’ve worked out little stops, little exits, that you can use on the path if you decide it’s not for you.”

Are there any groups I can join?

Dee: “So the BeWell@StepOne platform has numerous walks at your disposal, all completely free.

The Exeter Wellbeing Walk takes place fortnightly on Wednesdays.

The other ones we have are the Men’s Wellbeing Walk on a Tuesday. That is down in Torbay, in a place called Preston, Paignton. Locarno Avenue is where it departs from on Tuesday mornings. The men get great strength with finding other men in that capacity, which is lovely.

We also have two wellbeing walks that take place fortnightly on Fridays in Torquay. One in Torre Abbey and another in Babbacombe.

Now, if you’re not up to doing a group quite yet, you can also use the Active 10 evidence based app from the NHS, which allows you to self motivate yourself through realistic goals. As you acquire them you build up your self-actualisation and little goals which boost your confidence.”