We’ve been hearing for ages and ages all about how we need to exercise, how it’s good for your mental health as well as your physical health. Every so often some new fad, oops, that should be idea, comes along about the best way to exercise. Walking backwards was one I read about yesterday. I was attracted to this article by its headline about how walking in bad weather is good for you. I do quite a lot of running in the rain. When it’s wet and windy it seems the air quality is better and so you are less likely to be breathing in lots of pollution. Sounds sensible!
But as I read, I discovered that bad weather is also good for clearing the streets, making the streets much better for walking backwards, the latest trend to sweep Japan. Who knew? So why is it good for us?
“Walking backwards also improves our balance and stability. Normally we lean slightly forward when we walk but, in reverse, our spine is nudged into alignment and our core has to work harder to keep us stable. Another study found that 10 minutes of backwards walking four times a week reduced lower back pain after a mere three weeks. At the same time, we strengthen our knee joints and quadriceps – which means an improved gait and fewer aches and pains. A wide, flat, empty pavement is the ideal place to practise reverse walking.”
So I need to get Phil to try this as he has occasional wonky knee problems when we are out walking. There’s also a lot of stuff in the article about “brown fat” (good) and “white fat” (bad), rather like good and bad cholesterol. And then there’s the matter of messing about in mud being good for your immune system.
Today we put the clocks back an hour, reducing the time available for being out and about as the sun sets earlier and earlier every day. I listened to Professor Angela Gallup on Desert Island Discs earlier today. She’s a forensic scientist, one of those you read about in detective stories, the people who closely examine spots of blood and suchlike and match them to a killer’s DNA. Gruesome stuff! Asked if it had affected her way of looking at life, she declared that of course she knew that the vast majority of people are not serial killers or psychopaths. However, having investigated rather a lot of cases in the north of England she is reluctant to go walking alone in the countryside, especially after dark. She is more aware that danger is lurking everywhere.
Personally I find empty city streets after dark a lot more scary than the bridle paths around here and it seems I’m not alone. Cyclist Chris Boardman has been writing about it. He tells us:
“One in every five women is concerned about sexual harassment when exercising – and three in 10 have experienced it first-hand, while doing physical activity, mostly in streets and parks. And we know that people will not do something – whether that’s walking or cycling to school, or jogging before work – if they do not feel safe doing so.”
So he gives some advice to men on how to help make women feel safer on the streets:
“First, keep your distance: the closer you are, the more threatening you seem. If you’re walking or running behind a woman, pause to give her some space, or cross the road so you aren’t behind her any more.”
As I have already said, I am not easily scared when out and about on my own but this morning I nearly jumped put of my skin when a male runner suddenly went past me with a cheery ‘good morning’. I would have liked to have known he was there a little sooner.
Chris Boardman goes on:
“Understand that women’s wariness and suspicion is not personal, so don’t be offended. Women have no way of knowing you are not a threat.
Never make comments, even if you think it’s a compliment. It’s intimidating to a woman on her own. Stay quiet.”
And he stresses the need to pass the message on:
“If you see friends or family members making disrespectful comments to a woman, challenge them and explain why it’s not OK. We need to break the cycle of misogyny that contributes to women feeling unsafe. Show younger men what it looks like to listen to women. Talk to them about what harassment is. Help them understand why a comment they think may be harmless can terrorise women.”
Teachers and parents need to ensure that boys learn these things. Especially as, according to this article, many girls don’t even feel safe at school.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment