Put a spring in your step!

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The Greater Southern Area Health Service is urging residents to undertake regular physical activity in spring, which could be easier than you think.

The service’s health development manager Andrew Gow believes walking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes a day can achieve the recommended amount of daily physical activity.

“The national recommendations for physical activity are to accumulate 30 minutes of light to moderate activity each day in blocks of at least 10 minutes at a time,” he said.

“While only half of all adults are currently meeting this recommendation, for many it could simply mean an extra short walk each day to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle.”

Mr Gow said there was strong evidence that healthy town planning led to healthy residents.

“There are a number of simple ways to increase physical activity, such as walking and cycling between residents’ homes, work and recreation.”

One resident is leading the charge in keeping residents active through a number of community programs.

Nancy Casu of Tuross Head is involved in aerobics and circuit classes for people aged between 35 and 95, and runs Southern General Practice Network’s Get Moving program and the Heart Foundation’s Heart Moves.

Her classes cater for differing levels of fitness and concentrate on men and women who have chronic illnesses.

“If they do keep active and do keep good healthy eating patterns, they will have a better lifestyle and probably be able to have a healthier life in general,” she said.

“It’s spring time now and it’s beckoning for people to get outside and do something, brush off all the winter cobwebs.”

The GSAHS has also established a network of volunteer physical activity leaders and offers classes in tai chi for arthritis or community exercise.

Training will be held in Batemans Bay this month for new and advanced leaders for the network.