Elliston Strollers is a sports club located in the District Council of Elliston in South Australia. This club is dedicated to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle through walking. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced walker, Elliston Strollers welcomes individuals of all fitness levels to join their community.
The club offers walking groups that allow members to build connexions within the community while working towards a healthier heart together. By participating in these groups, members have the opportunity to meet new people, find motivation, and enjoy the benefits of walking in a supportive and structured environment.
Regular walking has been proven to have numerous health benefits, and Elliston Strollers aims to help its members experience these benefits firsthand. Walking for an average of 30 minutes a day can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes by 30 to 40 percent. Additionally, it can help manage weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol, reduce the risk of developing some cancers, maintain bone density, improve balance and coordination, and reduce the risk of falls and other injuries.
Elliston Strollers also works closely with healthcare professionals to complement their care. They offer a structured and supportive walking programme that can be recommended to patients. Whether patients prefer to walk alone or in a group, this programme is designed to help them meet national physical activity guidelines and improve their overall health.
One of the club's members, Maria, shares her success story with walking. After struggling with weight, diabetes, and blood pressure problems for over 40 years, Maria started incorporating walking into her daily routine. Starting with as little as 5,000 steps a day, she gradually increased her daily step count to 15,000. As a result, she is no longer diabetic and no longer has issues with her blood pressure.
Maria emphasises the positive impact that walking has had on her mental and physical health.
To join the Elliston Strollers walking community and stay connected, individuals can join the club's Facebook group. Additionally, Elliston Strollers is supported by the National Heart Foundation of Australia and offers a walker recognition scheme to reward members for their achievements.
Getting started with Elliston Strollers is easy. Individuals can search for a walking group near them by typing in their suburb, town, or postcode. Once they find a suitable group, they can register and connect with the group's walk organiser for more information and guidance.
For those who are passionate about promoting walking and leading a healthy lifestyle, Elliston Strollers also offers the opportunity to become a volunteer walk organiser. As a walk organiser, individuals will have the responsibility of planning walking routes and meeting places, determining the time and day of walks, and welcoming new members to the group. In return, walk organisers receive training, access to an online profile to manage their group, thank you gifts, ongoing communications, and invites to events and workshops.
Join Elliston Strollers and be a part of a community that prioritises health, fitness, and connexion.