By Amanda Daly
The heart is a remarkable and vital muscle that requires great care and maintenance much like the relationships we have with loved ones.
Yet we put our hearts at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke by making poor lifestyle choices.
When you are in love with someone – or something – you do everything you can to minimize any damaging risks that may harm that person or thing.
So let’s fall in love with our hearts and lower the risks by making healthy choices:
* Get active
* Eat healthy
* Stop smoking
* Control your blood pressure
* Achieve a healthy weight
* Limit alcohol intake
* Reduce your stress
Nanaimo parks, recreation and culture offers several programs and activities that can make these choices easy and attainable.
Fall in love with our drop-in fitness classes for yoga, aerobics, and aquafit, or sign up for a full six- to 10-week program.
There is a variety of fitness programs from badminton to fencing and yoga to Zumba – all guaranteed to give your heart the workout it deserves.
Keep in mind physical activity doesn’t have to mean doing sports and going to the gym – it can include everyday things like walking the dog, planting a garden or even household chores.
Walking is one of the easiest ways to reduce risk of the killer diseases that can affect your heart. If you prefer companionship, the Trailblazers or one of our Walk Fit classes might be for you. Make a date with your heart and head out to a local park or trail.
Join us for some new and exciting cooking classes that will tantalize your taste buds and show your heart how much you really care.
Some classes to look forward to are gluten-free cooking, gluten-free baking, and raw foods.
Put your heart first this month and make those healthy choices.
For information about heart health, please visit www.heartandstroke.ca.
For information on Nanaimo parks, recreation and culture programs, please visit www.nanaimo.ca.
Amanda Daly is a marketing and communication specialist with Nanaimo parks, recreation and culture.