My newsletter this week was going to be about the importance of any exercise, and whether 10,000 steps is a good number to improve fitness.
During my research for our newsletter, it occurred to me that talking about fitness is not good enough, and so this newsletter is a call to action!!
On Friday I registered Square Box Fitness for the Cerebral Palsy STEPtember fundraiser. The STEPtember organisation has waived the $25 per participant registration fee for 10 Square Box Fitness teams of 4 to raise as much money as possible for the foundation.
To the Cerebral Palsy organisation, it is the equivalent of a $1000 donation, I have donated $500 towards research into Cerebral Palsy.
‘Cerebral’ refers to the brain and ‘palsy’ means weakness or lack of muscle control:
- “Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move. It is due to damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.”
Cerebral palsy is a permanent condition it affects 1 in 500 babies born; however, a child can achieve greater control over their muscle movements by learning and practicing their motor skills.
I believe that finding a method to reconnect a person’s ability to control their muscle movement will benefit not only those effect by cerebral palsy but anyone whose muscles have “switched off” through the lack of use of the neurological pathways for movement.
Why 10,000 steps?
The official answer to this question is: Why not?
There is no scientific evidence to support 10,000 steps to good fitness; in fact, my review of scientific literature seems to indicate that 10,000 steps are not enough for good fitness.
The lack of research does not discourage my advocating a case for 10,000 steps. I refer to advice given by Albeit Einstein “If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.”
The facts are, scientifically proven; any activity is better than none and increasing consistent physical activity will have significant health benefits.
10,000 is a lucky number!
Dr Yoshiro Hatano determined that the average person took 3,500 to 5,000 steps per day, and projected based on common sense that increasing activity to 10,000 steps per day, would result in healthier, thinner people.
The 10,000 number is an auspicious number in Japan.
10,000 steps become a marketing exercise for a Japanese pedometer released before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Clever!
10,000 is not only a significant number in Japan. In the Christian Bible, it is mentioned 45 times and represents plenitude, fertility, and abundance.
In ancient China, it evoked the totality of things and the 10,000 truths that are the mysteries of the invisible universe. It symbolizes the movement, the energy, and the forward walking!
10,000 steps is a big number!
According to STEPtember, the average Australian office worker takes only 3000 steps a day. Therefore 10,000 steps may be the equivalent of walking to the moon!
It is daunting to embark on or encourage friends and family who don’t exercise to make a commitment to take the first 10,000 steps and then continue to do so for 28 days in September.
Neil Armstrong said when he took his first step on the moon: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Reaching out to someone is a small step for us in fitness, and it can make a huge difference to a shy person reluctant to join a fitness program.
Participating in STEPtember is a gentle way to start the journey of infinite reward.
You don’t have to step it out.
STEPtember is not just about stepping, in fact, many other activities can count towards your 10,000 count.
Examples of activities given by STEPtember are:
- Gardening – 1,000 steps
- Swimming – 6,048 steps
- Yoga – 4,060 steps
- Zumba – 6,825 steps
- Crossfit – 6,754 steps (Our Shape-UP program is closest to Crossfit)
The important point to remember is that any regular, consistent exercising will improve your health and well-being.
Join us for STEPtember!
Anyone who would like to make a difference to their life and the life of 3 other people close to them by supporting the cerebral palsy foundation, please contact me for our group code.
On-line shapers this is a great opportunity to supplement your fitness!
To help you with your step count you can join me at Artarmon reserve oval. I will be stepping between 9.45 am to 10.30 am, on Friday, Monday and Wednesday morning. Beginning 2nd September and concluding 28 September!
Let’s be in it together and raise as much money as we can for research into a cure for Cerebral Palsy, and improve our fitness and the fitness of our friends and family.
I leave you this week with words by Mother Teresa who humbly helped many of the poorest of the poor in India, in small ways she made a huge impact on humanity worldwide.
Mother Teresa will be canonised (declared to be a saint) on 4 September 2016.
Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.
Live well and eat well
Anna
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