insideKENT Magazine Issue 62 - May 2017 | Page 135

Take to the water
For some reason, when we start thinking about getting fit in the great
outdoors, many of us forget about the enormous amount of water
sports out there – canoeing for example is one of the most sociable
and easily accessible sports in the whole country and can be adapted
to suit people of any age or ability. The diversity of canoeing means it
has something to suit the desires of everyone whether that’s a peaceful
paddle along quiet waters, or a more daring coastal adventure by sea
kayak, and many specialist options are available for those with disabilities
too. If you haven’t had a go before, there’s lots of introductory courses
available throughout the UK, which means no forking out on expensive
kit before you know if you like it, plus it’s an activity that the entire
family can have a go at. Getting kids out on the water early in life is
brilliant for their development, both physically and in terms of their
self-confidence, so our advice is to book a starter session – that way
you’ll get to grips with the basics in the hands of an expert and gain
the confidence you need to keep yourself – and the kids – in the canoe
and out of the water!
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/go-canoeing/clubs-centres
If in doubt, walk!
Getting active outdoors doesn’t have to mean trying your hand at
something entirely new; if you’d rather start slow, just get out there and
walk. Kent is packed full of gorgeous parks from Trosley to Shorne
Woods, Lullingstone and Pegwell Bay, and all you need to get going is
a good pair of shoes. If you don’t feel particularly motivated, or physically
very able, start by walking for 10 minutes a day, five times a week, then
add a further five minutes to your daily walk the next week; before you
know it you’ll be walking for 30 minutes a day, which puts you perfectly
in line with the NHS daily activity guidelines for a healthy adult.
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