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Show Page 12 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue XIII 1 July 2000 Pathways Essays HIKING cont. from page 11 to benefit from stronger leg muscles, because they relieve some of the pain that may occur when bones rub against bones. In addition, the natural tranquilizing effect of walking helps decrease arthritic pain. Kate Lorig, D.P.H., of the Stanford University Medical Center and coauthor of The Arthritis Help-Book, endorses walking for arthritis management. She emphasizes the importance of developing personalized walking programs based on the severity of the arthritis. “I tell people to start slowly, walking as far as they can without feeling more pain than before they started. If that means walking across the room, fine. One block or two blocks? That’s a good start.” Relieving back pain. How often do you go home after a hard day at work and realize that your lower back feels stiff? If you’re like most people, you probably notice this pain regularly. Almost everybody suffers from back pain at one time or another, whether caused from an injury or simply from sitting at a computer for too many hours. Unfortunately, many feel this is an unavoidable part of life. Here’s good news for them: Walking prevents and cures the most common kinds of muscular backache, and even some kinds in which a disk problem has been identified. The disappearance of or enormous decrease in back pain has been identified as the most common, clearly perceived health benefit reported by walkers. The American Medical Association (AMA), in its Guide to Back Care, notes that since walking puts less stress on the lower spine than sitting without a backrest, many people with back problems realize they are “better off walking than sitting.” However, if you are plagued by back problems and are considering walking away the pain, be sure to consult your doctor first to make sure that your particular back problem won’t be aggravated by walking. Healthy habits for a healthy life. Another powerful reason to bike doesn’t involve a specific disease or a single facet of life. Rather it is life. Each time you go outside and walk, as long as you stay within your capabilities, you will come home feeling better than you did when you left. Your body will feel better. Your head will feel clearer, and your stress level will have decreased. The result? You’ll want to hike again! As you notice improvements in your body and state of mind, you may also want to start eating healthy foods. Says David Lillard, President of American Hiking Society, “Feeling healthy just plain feels good. With each hike you will feel better, and this might encourage you to continue your new healthy habits.” Don’t believe it? Go for a hike, and see what he means! Note: Information provided by the American Hiking Society. Ogden Valley Pathways Ogden Valley Pathways By Rebecca Hauber By John Storey Valley Elementary sixth grade student Valley Elementary sixth grade student Do you like to bike, hike, walk, or ride horses? Well now the chance is yours. They have decided to make a trail called the Ogden Valley Pathways where people can take little time to do what they want without any dangers ahead. I think the path around Ogden Valley will be a wonderful experience for the nature lovers all over. The path would provide a way to go over to your friend’s house without you being in danger of fast cars or other motorized vehicles. People would be able to exercise freely. There is a great need for pathways in the valley because of all the growth. It will be a treat to the cross-country skiers if they have no other place to do it at because of roads during the winter. Personally, I love to ride horses. When you ride horses on a busy road they sometimes get scared from the noise. They could get out of control or seriously hurt. This new idea that they made about the trial will help prevent many of these accidents. So many people are killed every day because of some clumsy drivers that are careless, drunk or just plain rude. In this essay I hope that I have convinced you that this trail is a good idea and is fun and safe for everyone. The safety of course would be greater for all pedestrians, horseback riders, bikers, etc. The nature will also be conserved because of the nonmotorized vehicles up in the mountain. The path would go through the valley so everybody could use it. That is my opinion on the pathways around the valley. I hope you make the Ogden Valley Pathways a possibility for the people in the valley and me. Student News Valley Elementary Nature Center Continues to Develop Valley students, teachers, and community members have been working to create a beautiful change at the elementary school in Huntsville, and in the community grounds—all through the help of the Milken Festival for Youth a program sponsored by the Milken Foundation. Students have been studying soils, rocks, insects, reptiles, and birds associated with the nature center. The students have also been planting, cultivating, and enjoying the seating and learning atmosphere at the newly created nature center. Scouts and volunteers have been weeding and contributing too. What a great way to have meaningful, community involvement! |