A special welcome to our new contributor, personal trainer and fitness expert Johannah Cole.

Put your Right Foot Forward to start your fitness program.

Starting to exercise is a great begining to a new year of health. Often you may not know where to start. Exercise can encompass a range of activity from using a gym to attending a class, training with a trainer or simply starting to walk on a regular basis.

Walking is a great way to start as all you need is a good pair of shoes. Appropriate footwear is a must for all exercise as good shoes support your feet correctly providing stability and promoting good posture.

How to shop for your sport shoes

Start by understanding your feet,

• What is the width of you foot perhaps narrow, wide or normal?
• What is your foot length?
• What is your arch like – flat, normal or high?
• Identify your walking characteristics: this is how your foot functions and rolls.
• Do your feet under-pronate in which the ankle rolls outwards or do they stay neutral?
• How does your foot hit or strike the ground? With the heel forefoot or midmost?

When purchasing you new shoes consider all of the above and select shoes that support your feet. Specifically find a sales person who can understand and assess your feet with the information you provide and who will then help you find the correct set of foot wear.

A biomechanical analysis of how you walk and your running technique conducted by a sport scientist using motion analysis will reduce chances of sustaining an injury and insure your technique is efficient.

How to start

Start a walking fitness program by simply maintaining a steady pace for 30 – 40min. Choose a route that contains small hills and slopes which will help to increase your fitness and be more inspiring as you cross the top of an incline.

To achieve the best results your fitness program should be varied and encompass all muscle groups, containing principles of cardiovascular conditioning, weight training, pilates and flexibility. A personal trainer will monitor and personalise your fitness sessions optimizing your results and giving you the edge to achieve your goals and stay motivated. Alternately a fitness class in your workplace such as kickboxing or Pilates is a fun, inspiring and easy way to promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

For more information on Personal Training, Corporate Fitness Training, or starting Fitness or Pilates classes.

Please Contact Splits Active Health, Wellbeing & Fitness

Johannah Cole P 0403 923 975 E splitsactive@yahoo.com.au

Virtualbeautycare Supports: