WALX Preston: The walking group with a difference getting folks out and about

There's a stigma attached to joining Lycra-clad gym warriors so comfortable amongst the balloon-sized weights and complex-looking machines, but plenty of people still want to get and stay fit without having techno blasted at them in the local leisure centre. With that in mind, WALX Preston is offering something very different indeed.

"We all need to get through life and deal with its challenges and remaining physically active is crucial, so we're making exercise a natural thing," said Matt Gibbs, a Preston-born WALX Master. "Plenty of people don't like the gym, so we're trying something different and once people meet the social group and get outdoors in the green spaces, they see a lot of physical, postural, mental, and social improvement.

"They absolutely love it."

Providing people looking to get out and about and improve their fitness with the chance to do just that alongside like-minded people whilst enjoying and exploring local green spaces, WALX is about taking away any negative connotations people may have attached to the concept of exercise. "We never talk about exercise - it's about meeting friends and having a good time," said Matt.

There are three types of WALX. Explorer WALX take-in local scenery and can be anything from long and tough to short and gentle; Total Body WALX bring the gym experience to the great outdoors, incorporating drills, strength exercises, and Nordic walking poles to bring the upper body into play; and Wellness WALX are more gentle, focusing on balance, flexibility, and strength to promote relaxation and an environment better suited to those recovering from injury, living with a health condition, or looking to start a fitness kick.

"In Preston, we're quite lucky - at Avenham Park by the River Ribble there are loads of different routes so every time someone comes for a walk we can see something different," said Matt, 45. "A lot of people have lived close to these parks for maybe 10, 20, 30 years and every time we go somewhere they end up saying 'oh, I didn't know that bit existed' or 'I've never been there before', so we're introducing people to parts of the city that they didn't know about.

"Also, a lot of people will drive in to work and sit at their desk at lunchtime, but a couple of hundred yards on from Winckley Square is a beautiful space to de-stress on a walk," added Matt, who has been involved with WALX for five years. "We're trying to get people off their bums and away from their computers, even if it's for 10 minutes, so they can improve their well-being, clear their mind, and be a bit more active and productive in the workplace."

Having previously been known as Nordic Walking Preston, WALX rebranded itself in December in order to encourage a wider demographic of people to get involved, with the Preston Wellness WALX now attracting a number of people in their 70s and 80s who had found themselves becoming increasingly socially isolated.

Now joining the group three times a week, they are building fitness, socialising with a new group of friends, and are improving their health by getting out in the fresh air more often.

"[The] older people who come along are excited to do the walk at their own pace, build up their fitness, and are soon covering bigger distances while improving balance, fitness, heart health, and are building relationships with new friends," said Matt. "People at certain stages of their life can be unsure about something new, but we're trying to break that barrier down and show them that if they give it a go, they'll realise how good it is, so it's a new avenue to pull people away from isolation and loneliness.

"There's a lot of pride in the work and there's an aspect of helping people which improves your own well-being," Matt added. "It's so nice to see how people's life can change within a very small time-frame - the buzz and energy people get out of it is amazing."

For more information, please contact Matt on 07530 813 225 or via email at [email protected]