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| OHCC LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2026 | 37 Walkers and Hikers Do you want to move more? We have four exciting walks scheduled in September. • Point Loma Carrillo Monument • La Jolla Shores • Moonlight to Swami's • Moonlight Beach to Bacon's Beach There is a video online from Medical Watch which claims that walking or any type of movement is just as important to prevent mental decline as doing word games. So put down that pen or pencil or your Mahjong tiles for an hour or two and join us on a walk! There are countless articles that indicate walking is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve your head-to-toe health. The real beauty of going for a walk is the accessibility. They say that walking comes with benefits for the heart and brain, and improves cardiovascular health, aerobic capacity, blood pressure, blood sugar control, metabolism, weight and mobility. The experts say that walking can also boost mental health, especially when walking in nature. OHCC Walkers/Hikers continue to schedule great nature walks or hikes at nearby or not so distant trails. Denise Austin, fitness icon, is a super-walker, racking up her steps no matter how hectic her days are. In an article in Prevention Magazine, Austin recommends starting with five minutes a day, then five minutes turns into 10 and so on. The first five minutes are the hardest, but then you'll begin to feel so much better you'll want to do more. Austin designed a six-week walking plan to help regular and novice walkers alike turn their habit into a long-term fitness and health booster. On another note, for decades we have heard that the number of steps per day that we should aim for is 10,000. Lately I have come across several articles that "experts" are now questioning whether 10,000 is such a magic number after all. I always wondered how we arrived at that number in the first place. I did a little research, and it turns out that in 1964, just before the Tokyo Olympic Games, a company started selling a step tracker (pedometer) called the Manpo-kei. When translated, "man" means 10,000, "po" means steps, and "kei" means meter. So, "10,000 Step Meter." The pedometer was a massive success, and 60 years later we're all still using the 10,000 number as the gold standard. According to Heather Dessinger, the takeaway isn't that 10,000 steps are "wrong." If anything, the marketing campaign helped popularize one of the healthiest habits most of us can adopt. However, the number itself wasn't derived from exercise physiology – it was chosen because it made for memorable branding. Who knew? We are continuing our holiday tradition of walking in nearby Buena Vista Park on Labor Day, which is Sept. 7 this year. We hope to see you on the trails! Written by Marla Reiter Billiards Wow! Hard to believe we are looking at fall already. As we prepare for a new season, let's not forget all the fun we can have with beautiful fall days, and this year maybe the weather will be a bit cooler for us to enjoy after our really hot summer. And, as the new season begins, join us in the Aerobics Class and have fun as we continue to improve our strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and overall body conditioning. The Aerobics class has low impact; there is NO floor work but lots of fun music. Aerobics classes meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Abravanel Hall from 10 to 11 am. Based on your schedule, feel free to attend the number of classes that fit your schedule. If you are new to the class, you can attend two classes before joining the Aerobics Club to see if it is the fun exercise you are looking for. The cost is $5 per class paid directly to Christine Alesiani, our instructor. The annual dues for 2026 Aerobic Club are $10. Written by Kathy Palys Aerobics

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