Weekly Wellness Walks
Join us every Wednesday
Each week, we’ve been exploring different parks, and setting small but fun fitness challenges to keep ourselves moving and energized.
From hanging for grip strength at one park to step-ups for leg power at another, we’re getting stronger together, all while enjoying the fresh air and good company.
The best part? These challenges are approachable for all fitness levels—whether you're a beginner or more advanced, there’s always a way to make it work for you.
Our Park-to-Park Wellness Journey!
Date: 9/18/2024 @ East Texas Arboretum
Today's walk at the East Texas Arboretum wasn’t just about physical activity—it was about connection, both with nature and with each other.
Walking outdoors in a group not only strengthens our bodies but also enhances our mental well-being, offering a break from daily life and a moment to simply enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery.
What We Achieved:
Distance: We walked 2.04 miles on nature trails, covering a good portion of the Arboretum’s landscape.
Steps: Our steps totaled over 4,400, adding a solid boost to our daily fitness goals.
Pace: Our average pace for the walk was 37:50 minutes per mile, allowing us to enjoy both the exercise and the beauty of our surroundings.
The Benefits of Walking on Natural Terrain
Walking on natural terrain provides more benefits than walking on paved paths. The uneven ground helps to engage different muscle groups, improve balance, and strengthen your joints. The changing terrain offers a better workout for your legs and core, making it a more dynamic way to stay fit.
Being in nature also gives you a mental boost, with studies showing that walking in green spaces can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and increase creativity by up to 60%. It’s not just exercise—it’s a full-body experience!
Scenic Stops Along the Way
The Arboretum is a great place to observe nature, and we made sure to take breaks to appreciate it all. It was a perfect setting for unwinding and de-stressing.
Why It Matters
Joint Health: Walking on softer, natural surfaces reduces the impact on the joints, making it a gentler form of exercise while still increasing joint mobility.
Muscle Strength: The varied terrain helps strengthen muscles that don't get used as much on paved paths.
A Final Important Note
If you're visiting the East Texas Arboretum, be sure to sign in at the front desk. Many visitors don’t realize that by signing in, you’re helping the Arboretum secure vital funding to maintain and improve these beautiful trails and natural areas. Your signature supports everything we love about this place—from the birds we hear to the paths we walk on. Let’s do our part to keep it thriving!
Thank you to everyone who came out today! We’re looking forward to the next walk and more shared experiences on the trails.
Date: 9/11/2024 @ Gun Barrel City Park
Here’s a breakdown of how we all did:
Today’s wellness walk was a fantastic success! It was incredible to see everyone show up with energy, determination, and a willingness to move at their own pace.
Group 1: One Lap—Just Getting Started
Our first group completed one lap around the park, covering just under 1 mile. This group racked up 2,500 steps and burned around 300 calories.
For those easing into fitness or looking for a gentle, restorative walk, this was a perfect way to get the blood flowing and stretch those legs. With one lap, you're already improving your heart health and working on joint mobility. Just 30 minutes of walking a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 19%, according to the American Heart Association.
Group 2: Two Laps—Stepping It Up
The majority of our walkers today landed in Group 2, completing two laps around the park for a total of 1.8 miles. This group clocked in around 4,000 steps and burned approximately 400 calories.
Not only did this group push their endurance a little further, but they also boosted their mental clarity and creativity. Research from Stanford University shows that walking outdoors can lower stress levels by 30% and increase creative output by up to 60%—a huge win for both body and mind!
Group 3: Three Laps—All In!
Group 3 went the extra mile—literally—by completing three laps, covering the full 2.83 miles. This ambitious group totaled over 7,500 steps and burned around 600 calories.
But they didn’t stop there! They added extra strength work at the park's universal weight system, doing reverse push-ups and hanging for grip strength and spinal decompression.
Hanging exercises, in particular, are great for improving shoulder mobility and relieving lower back tension, while reverse push-ups target the upper back, biceps, and core. This group went above and beyond, enhancing not just their cardiovascular health, but also their muscle strength and endurance.
Why Walking Matters—No Matter Your Skill Level
Whether you did one lap or all three, every step you took today contributed to long-term wellness. Walking regularly has so many benefits:
Calorie Burn & Weight Management: Walking for just one hour can burn anywhere from 200-400 calories, helping with weight management.
Muscle Strength & Joint Health: Walking engages leg and core muscles, improving stability and relieving pressure on your hips, knees, and back. Plus, walking is low-impact, making it easier on the joints while still building muscle.
Mental & Emotional Wellness: Walking in nature has been shown to lower symptoms of anxiety and depression by 20-30%, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Challenge Yourself to Join Us Next Week!
Don’t let the idea of fitness intimidate you—there’s a group for every level, whether you want a slow start with one lap or you’re ready to push yourself to three. The key is to show up, move your body, and do something good for yourself.
Date: 9/4/2024 @ George Watts Park
Today’s walk was a huge success! It was so inspiring to see everyone come out and put in the effort. Here's a breakdown of how we did:
Group 1: 3.1 miles, racked up over 7,000 steps and burned approx. 836 calories!
Group 2: 1.5 miles, over 3,500 steps and burned approx. 415 calories!
What We Achieved Today:
We didn’t just walk—to mix things up, we stretched, balanced, and challenged ourselves with a range of exercises that helped us grow both physically and mentally.
Hanging Exercise: Improved grip strength (reducing risk of injury), shoulder mobility, and core stability.
Step-ups: Increased leg strength, improved balance & coordination, and enhanced stability.
Parkour Fun: Boosted full-body strength, enhanced agility and flexibility, and fostered problem-solving & confidence.
The Bigger Picture: Why It All Matters
Today’s walk wasn’t just about burning calories—it was about improving our overall health and well-being:
Heart Health: Walking just 30 minutes a day lowers your risk of heart disease by 20-30%.
Muscle Strength & Endurance: We engaged up to 80% of our muscles, building both strength and stamina.
Joint Health: We protected our joints by increasing lubrication and reducing stiffness with each step.
Mental Health: Walking with friends can reduce stress by 60%, and we definitely felt those emotional benefits today.
Calorie Burn: Walking at a steady pace can burn 100-200 calories per mile, helping us manage weight while enjoying the outdoors.
Creativity Boost: Studies show walking increases creativity by up to 60%—no wonder we all felt so refreshed!
Better Sleep: Regular walking has been shown to improve sleep quality by 20%, and I bet we’ll all sleep better tonight!
A True Mind-Body Experience
Our walks aren’t just physical—they’re a holistic experience, offering connection, nature, and a deep sense of community. Research shows group exercise improves mental well-being by 40% compared to exercising alone. You’re not just improving your health; you’re building friendships and supporting your emotional and mental wellness.
Date: 8/28/2024 @ Purtis Creek Park
Today’s walk at Purtis Creek State Park was nothing short of incredible! The natural beauty of the park, combined with the peaceful lakeside views, made for a truly memorable experience. It was wonderful to see everyone come together, motivated and eager to get out into nature.
Here’s a breakdown of how we did:
1.9 miles, approx. 1 hour, elevation gain of 196 ft & burned approx 173 calories - way to go!!!
The Bigger Picture: Why It All Matters
While this walk was physically challenging at times, it provided so many deeper health benefits:
Heart Health
Walking in nature doesn’t just feel good—it’s proven to support cardiovascular health. In fact, walking for 30 minutes can lower blood pressure for up to 24 hours afterward. Studies also show that regular walking in nature reduces the risk of heart disease by 35%, as compared to those who remain sedentary. Today, we took meaningful steps towards stronger hearts and a longer, healthier life.
Muscle Strength & Endurance
The elevation and uneven terrain at Purtis Creek added an extra layer of intensity to our walk. Walking on natural terrain engages up to 30% more muscles than walking on a paved path. The uneven surfaces make our body work harder to stabilize, improving balance and coordination, while also strengthening smaller stabilizer muscles in our legs, core, and even feet. Over time, this not only increases endurance but also reduces the risk of injuries.
Natural terrain promotes greater functional fitness because it mimics real-life movements. As we step over rocks, roots, and uneven ground, we engage more muscle groups, especially in our ankles, calves, and hips. Paved walkways don’t challenge your body in the same way, which can sometimes lead to overuse injuries due to repetitive motion on a flat surface.
Stretching before and after a hike on natural terrain is important to avoid injuries, especially for the ankles and calves, which work harder on uneven surfaces. Dynamic stretching before your walk, focusing on leg swings, lunges, and hip circles, helps warm up the muscles, while post-hike static stretches, like calf stretches and hamstring stretches, aid in recovery and reduce stiffness.
Joint Health
Walking, especially in hilly or uneven terrain, helps strengthen the muscles around our joints, reducing the impact on the joints themselves. In fact, it’s shown that moderate-intensity walking improves joint lubrication and protects against degenerative joint diseases by up to 40%. Our knees, hips, and ankles benefited from today's walk, ensuring they stay healthy and mobile for years to come.
Mental Health
There’s something magical about walking in nature, and today was no exception. The stress-relieving power of nature is well documented. Studies show that being surrounded by greenery can reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol by 12-15%.
Fun fact: spotting wildlife, such as deer along our path, enhances our connection to nature. Research suggests that seeing wildlife can release dopamine, the feel-good hormone, in the brain, which can improve mood and increase feelings of relaxation. No wonder we felt so uplifted after today’s walk!
The Social Scene at Cedar Creek Lake on the Meetup app!
Find our Wellness Walks on the Meetup app!
If you’re looking to meet new people and enjoy everything Cedar Creek Lake has to offer, come join The Social Scene at Cedar Creek Lake on the Meetup app!
Our group is all about bringing people together through fun and diverse social activities. We explore local events,, discover the newest restaurants and venues with live music, unwind at cozy coffee shops, and enjoy the beauty of our local parks with Wellness Walks.
Don’t miss out on the fun—check out our walking schedule and other events on Meetup, and join us for our next adventure! Let’s build community, enjoy nature, and make new friends along the way.
FAQ’s
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Meetup is an online platform that helps people connect with others who share similar interests by organizing local events and activities. It enables users to join groups based on their hobbies, professions, or passions and attend events ranging from casual social gatherings to professional networking sessions.
Meetup is widely used to build communities, whether it's for hiking, tech meetups, fitness groups, book clubs, or any other interest.
It's available globally and is popular for connecting people both locally and when traveling to new areas.
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While meet-up events might be new to our area, they are familiar to visitors from larger cities.
Meetup has over 57 million members worldwide and there are over 330,000 groups on the platform, covering a wide range of interests.
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Joining Meetup and browsing groups is free. Some group organizers may charge for certain events or require membership fees for their groups, but this varies.
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After signing up, you can browse events by category, location, or specific keywords. Meetup will also suggest events and groups based on your interests.
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Yes, you can join as many groups as you like. There's no limit to the number of groups you can be a part of.
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Once you've joined a group, browse their upcoming events. Click on the event you wish to attend and select "RSVP." If the event has limited spots, RSVP early to ensure your place.
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Yes, it's considered courteous to cancel your RSVP if you can no longer attend an event. Here's why:
Helps Organizers: Canceling your RSVP allows the event organizers to plan accordingly. Some events have limited space or require preparations based on the number of attendees.
Opens Spots for Others: If the event has limited capacity, canceling your RSVP frees up your spot for someone else who may want to attend.
Maintains Good Etiquette: Regularly RSVPing and not showing up without canceling can affect your reputation within the Meetup community, and some groups may track attendance for future events.
To cancel, simply go to the event page on Meetup and click the "Cancel RSVP" option.
