Friends hope to tackle mental and physical health problems in Pontefract with walks for wellness

Two friends have organised ‘walk yourself well’ events to take place in the new year around the district to give people a mental and physical outlet after a tough year in lockdown.
Two friends have organised ‘walk yourself well’ events to take place in the new yearTwo friends have organised ‘walk yourself well’ events to take place in the new year
Two friends have organised ‘walk yourself well’ events to take place in the new year

Keilly Parker, a mental health social worker and life coach from Pontefract, and Dave Stones, a Castleford based hypnotherapist, started working together to generate new ideas on how to help their clients mental and physical well being.

The pair discussed hosting ‘walk yourself well’ before lockdown began, to get people out in nature and meet other people.

But when the pandemic hit, the walks had to be postponed.

Dave Stones pictured with a clientDave Stones pictured with a client
Dave Stones pictured with a client
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Dave, of Equilibrium Yorkshire, said: “The purpose of the walks is all about getting out and about to aid those struggling with health problems, mental and physical. Often tasks like getting out of bed and going for a walk is such a big achievement for some people.

“Hopefully we’ll be giving people the chance to meet others, growing their relationships and giving them the chance to talk to and work through things together.

“It has the potential to help a lot of people, so if we can get a bit of a community group together where we can trust each other and make new friends, we hope to help get people through even half of the battle.”

One main goal of the project is to help improve mental and physical health within the district, creating a safe space for people to walk and talk to each other to tackle personal problems.

“Once our bodies feel pain, they tell us we have to stop moving, but being out and active in nature goes hand in hand with your well being"“Once our bodies feel pain, they tell us we have to stop moving, but being out and active in nature goes hand in hand with your well being"
“Once our bodies feel pain, they tell us we have to stop moving, but being out and active in nature goes hand in hand with your well being"
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Both Keilly and Dave say that they recognise different distances will suit different people, so they are planning to host various walks of different distances to suit all abilities.

The walks will be held fortnightly and will adhere to government Covid-19 guidelines.

Keilly, founder of Be True To You life coaching in Pontefract, said: “As someone who suffers with chronic pain from my condition, Fibromyalgia, I understand the importance of keeping moving, even when your physical illness is flaring up.

“Once our bodies feel pain, they tell us we have to stop moving, but being out and active in nature goes hand in hand with your well being.

Honey, Keilly’s therapy dog in training, will be joining attendees on their mission to walk for wellnessHoney, Keilly’s therapy dog in training, will be joining attendees on their mission to walk for wellness
Honey, Keilly’s therapy dog in training, will be joining attendees on their mission to walk for wellness
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“These walks are also about reducing social isolation, both physically and mentally with the situation we’ve been faced with in the pandemic.

“The walks will hopefully open people up to the beauty around them and highlight looking at all the aspects of nature, like different types of trees and looking at the sky, as people tend to usually look at the floor.

Nature is free and during such a difficult time, it’s important that we appreciate the positives, while having a chat with other walkers.”

The pair will begin leading the groups on local walking routes, like the Valley Gardens and Brockadale Woods in Pontefract, and Newmillerdam in Wakefield.

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Honey, Keilly’s therapy dog in training, will be joining attendees on their mission to walk for wellness.

The first walk will take place on Saturday, January 9, for more updates see Walk yourself well on Facebook