In this episode Rich Hurst speaks with Julia Neal, former CEO of Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Huw Griffiths, former Strategic Lead for Active and Healthy Ageing at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire. They share their experiences in working within projects to support healthy ageing, plus the importance of creating accessible projects, using positive imagery and language. By promoting movement physical activity into adult life, starting as soon as you are able to support
conditioning as a preventative measure in
frailty , preventing falls and to aid recovery rates.
Since recording this podcast Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire have sadly ceased operating, so some of the local projects mentioned may have now changed to other providers, or they may no longer be available. There are still other Age UK charities operating projects across the region, which are highlighted in the links below.
If anyone wishes to learn more about the themes shared in the podcast, please contact Lorea Sarobe Director of Physical Activity and Wellbeing at
l.sarobe@worc.ac.uk
Links related to this episode:
We are providing some information relating to some of the projects, support centres and activities mentioned within the podcast. It is recommended that you check that the activities are still valid prior to attending.
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire | Healthy Ageing
Activity Finder - Active Herefordshire & Worcestershire (activehw.co.uk)
Find Walking Sports Activities in your location
Age UK Worcester, Malvern Hills & Hereford Localities
Age UK | Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest Localities
Age UK | National Support and Services
common challenges and bestpractices intended for
(00:26):
professionals, communities andindividuals involved in tackling
and sustaining change in thehealth voluntary and community
sectors, with a particularemphasis on how physical
activity and movement cancontribute to prevention and
recovery. With these podcasts,we're aiming to support you, if
(00:48):
you're dealing with similarchallenges, and draw upon the
knowledge of expertise we've gotfrom strategic projects right
through to grassroots projectsall across the two counties of
periphonshire andWorcestershire, our podcasts
will cover everything fromcommunity engagement, social
prescribing, positive aging,flood defenses, physical
activity, clinical champions,funding, integrated care systems
(01:12):
and vcse partnership, workingplus girls engagement in sport.
We release a new episode everymonth, so make sure you
subscribe to be notified when anew one's out. And if you could
take time to review the podcast,we'd really appreciate it. So
let's get on with today'sepisode. In this episode, we're
talking about designing movementinto the lives of the aging
(01:35):
population, and we're joined byJulia Neal, former CEO of Age
UK, Herefordshire andWorcestershire and Hugh
Griffiths, former strategic leadfor active and healthy aging at
active Herefordshire andWorcestershire, they share their
experiences in working withinprojects to support healthy
aging, plus the importance ofcreating accessible projects
(01:58):
using positive imagery andlanguage. Sadly, since recording
Age UK, Herefordshire andWorcestershire have ceased
operating, but the knowledge andexperience both have to share in
what they've been successfullydoing across the two counties is
highly valuable, mainly theirwork in promoting movement and
physical activity into adultlife, starting as soon as you're
(02:22):
able to support conditioning asa preventative measure in
frailty and false alter arecovery rate. There are plenty
of links to the work theyreference and sites with health
information in the show notes ofthis episode, so make sure you
take a look there to start aconversation. I got both of them
to explain what getting peopleactive meant to each of them,
(02:42):
starting with Julia. Julia,first question to you, then, how
does what you do play a part ingetting people active?
Julia Neal (02:50):
So I think that's
about the range of opportunities
that we offer. Because for somepeople, they're not active
because they're not physicallyable to be active, or they don't
realize how important it is, orthey have just lost confidence
in going out. So if you canoffer a range of activities
that's anything from our walkingfootball, which actually is not
(03:13):
always about walking, it can bevery competitive, through to
some of our befriendingactivities, where we encourage
people who are having a phonecall once a week because they're
lonely, haven't been out for along time, and we can then
develop that so that the personwho phones them that actually
(03:34):
turns into an activity wherethey actually meet up and go for
a walk together. And we've gotsome really good examples of
people who haven't been outstill, people have lost
confidence since covid. But ifthey have the support of
someone, they go out together.It doesn't necessarily feel like
they are doing exercise. Itfeels like that they're having
(03:57):
taking part in social activity.So So supporting them with the
confidence to do that, I think,is, you know, goes a long way
towards encouraging people to bemore active.
Rich Hurst (04:09):
Um, and Hugh, what
about you? What? What? What does
what you do play a part? Howdoes what you do play a part in
in getting people active?
Huw Griffiths (04:16):
Yeah, so I think
it differs on on a number of
different levels. So from a kindof a universal point of view.
We, you know, we make thingslike resources and links to how
people can be active more widelyaccessible, so via our website
and so on, you know, we, we tryand connect up with campaigns
like we are undefeatable and andthose sort of things. So people
when, obviously, we raiseawareness of those. So people
(04:39):
are aware they exist. But thenwe make it accessible in terms
of how we can direct people tothose sorts of resources and
other things that they can theycan actively use, as well as
that, though, and we work reallyclosely with with a number of
partners across both of thecounties to look at how we can
support and guide them inembedding physical activity and
what they do day to day. And.Um, and I think the emphasis
(05:01):
being on support, rather thantell people how to do it.
Physical activity is, is avariance of things, and it's
there's a number of things youcan do for people to fit that
in. I think it's understanding,as Julia said, how that fits
into individual people's lives,and us be able to support and
guide in terms of the types ofapproaches and sort of
strategies that they can usearound doing that. Okay,
Rich Hurst (05:24):
Julie, can you just
give us an idea of the challenge
that faces you? Then, withgetting older people active,
maybe the scale of thechallenge,
Julia Neal (05:34):
I think part of the
trouble is helping people in a
way that suits them. So for somepeople, you know, having the
opportunity to take part in agame before walking football is
just what they want. For somepeople, it might be that they
want to take part in gardening,and we can support them with our
(05:55):
allotment work. For others, it'sabout taking part in a walking
group. So for us, the challengeis about being able to provide
the range of activities thatthat people want, so that the
choice is more personal to them,because there's nothing worse
than being told you've got toexercise it want. It needs to be
something that appeals to themand they can work into their
(06:17):
everyday lives. And I think alsothere's sort of operational
challenges around peopleactually getting to where we're
doing the activities. So it'sabout taking things to people,
but herrnfordshire andWorcester, big counties, so
actually reaching people is alsoa challenge. We have a walking
group that leaves ourheadquarters at Malvern gate,
(06:41):
and there's a gentleman whocomes to that and he has to
catch two busses to come, andthe busses get to us half an
hour before the walking groupstarts. But he religiously comes
every week. He's in his 80s, andhe has a stick, but that walking
group to him is hugelyimportant, and I wish we could
do something to make it moreaccessible to him. But then, I
(07:04):
guess part of part of actually,his routine is, is catching
those two busses and and that'simportant to him. So I think,
yeah, in a nutshell, it'sproviding in a variety that you
can appeal to all people forwhat they want.
Rich Hurst (07:20):
Huw, how much of
what you do is, is kind of
fighting that accessibilitychallenge and making things work
around those kind of logisticsthat Julia mentioned.
Huw Griffiths (07:29):
Yeah, it's a big
challenge, and it's something
that we it's one of thechallenges that certainly we try
and work around. And, you know,I think with that as well, it's,
it's support, it's working withdifferent it's working with
different organizations orpeople, whether to look at the
language and those sorts ofthings. So, you know, like
Julius said, you know, it's, howdo you fit that into into a
(07:52):
daily routine? And maybe as aone off, it might be able to do,
but how then do you make ithabitual? And that, I think
that's the big challenge is, isturning the change of an action
into something that's habitual,and it can be difficult,
especially if, especially if thepeople we're trying to try to
engage with, or what we'retrying to influence is,
obviously, is those that areprimarily are those that are
(08:14):
currently inactive. You'retrying to undo a number of years
worth of habits which isn't ableto be to happen quite quickly.
And I think again, somethingJulia kind of touched upon is
it's getting to know thatindividual and being able to
offer something and support inthat individual circumstance. So
(08:34):
someone who doesn't do anyphysical activity ask them then
to do 150 minutes of physicalactivity a week is a really big
jump. It's, How can we make thatzero minutes into 10 minutes?
How can we make that 10 minutesinto 15 minutes and then and try
and get that snowball effect? Ithink the other thing,
obviously, that we're reallyconscious of, and it's
something, again, somethingwe're really conscious of, is
(08:57):
that actually people's pastexperiences of being physically,
physically active, or theexperience of PE sport, whatever
it is is, you know, is alsogoing to play a big role in in
what they want to do. And goingback to what I said about
language, I think it'sseparating physical activity,
Exercise and Sport. For somepeople, sport, like a walk in
(09:18):
sport, or whatever is, issomething that's that's really
going to connect with them, forothers, it might instigate a
negative experience. So it's,how do we use those different
languages to or different terms,sorry, to to kind of still be
able to connect with people andraise the importance that being
physically active has on on ahealthy lifestyle?
Rich Hurst (09:39):
And Julia, how key,
what other elements of research
have gone into getting you towhere the point you are now and
you're able to get thatengagement?
Julia Neal (09:48):
I think, I mean,
there is plenty of research and
evidence out there, but I alsothink that your personal
experience is really important.My early. Background is nursing,
and I spent several yearsworking for the British Heart
Foundation, visiting peoplewho'd had a heart attack in
(10:09):
their own home. And they wereexpecting me to go and talk to
them about all the things thatthey should, should and
shouldn't do, and they'd alreadyhad conversations in hospital
about what they should andshouldn't do. And I realized
really quickly that a startingpoint of, well, what's your
current life like? What do youenjoy doing? What a lot of
(10:31):
people who live, particularly inthe rural areas of Herefordshire
and Worcestershire, really enjoygardening. So actually, they may
not walk six miles a week, butthey might spend two or three
hours a week in their garden, intheir garden. So how can you
look at what they're doing intheir garden and think about,
how can you build in some moreactivity to that or actually
(10:51):
sort of get sometimes it's aboutgiving people permission that
that exercise is they'reachieving just as much as
someone who's spending time in agym, and it's about helping them
to understand that, I think,
Rich Hurst (11:06):
is that a lot of
breaking down, I suppose,
preconceptions Absolutely, yes,yeah. And is that, would you say
that's the biggest
Julia Neal (11:14):
I think, certainly
in in that role, it was, I think
the biggest challenge we havenow, for me is in the role that
I have is, is about helpingstaff and volunteers to to
realize how they can incorporateactivity into the into what
they're doing. So everythingfrom our dementia gro ups,
(11:38):
dementia meeting centers, rightthrough to some of our other
social groups, is about if theyunderstand the importance of
exercise and the evidence behindit, and how we can really
support healthy aging, then theywill naturally build it into
(11:59):
their the work that they'redoing. So I suppose it's about
influencing in that way that'simportant to me.
Rich Hurst (12:07):
Huw are there any
other particular initiatives
that have been popular, maybemore popular than you thought,
or ones that are still in thoseearly stages that need a bit
more work?
Huw Griffiths (12:20):
Obviously, in
terms of the work we do, we we
delivered a program calledstrong and steady. You know,
strength and balance is reallyimportant in terms of and as we
get older and maintaining ourstrength and as we get older.
And that was, that wassuccessful. That's come to come
(12:40):
to a kind of, sort of a closenow, but there are, I think,
where there's this space around,or where there seems to be a
growing space at the moment,around active aging is, is
around tackling things likefrailty. What's really good is
to see more primary preventiondiscussions that are going on,
and how we can actually start toprevent this by embedded
(13:05):
physical activity as part of ahealth and putting it was a
vital part of leading a healthy,healthy lifestyle. So actually,
people that are 40 and 50 now,so today's 40 and 50 year olds
who are tomorrow's 6070, yearolds, actually, they don't find
themselves in that position.Because I think some of the
challenges when you're one ofthe it's difficult to pin down
(13:26):
to a particular a particularchallenge. But you know, one of
the challenges, I guess, iscapacity and and strain and
stress on certain parts of ofthe system, and how you how
you're able to have the mindspace and the confidence,
whatever, to build into that. SoI think it's refreshing to see
that a lot of discussions noware talking about that primary
(13:48):
prevention, how do or and evensecondary prevention? How do we
stop people getting to the worstcase scenarios where, perhaps
Historically, most of theattention has been has been
focused on
Rich Hurst (14:00):
Julie, you just
nodding there. And I wonder if
there was a point you were goingto make at some point around
resources only, only because itcast my mind back to that idea
where you were saying being ableto individually speak to someone
about their habits and how youwork something into there, it
means it needs a lot of peoplebe able to have a lot of
individual conversations with people, doesn't it?
Julia Neal (14:21):
It does but I part
of the reason why I was nodding
was the just thinking about howhealth and social care has is
coming together, since theintegrated care system has, has
sort of come into place. And forme, this is something we're only
going to achieve by workingtogether, and I think just
(14:41):
looking back over the last 12months and how much different
partners have come together tolook at how we've tackled things
like frailty and prevention, andhow people have a better
understanding now of the rolethat can be played. And. From my
perspective, the role that canbe played by the voluntary
(15:02):
sector is really important, andthere's a lot of work going on.
It's, I think it's aboutunderstanding what that work is
and how we can perhaps getpeople to think a little bit
more about how you can just upthe ante a little bit with what
people are doing, and helpingthem understand how much they
(15:23):
can influence because it is ahuge challenge, and everybody
has to play their part in tryingto tackle that challenge.
Rich Hurst (15:33):
Okay, we'll get you
back to this episode of the
active best practice networkshortly, but first a nod to a
previous episode that is worthcatching up with if you're
interested in partnershipssolving hypertension. Our guests
were from the health andwellbeing team from tenbury
surgery in tenbury wells inWorcestershire, and we heard
(15:53):
Casey and Jen share theircollective experiences about the
power of partnerships theirhypertension. Group's been
running for over 12 months, withthree cohorts progressing
through the six week lifestyleintervention that has now become
a core service offered in theirlocality. Here's Casey on
creating the right environmentfor allowing people to learn
(16:14):
about hypertension. What
Casey (16:16):
I wanted to do was create
an environment that people felt
comfortable in to be able tolearn, because having an invite
from a GP surgery feels, I thinkpeople felt they should come
because the GP had invited them,which is great. I'm very
privileged to be able to offersomebody that and to get the buy
in. So we had great, greatuptake, great buy in. But for
(16:37):
me, you're not going to learn.If you're stressed, you need to
feel happy, you need to feelcomfortable. You need to build
those relationships with yourpeers. So me and Jen, we wanted
to make it fun. We wanted tomake it interesting. We wanted
to every different learningstyle we had. We had, you know,
kinesthetic learning. So theygot to take their own blood
pressures and the GP would checkthey were doing it right. We got
people to get up and about anddo a mindful walk, you know. So
(17:00):
it was all about building in theexperience for them, to enable
them to take on that informationthat Jen spoke about in in a way
that was appropriate to
Rich Hurst (17:09):
Both Casey and Jen
shared some great lessons
they've learned on successfuldelivery to the area, which is
now being rolled out elsewhere.So get back to that last episode
and enjoy the knowledge thatthey shared with us, and
remember for that and all theother podcasts that are part of
the series, make sure you'resubscribed and get a new episode
(17:29):
every month. Okay, let's getback to this episode of the
active best practice networkwith Hugh and Julia. Hugh, what
would you say is your biggestchallenge in your particular a rea?
Huw Griffiths (17:41):
I think, I think
it is, and I agree that there's,
increasingly, there's more andmore partnership work that's
happening. I think the biggestchallenge is actually turning
some of that discussion intobigger action. I think there are
a lot of, you know, we talk alot about collaborations and so
on, and I think it's, how do youtake that collaboration and move
(18:03):
it on to the to the next piece?So yes, we're working together,
but how do you how do we startto connect everyone to each
other, as opposed to peoplebeing connected via one or two
kind of central organizations?How do we get that conversation
going at a time where perhapswe're not involved in it. And I
mean that from a sense of notthat we're not seen as
(18:23):
important. But how do we make,how do we get to a point where
we've done so much partnership,work with with different
organizations, stakeholders andso on, that actually, that's a
natural conversation that'shappening. So happening. So when
there is plans and action plansbeing put in place, that
physical activity is a coreelement of all of that, and it's
(18:45):
acknowledged as one of the keypillars for how, for how you
know outcomes and desiredoutcomes can can be met.
Rich Hurst (18:54):
Does that just mean
it is a case of time just
constantly with the messagingyou're continuing with and just
letting that in bed? Or arethere any other barriers that
are stopping that happeningquickly?
Huw Griffiths (19:03):
I think, yeah, it
does take time. I think, as I
said before, kind of theposition I guess we're in
nationally, around around thisis, is maybe 3040, years in the
making. You're not going toovercome that in 12 months worth
of work. But I think thatactually that's that first step
needs to happen, and then itneeds to snowball. So, you know,
(19:26):
yes, it will take time. I think,I think perhaps one of the, one
of the barriers we see tocertain elements. And again, I
think some of the challenges aredifferent depending on what part
of the system we're talkingabout. I think people are I
think some people have someareas, sorry, not people, but
some areas have just not surewhether they're confident enough
about having that conversationwith physical activity, about
(19:50):
that perhaps they don't need toknow they don't know enough. Or,
you know, they're not a personaltrainer. So how can they advise?
Actually, it's the simplest.It's the simplest of things that
actually can be you. Even justraising the conversation, asking
people, how much activity do youdo? And start to bring that to
the fore of people's of people'sminds, the behavior change model
(20:10):
kind of is largely used now thatthat Combi model is capability,
opportunity, motivation, andthat should equate to, and
hopefully that will equate to,to a behavior change with
programs and projects, thingsthat like age, UK, heritage and
Worcestershire do theopportunities are there? It's
starting to show people, orstarting to instigate with
people that actually and startto bring into their psyche that
(20:34):
they are capable of doing it,and that those that level of
capability might be different,but your starting point is
capable. And how do we get youto an even higher level of
capability? And from that, thenthat should come the motivation.
There's opportunities across theboard. Being active does mean
you have to pay. Does mean youhave to have you know the most
(20:54):
up to date, high tech equipmentand so on. It can be as simple
as opening your door, taking astep out and walking for 10
minutes every day.
Rich Hurst (21:01):
Julia, I'm going to
bring you in again as well on
those ideas of the sort of thechallenges and barriers beyond
just time.
Julia Neal (21:11):
Yeah. And I think a
lot of the barriers are actually
especially for older people. Arearound. There are a lot of
stereotypes around, aren'tthere? And you know what this
sort of stereotype aroundexercise is that it's something
you have to do in a gym, and itit's not necessarily something
that you incorporate into youreveryday life. So I certainly
(21:35):
think that is is a challenge andbut also, we're seeing a lot of
people, it's confidence. They'reanxious about falling they're
anxious about going out, they'reanxious about getting to where
they might need to go to takepart in an activity. So I think
for us, it's about understandingwhat the barriers are to people
(21:58):
as individuals, so that we canhelp them as individuals. But
then that comes back to what wewere saying about the sort of
time and you know, resourceneeded to be able to do that,
which it isn't something that'seasily overcome. But I do think
that the aware there is betterawareness there, especially if
(22:22):
you talk to you know, it'sreally lovely seeing how much
younger people and childrenreally understand the value of
exercise. And I think we'll, Ihope that we'll see a very
different older population inthe future?
Huw Griffiths (22:42):
Yeah, I think,
you know, like more variety. I
think we're definitely startingto see more variety around I
would like to see moreAbsolutely. And I think it's
breaking we're making some movesin terms of breaking down those
stereotypes. I think again,there's an acknowledgement
around the importance, certainlyaround strength and balance, so
(23:05):
around kind of reconditioning orreducing deconditioning. That's
a topic that is increasinglybecoming, becoming bigger.
Because obviously people talkabout all these talk about being
active, in terms of whetherthat's walking or light activity
and so on. But as we get older,if we don't maintain levels of
strength, or do activity,certain level of activity that
(23:28):
the challenges are strength, andthen we start to lose that, and
there are then long term health,what's the opposite benefit,
deteriorations that that comefrom that? So obviously, if, if
we're not, if we're not strong,if we start as we become frail
and more likely to to toexperience falls, we're more
likely to experience injuriesfrom those but, and also we have
(23:50):
those if, if somebody has afall, or they're frail and have
a fall, or they have time inhospital and so on, actually,
that deconditioning rateincreases rapidly. So you know,
for somebody who's sort of 70plus, they can lose about three
to 5% of muscle mass seven daysof bed rest. So it's, you know,
(24:13):
and that could be equated to adecade's worth. Now, for
somebody who's younger, who's intheir 30s, or, you know, in
their 40s and so on that they'reable to get that back.
Unfortunately, if, if thatdeconditioning event means that
their frailty level drops, ortheir strength level drops to a
point where now they'redependent, they've lost their
independence, that becomes verydifficult to get back. So it's
(24:35):
really important that we'repushing that, and that's that's
a message that we're gettingacross.
Rich Hurst (24:40):
Okay, so Julia,
let's come around to this idea
of some tips and some takeawaysfrom everyone listening. I
suppose their key interest hereis about engaging with the aging
population and then and thengetting them active. So what
would you say? So
Julia Neal (24:53):
my top tip would be
to band stereotypes, whether
that's in the conversations thatyou're having or. The imagery
that you're using, because underthe other top tip, age is just a
number. So, you know, thinkcreatively, and think about the
person that that's in front ofyou or the person that you want
to be in front of you. Yeah? Sothat yeah, the stereotype thing
(25:18):
is something that I think it'sreally important.
Rich Hurst (25:20):
Yeah, I can tell
every time, every time we just
come out to that stereotype,they knows that there's that
look about it that says, Yes,this is our thing. This is
where, this is where thechallenge lies. Huw, what about
you? What What tips would you offer?
Huw Griffiths (25:33):
So I've mentioned
it a few times. I think
language, the language we use,is really important. We're so
influenced by, whether it'sconsciously or subconsciously,
by by the language that we hearand that we use. And I think,
you know, I think if we uselanguage where, even in a jovial
sense, where it's, I know I'mgetting older, or I can't do
(25:54):
that, you know, because I'mbecause I'm getting older and so
on, that interpretation thatjust because that numbers one
bigger every year means thatwe're less able to do things,
you know. And that's that's acomplete myth. So I think
looking at that, taking a muchmore positive spin on on the
language we use to empowerpeople as they get older, that
(26:18):
they can still do a whole host,a whole host of things, you
know, it there's, there is,there's reams of research and
evidence that shows that peoplewho are more positive have a
more positive approach to aging,are far more likely, one to be
active and two to lead, to leada healthier lifestyle, and so
have a bigger life health, lifeexpectancy, you know, and the
(26:42):
key here is maybe notnecessarily adding years to a
life. It's adding healthy yearsto a life. So I think the
language we use that is isreally important, and that takes
a lot of work and challenge,because we're used to using
certain terms and certainlanguage. And I think we we
should make a really big,focused effort to change how we
(27:04):
do that, if we really want toempower people to be more active
and have a more positiveapproach in terms of what, what
their future golden years. Wecall them the golden years. So
how do we make them golden?
Rich Hurst (27:17):
What does that look
like? Out of interest, I'm
thinking almost, physically. Youknow, with regards to changing language,
Julia Neal (27:25):
I think it's, it's,
it's about being much more
conscious about what we say, andunderstanding that people might
take things in in differentways. And I'm going to think
Hugh's right there, often whatwe say is the sort of throw
away, when you really dissectwhat you're saying, that that's
(27:46):
the sort of thing that can bequite harmful. And just because
it's said in a joking waydoesn't mean it doesn't impact
on people.
Rich Hurst (27:55):
And Huw just for
people who are starting from
absolute scratch. I mean, Juliementioned a few of the
activities. You know, even if itis just walking football, which
you say, and we know fromtalking to other other people
involved in sport in the twocounties, it's never just
walking, it's always verycompetitive. We know it gets
away. But can you just almostreel off a list of different
activities that you know about,that that people could start
(28:16):
thinking about using for helpingthe aging population get active?
Huw Griffiths (28:19):
Yeah so there's,
there's the obvious ones that if
see there's walking, there'syoga, there's Pilates, there's,
there's, there's a range ofwalking sports. So Julie's
mentioned walking football iswalking basketball, there's
walking around us, there'swalking netball, there's walking
rugby, there's walking cricket,walking hockey, and I'm pretty
walking tennis. So I'm prettycertain I've missed, I've missed
(28:42):
a few along the way as well, youknow, but it doesn't I think for
me, I think the important thingis to get active. Find something
that's fun, that you're gonnaenjoy. If it's fun and you
enjoy, you keep going back, youknow, something that's ideally
sociable, sociable, you know, asa social element to it. You
know, I think the activitysometimes can be secondary to
(29:04):
the other, to the other things.So, but I think it's, it's doing
things that are being physicallyactive is moving. It's not
sport. Sport is one way of beingactive, but it's not the only
way. So I think it's, it'ssomething that gets you moving,
something that gets your heartrate up, something that makes
you breathe a little quicker.But my biggest thing would be
(29:25):
make sure it's fun. Because ifit's fun, you're going to want
to keep going back to it. If youwant to, if you want to keep
going back to it, it then startsto become a habit. As it starts
to become a habit, you startdoing it without really
realizing and then it becomes aset part of your lifestyle. And
and that's what, that's what,that's what we want to, that's
(29:46):
what we want to try and getacross set is also in terms of
expectations and set the bar andso on. So talking about, sorry,
talking about stereotypes andimaging and so on. You know, I
previously put in a Googlesearch older adults exercise and
yoga, Pilates and whatever cameup. Yeah, there was no CrossFit,
there was no strengthactivities, there was no, you
(30:07):
know, activities that you wouldprobably stereotypically
associate with youngerpopulations. Actually, they are
equally as there are people inmy running club who are 70 years
old who can do a marathon inunder three and a half hours. It
is absolutely possible. And doyou know what? If you find
something you enjoy, findsomething that challenges, you
(30:27):
then go and do it, despite thefact that it might not be a
stereotypical activity. Let'sstart breaking the stereotype,
because the more people start todo things that we deem to be the
norm, start breaking that anddoing those things, that's when,
across the board, it starts tobecome different.
Rich Hurst (30:46):
So thanks to Hugh
and Julia. Hope you've enjoyed
the chat and found theirexamples useful and can benefit
from some of their takeaways.There are plenty of links to the
work they do and sites withhelpful information in the show
notes, so make sure you take alook there and to find out more
about what active Herefordshireand Worcestershire do, go to
their website, which is activehw.co.uk, there's new episode of
(31:09):
this podcast every month, somake sure you subscribe and keep
an eye on active Herefordshireand Worcestershire's social
channel for more details. Thanksagain for listening, and we look
forward to welcoming you backinto the active best practice
network again very soon you.