Time to move your feet with Walk Georgia

Whether you are currently physically active or, like myself, are trying to become more active, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Program has just the program to get you moving and stay motivated.

Through Walk Georgia, we at the Bibb County Extension office invite you to spend 10 weeks increasing your physical activity level in a fun, community-oriented way. The goal is to be active -- whether you’re walking, biking or dancing.

We hope that participants from past sessions will join us for the fall session, which begins Sept. 15, and new participants will start being active if they aren’t already. The goal is to continue to maintain physical activity when the 10-week period ends. We hope the program will be a lifestyle change that will ultimately improve your quality of life.

Walk Georgia is an online program where you can log your exercise. Thirty minutes doing laundry counts, as well aerobics class during your lunch break, and so does a walk with your dog or a pick-up game of basketball at the Wellness Center.

Using a dropdown menu that includes more than 70 physical activity options, you can record your daily movement and exercise -- no pedometer needed.

Walk Georgia is a statewide program, so someone here in Middle Georgia could challenge his or her cousin in Canton or brother in Savannah to a Walk Georgia contest. Local participants also will be in competition with one another.

From Sept. 15-Nov. 24, the Bibb County Extension office will track participants’ progress. A mid-point incentive will be given to participants who qualify and a recognition ceremony is scheduled for December.

Prizes will be given to top walkers for groups, individuals and organizations. Create a group through the program, set mutual goals and get moving!

Further, the program works well in schools, facilitating competition between classes and instilling lifelong, healthy habits in children. Walk Georgia can also be used in the workplace as part of a worksite wellness program.

Registration for Walk Georgia is free and easy, visit www.WalkGeorgia.org to get started.

For more fun and fitness, Walk Georgia will partner with the Wellness Center for a Zumba class at 3 p.m. Oct. 18 and a yoga class at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 7. Please join us!

For more information about Walk Georgia, contact me by calling 478-751-6338 or email thomaskj@uga.edu.

Keishon J. Thomas is an agent at the Bibb County Extension office. Contact her at 478-751-6338 or thomaskj@uga.edu.

This story was originally published September 6, 2015 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Time to move your feet with Walk Georgia ."