Walking for Fitness, Pleasure and Health

A complete guide for women of all ages

By Helen Vause. foreword by Dame Susan Devoy

Millions of women worldwide are discovering the joy of walking and its wide range of health, fitness and social benefits.

Now a book has been written specifically for New Zealand women, featuring case studies from Northland, Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Thames/Coromandel and Tauranga. 

Walking for Fitness, Pleasure and Health (rrp $29.99, 8 October release) tells the personal stories of women who love to walk. They might be all ages, shapes and sizes but they share a common determination, whether their goal is a half marathon, a significant weight loss or a commitment to a lifestyle change.

Written by long-time walker Helen Vause, with a foreword by the co-founder of walking group Wonder Walkers Dame Susan Devoy, this is the walker’s ultimate guide. Containing chapters on how to start walking, clothing and equipment, motivation, weight loss, nutrition, walking with children, pedometers, event training, and much more, there is something for everyone at all levels of walking expertise.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a race walker, an avid tramper, a dog walker or a dogged mall walker.  When people ask if you exercise, you should no longer feel embarrassed to say ‘I only walk’.  Walking is now recognised throughout the world as a valid, valuable and highly effective form of exercise.

Helen Vause is an experienced journalist and communications consultant. Her book Walking Auckland was a best-seller, and she is also co-author of Working from Home.

Dame Susan Devoy was World Open squash champion four times, and British Open champion eight times in a glittering career during the 1980s and 90s. Since her retirement, she has been raising four sons and is also engaged in sports administration. 

Exisle Publishing - Publication date -  Monday 8 October 2012;  RRP $29.99

Footnote:

Librarian featured in the book:

Emma is a librarian in Tairua, a young mother and 'pram-walker', quite well known in the Coromandel community in distance walking events.  In the book, she talks about how pram-walking was a lifesaver for her.  In 2000, suffering from post natal depression, with a colicky baby who screamed all the time, she says 'in desperation I began to go out walking him in his pram every day.  I was exhausted and every step was excruciating and tiresome.. my baby boy screamed with my every step.  But then, after a while there would be silence.  The motion soothed him, and he settled to a long, deep sleep.  I began to sense the warmth of the sun on my skin, and the rhythm of movement.  It felt good!'

Emma talks about how she saw an advert in a local newspaper for walking with a group, as the council had initiated neighbourhood pram-walkers groups. She joined, and the group shaped a new chapter in her life as a mother.