Active Living – Your way everyday – for life! 58% of Yukoners reported being active to moderately active (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2003) Currently over half of the Yukon population faces unnecessary health risks due to inactive lifestyles. This means that children and youth are not getting enough activity for optimal growth and development and adults face unnecessary risks of premature death and chronic disease. The high numbers of inactive people pose a considerable public health burden both in terms of increased individual suffering and stress on the health care system. Active living is an inclusive way of looking at physical activity and allows all people to work towards improving their health at their own pace. ACTIVE LIVING is a way of life in which physical activity is valued and integrated into your daily life! The benefits of being active everyday are endless and include: Better overall health Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke Healthy weight management Increased relaxation and positive moods Stronger muscles and bones Better posture and balance Increased energy levels Decreased stress Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living recommends moderate physical activity every day to maintain or improve your health. Add up your activities during the day in periods of at least 10 minutes each! Start slowly and build up! You do not have to have a lot of money to be physically active, choose activities you like to do. Frequent bouts of moderate activity such as brisk walking, household chores, gardening and recreational sports can be as effective as vigorous exercise. Choose a variety of activities from these three groups: Endurance (Activities for your heart, lungs and circulatory system) - walking, gardening, cycling, skating, dancing Flexibility (Activities to keep your muscles relaxed and joints mobile) - tai chi, yoga, curling, bowling, housework Strength (Activities to strengthen muscles and bones) – Heavy yard work, carrying groceries, climbing stairs, wearing a backpack, shoveling snow Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines http://www.csep.ca/english/view.asp?x=804 Being Active is Easier than you Think! Walk the dog more often Take up gardening Pick berries Start your day with 10 minutes of movement indoors or outdoors Do regular shoulder rolls and neck stretches at your desk, take a stretch break Have a ‘walking meeting’ at work instead of sitting at the office Take the stairs Take a walkie break instead of a coffee break Try a new activity: snowshoe, curl, hike, dance, fish, hunt, camp, ski or in-line skate Join a club or recreational activity Get a yoga or fitness DVD from the library Go dancing or walking with your friends Bike to work and save money on gas Park your car 10 minutes from work and walk the rest of the way Get off the bus two stops early Try out one of the traditional games Participate in fish camp In 1998 Canadian governments made a commitment to decrease the level of physical inactivity among Canadians by a minimum of 10 per cent by the year 2003. In response to this goal, the Yukon Territorial Government and RPAY developed the Yukon Active Living Strategy in March 2000. The strategy provides direction to government and RPAY to encourage Yukon people to adopt or return to more physically active lifestyles. You can view a PDF version here. The Yukon Active Living Program is divided into four categories or themes which include: Active Yukon Communities, Active Yukon Lifestyles, Active Yukon Schools and Active Yukon Workplaces. Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years) Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (French) Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years (French) CSEP Info Sheets - Infants Insert CSEP Info Sheets - Infants Insert (French)

Mailing Address: 4061 - 4th Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 1H1
Office Location: 509 Hanson Street, Whitehorse, Yukon
Phone: 867.668.3010 Fax: 867.668.2455 Email: rpay@klondiker.com