KarunaNews Story

Part workout regimen, part social club, walking groups combine two wellness truisms: Walking is good for you and so is spending time with others. Some of these groups in the UK date back to 1905; newer descendants have taken hold in cities around the globe like San Francisco, New York and Montreal. These groups became more popular, and perhaps more important, in the aftermath of the social isolation caused by the COVID pandemic. Many people join these groups to help support them through a life transition, like retirement or moving to a new city. One woman who is part of a London walking group said that when she retired she was, “quite aware that I needed to keep active.” She lives alone and finds comfort in the steadiness of the group’s calendar and the constancy of its companionship.