I am a big fan of local. Eating local, shopping local, playing local.

Luckily for me, some of my favorite things are right in my neighborhood.

So I walk. Walking is another thing I’m a big fan of.

Admittedly not an early adopter, I am also a recent convert to movement tracking technology. This means I can count the number of steps I take in a day. This is a really good indication of how much you move and once you keep track, you may be shocked at how little you walk in a day. 

The usual recommendation is 10,000 steps a day which is more than most of us do. Once you take the time to count your steps, the question is; is it necessary to move that much?

Many people think so and I personally think it is a good goal, although one that you may need to work up to slowly. I don’t view walking as ‘exercise’. As movement specialist Katy Bowman says, “Walking is a superfood. It’s the defining movement of a human.”  Walking has the power to soothe the mind and clear the head. Plus, as we age, mobility itself becomes more important. 10,000 steps seems like a lot, but you can be sure it will pay off in the long run.

I live in the the Haysboro area I have taken to walking further and further in my daily routine. It is not inner city where everything is around the corner, but that works in favor of my step count. Where I used to drive, now I try to walk. Groceries, clothing, banking – its all within reach. It has improved my wellbeing and it makes me so happy to support my neighbors and my local economy.

Here are some of my favorite destinations for shopping local in the SW.

(I am not getting compensated by any of these businesses and this is only a short list of many great spots in the area)

Montreal Bagels on the corner of Heritage and Elbow dr. These bagels rock and the family that runs this shop is very sweet. Forget donuts, give me a chewy, brick oven baked bagel any day.

Vespucci – also at Heritage and Elbow – is a consignment clothing shop. A huge selection with some great sales sometimes. I have found some of my favorite clothing here. A black Prada trench coat and a pair of J Brand skinny jeans come to mind.

First Calgary Financial. A credit union that has all the advantages of a bank without the big corporate head office somewhere else. They also support local community building initiatives.

Kingsland Farmers market. Home of great produce, amazing sushi, to-die-for salsas and chips and the best lemon poppy seed danish ever.

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Because life is not just about green smoothies. 🙂 Its about balance.