Conversations, laughter and the movement of happy feet echoed on the trails of Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont last Saturday as the East Bay Regional Park District’s (EBRPD) monthly Multicultural Wellness Walks resumed after 17 long months.
Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are
“Welcome everyone!” exclaimed Mona Koh, EBPRD’s Public Affairs director and walk coordinator, building on the excitement as she led the group in a series of “good mornings” in several different languages.
“It’s wonderful to see the diverse community reunite in nature after being cooped up for so long and celebrate our similarities as we get healthy in one of our seventy-three beautiful regional parks,” said Koh.
More than fifty attendees met near the park’s Visitor Center and were briefed on what to expect on the 2-4 hour light hike on ancestral Ohlone grounds. The ancestry of the land prompted attendees to walk with more heightened awareness of the vast and undisturbed surroundings with a rich history. Koh encouraged the group to have three intentions that day -- use their five senses, talk to three people they didn’t know and set a personal third such as gratitude or inner peace.
Stretching and Exploring
“Virtual classes have been a great way to keep people moving,” said Vince Hall, owner of My Peak Fitness in Fremont who led stretching sessions throughout Saturday’s walk. “But there’s nothing like getting physical activity outdoors with other members of the community.” Hall says walking together is a great motivation to do more and learn about nature on the way. He has worked regularly with EBRPD and Kaiser, offering free virtual fitness classes when outdoor group activities came to a halt in 2020.
The group started by offering heads, shoulders and arms to the skies during the Good Morning Sunshine stretch, which was followed by other gentle moves to loosen every limb. “Stretching is essential to mobility,” said Hall, “and moving the body is essential to good health.”
Coyote Hills Regional Park naturalist Natasha Anderson then led the group up the slightly inclined trail along the marshlands, pointing out trees, flowers and birds native to the area. Everyone listened intently.
“The water has never been this still,” said Natasha who pointed out the absence of ripples on the surface due to an especially breeze-free day. She told the group to keep their eyes out for a rare sighting of the illusive Chilean Flamingo that occasionally makes an appearance at the water’s edge. Locals and newcomers soaked everything in.
“I do a lot of walking here and other places,” said Fremont resident Beatrice, who stumbled upon the Wellness Walk while hiking on her own. She was welcomed right in. “I prefer group walks because you meet new people, you learn new things and it feels more safe,” she said. Other participants learned of the event by word of mouth.
“When my friend Luana told me about this wellness walk here at Coyote Hills, I was very excited,” said Donna Cason, a San Leandro resident who walks regularly in her local parks. “I’m always looking for new walking experiences.” Cason often hikes where the terrain is flat but appreciates the varying grades of elevation at the different regional parks.
Luana Espana, is a board member and Vice Chair of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. Since her days involved in high school cross country sports, she now looks at outdoor activity differently, recognizing people are at different fitness levels and that has helped her change the way she brings people to the parks. “What I love about the EBRPD Wellness Walks is the discovery many people make when they visit their regional parks for the first time, sometimes not knowing this beauty was in their own backyards”, said Espana. “Now they know and can explore within their own fitness capacities.”
Walking at their own pace was important to Seung and Sook Kanuck, two mature ladies from Walnut Creek who learned of the Wellness Walk from a friend. They strolled the trail arm in arm in support of one another and said they appreciate the welcoming feel and the stunning views. “Oh, we are so enjoying,” said Seung. “We walk where we live but this has been so nice and we like that we can walk as fast or slow as we please but still be part of the group.”
This is a key feature of these wellness walks. The EBRPD’s Healthy Parks, Healthy People program is sensitive to the different levels of fitness in the community. The walks are always non-pressure events where moving at your comfort level is encouraged.
Next Time Join In
Summer weather is still upon us and these monthly walking events are a safe and natural way to reawaken the senses as things continue to safely open up. The Multicultural Wellness Walk schedule can be viewed on the website at EBRPD.com. Consider joining next time, whether you wish to walk apart, walk ahead, walk halfway and go back or make it with the group to the end with a resounding cheer. A provided lunch and a sense of accomplishment will await you. Seung and Sook summed up their experience simply and sincerely when they said in unison, “Everything was perfect.”
Note: Next in-person Wellness Walk will be at Contra Loma Regional Park, Antioch on Saturday, October 30th. Please register here for the walk.