Looking for a great way to stay in shape without paying for an expensive gym membership? Consider joining Yakima Regional’s Heart and Sole Mall Walkers! The Valley Mall in Union Gap opens their doors every morning at 7:00 a.m. to give people a safe, climate-controlled place to get out and get some exercise. Doors stay open until 9:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. Each lap is a half-mile long, and with stairs leading up to the food court, participants are able to customize the intensity of their workouts.

Walking has many benefits, including building strength and endurance, as well as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Mall Walker members are given logs to track their mileage, and anyone who reaches 100 miles gets a free t-shirt. Yakima Regional also offers free blood pressure checks on the first Tuesday of every month from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. For more information on Yakima Regional’s Mall Walkers program at The Valley Mall, please call 576-3705.

As always, please consult a physician before beginning a new fitness routine.