But this wasn’t any old walking. 

This was fitness guru Joanna Hall’s Walkactive programme, devised for people who don’t have the heart or knees for jogging or the gym but want to get the most out of putting one foot in front of the other.

Joanna believes passionately that walking is by far the most effective exercise we can take, whatever our age, shape or level of fitness – but only if we do it right.

She has spent years researching her scientifically proven technique: you stride out through your whole foot, lifting your torso out of your hips and swinging your arms backwards and forwards with bent elbows. Then there are your earlobes; I’d never thought the earlobe had a role in walking but, according to Joanna, it’s important to keep as much distance as possible between lobe and shoulder.

These were the skills our hardy band of 17 women – and one very brave man – began learning on our first afternoon at Joanna’s training camp, which was held at the luxurious Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex (there are camps in Tenerife and Spain, as well as in the UK). 

She proved to be the most charismatic and patient of teachers and soon we were all walking with an “open ankle” and checking our shoulder-earlobe distance. It did feel very unnatural at first, but it was a lot more comfortable after just a day.

Joanna’s enthusiasm was infectious – and it needed to be, because this camp was not for the fainthearted. 

We kicked off each day at 7am with a three or five-kilometre walk, followed by a pre-breakfast yoga session in the hotel’s impressive walled garden. The rest of the day was spent in a whirl of perfecting our technique, attending healthy lifestyle workshops and, of course, going on very long walks. Each day ended back in the walled garden for a stretching session. It was hard work – but completely invigorating. 

At the beginning, we braved a 7km time trial along the stunning Essex coastline between Frinton-on-Sea and Clacton. When we repeated the exercise at the end, I was ecstatic to find I’d knocked 10 minutes off my time. Every single one of us had shown an improvement and we celebrated with a foot-soothing paddle in the sea. 

I managed to lose four pounds over the five days, but even more impressive was the effect on my waistline: three and a half inches had disappeared. I’d also clocked up over 100,000 steps on my pedometer and, for the first time ever, actually felt excited about going on a walking holiday. Next stop, Italy. 

The next Walkactive camps are: Thorpe-le-Soken, September 22 to 26 (from £749); La Manga Club Resort, Spain, October 9 to 13 (from £900); Ritz-Carlton Abama, Tenerife, February 26 to March 2 (from £1,100). See www.joannahall.com.
Walk your way to better health

There’s growing evidence that walking is as good for us as more intense activities. A recent study in California found that brisk walking cuts your heart attack risk just as much as running, when an equal number of calories are burnt off.

Thirty minutes of brisk walking will burn 90 to 200 calories. The faster you walk and the heavier you are, the more you burn.

Walking strengthens the heart and lungs, improves fitness, helps control weight and is less likely to injure you than other sports. It also cuts your cholesterol and lowers your blood pressure. 

A report last month by Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support found regular walking also cuts your cancer risk: colon cancer by 30 to 50 per cent and breast cancer by 20 per cent. If we all walked the recommended 150 minutes a week, 36,815 lives could be saved every year.

According to a leading study, it’s also the number one way to prevent dementia in later life. It can also aid sleep and is as effective for treating depression as drugs or therapy, says the Chief Medical Officer.

The effective walking DVD

Sunday Express readers can save 33 per cent when they buy the Walkactive twin-DVD intro pack for £21.99 plus p&p. To order, go to www.joanna hall.com or call 020 7729 6223 and quote “Walkactive Express offer”.