Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1499105
1. IMPROVES EMOTIONAL WELL•BEING. Hiking in nature can support emotional stability. A form of active therapy, hiking allows you to clear your mind, disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and find contentment. Hiking also lifts your mood, promotes mindfulness, and reduces negative thought patterns. As you physically move through a hike, your brain releases endorphins. Increased endorphins may relieve the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. In addition, fresh air and breathing exercises can raise levels of oxygen in your brain, which consequently raises the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates your mood. When your serotonin levels are normal, you feel focused, emotionally stable, calm, and happy. On your next hike, fill your emotional tank by practicing mindfulness, setting an intention, and concentrating on your breathing. 2. KEEPS YOU FIT. Unlike other forms of exercise, hiking uses your arms, back, abs, legs, and feet. This makes crossing various terrains an excellent full-body workout. Here's what hiking does to encourage physical fitness: • Helps burn calories without losing muscle. Whether you're climbing fast or slow, the effort and resistance you put into each step count towards your total calorie burn without sacrificing muscle loss. • Increases muscle strength. With legs supporting your weight and equipment, you build lower body strength using your glutes, quads, and hamstrings. • Works your core, even though it doesn't feel like it. By balancing uneven territories and carrying a backpack, you're engaging your core area and developing abs and obliques. 3. PROVIDES MENTAL STIMULATION. Hiking has been linked to several brain-boosting benefits. While on the trail, you're navigating a route, figuring out the terrain, overcoming obstacles, and searching for trail markers. With a heightened attention span and focus, you're exercising your mind's proprioception, which is an awareness of your body's position and movement in relation to its surroundings. Responding to challenges and encountering unpredictable circumstances help keep your mind sharp. You learn from the obstacles you encounter on a hike, expanding your creativity and enhancing your problem-solving skills. 4. OFFERS CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH PERKS. Any exercise that gets your heart pumping (like hiking!) is going to improve your cardiovascular health. During a cardio exercise, your muscles circulate blood through the body, shouldering some of the strain on the heart. As your intensity escalates, your heart beats faster to supply more blood and oxygen to your working muscles. By moving your body, you're helping your heart become stronger and your blood circulate better. When your heart is healthy, you reduce your risk for: • Heart disease • Stroke • High blood pressure • Heart attack 5. HELPS STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS. It's always nice to have a hiking buddy. Getting in nature and away from everyday distractions, you're more attuned to the people around you. It's easier to concentrate, empathize, and cooperate with your friend or partner. Similarly, you'll learn the value of teamwork and accountability. Hiking can offer unique circumstances, such as narrow pathways, tricky topography, and slippery grounds, that provide opportunities to trust and lean on your hiking partner. By depending on one another to navigate a hike, you strengthen your bond and relationship. PL AN AHEAD. Pick an easy trail for beginners, and check the weather before you go. The AllTrails app is a great place to get crowdsourced trail ratings and reviews. DRESS ACCORDINGLY. Choose waterproof shoes with good traction. Dress in light layers and wear clothes that prevent chafing and scratching. PACK THE ESSENTIALS. Items you should bring for a simple day hike include a cell phone, paper map, compass, food, water, first aid kit, flashlight, sunscreen, and sunglasses. S TAY HYDRATED & FED. Pack one liter of water for every two hours of hiking. High-energy foods, like trail mix, protein bars, and jerky, will keep you properly satiated for your hike. PACE YOURSELF. Hike at a pace that's comfortable for you, and don't try to rush it. Ensure you have enough energy to finish your hike by taking it slow and steady. BE SAFE. Let someone know where you'll be and when you'll return. Stick to marked trails and head back early if you're worn out. 6 TIPS FOR HIKING NEWBIES 11