Hiking For Your Physical And Mental Health
Sunday, September 26th, 2010One very affordable hobby you can pick up to relieve the stress in your life is hiking. And what will benefit the most would be your mind and body.
Getting health benefits from hiking is clearly self-evident. Walking is one form of exercise, and you would definitely will do some walking when you go hiking. But what we’re getting at is that there is more to it than just losing a few calories.
If you want an activity that will get your blood going, then hiking would be a good choice. But don’t set a too high expectation on this particular activity. Because of this, we give you two methods to maximize this activity for your heart’s benefit.
The first is to walk for more than 20 minutes. This consistently keeps your heart rate up and starts to burn calories. Twenty minutes, however, isn’t really going to cut it unless you do it every day. You would have to go hiking for at least an hour for you to really get a good work out and develop stamina. If it sounds like a lot, keep in mind you are going 30 minutes in one direction and 30 minutes back.
The second way is to climb. Not to climb literally, but to hike on an elevated plane. Generally, a trail that goes up at a slight incline for a long time is better than one that goes up steeply for a short period. You need to give your heart time to adjust to the change of space, so look for a trail that won’t tire you after only 200 feet.
Aside from the obvious health advantages, hiking is also good for our mental health. Many of us tend to ignore the many pressures in our daily lives. Hiking provides us a break from all these pressures. Hiking for at least an hour gives you the chance to unwind. Hiking is no brain surgery, just put one foot in front of another and let your thoughts roam, it’s one great way to release all the pent-up tension inside you. Research shows that people who allot some time to be by themselves generally do better, a time when they let go of all their responsibilities and worries. At the end of your hike, I guarantee you will feel refreshed and have a new perspective on things.
Getting a lot of mental and physical benefits from hiking is an undeniable fact. Of course, the only way to benefit from it is to head out and start trekking along. Don’t you dare bring your mobile phone!
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