With the advent of October, leaves are dropping and so is the temperature. In the sweet stasis of autumn— poised between the blistering heat of summer and the chill of winter— the time is right for lacing up your boots and hitting the nearest hiking trail. Enjoy some outdoor time so you can feel like you’ve earned your next grand́e pumpkin spice latte.
For our latest Wellness Wednesday, we’re looking at the physical AND mental health benefits of taking a hike.
Weight Loss
Hiking isn’t just a simple and fun way to engage with nature; it’s also an effective way to lose weight. You can lose an average of 500 calories per hour if you’re walking at a rate of 4.5 miles per hour. Hiking is a low-intensity exercise (depending on the incline and trail), which makes it a great activity for people who are out of shape or dealing with other physical limitations.
Bonding Activity
One of the benefits of hiking is that it’s easy to do as a social activity. Hiking is a great way to bring people together: it’s a low-impact exercise, it costs nothing to do beyond a good pair of shoes and a bottle of water, and offers plenty of opportunities to stop, catch your breath, and catch up with your friends as you wind your way up the trail. Studies have shown that doing group activities can help alleviate depression and trigger the release of oxytocin, the “love hormone” that also acts as a social bonding agent, increasing feelings of trust and connection in others. Hiking is also something you can do with your dog, so leash up your pooch, grab some poop-bags, and hit the nearest trail.
Increases Bone Density
For people afflicted with arthritis and/or osteoporosis, hiking can help reduce some of the negative effects of those conditions. Hiking can slow down the rate of calcium loss by increasing bone density, which makes bones stronger and less susceptible to breaks. Hiking also engages muscles impacted by arthritis. Research shows that consistent exercise like hiking can reduce muscle pain and stiffness.
Improves Balance
The shifting terrain of a hike helps condition your muscles, burn calories, and improve your sense of balance A strong sense of balance is important for a variety of reasons:
- Reduces the risk of falls
- Better balance improves your body awareness, which can also reduce the risk of injury
- Improves coordination
- Improves cardiovascular fitness
- Strengthens and enhances posture.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Physical activity like hiking can lower your blood pressure up to 10 points! Cardiovascular exercise is a very effective way to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) thanks to both its stress-alleviating effects and by improving blood flow, heart health, and reducing inflammation. Hiking can also release endorphins which reduce pain and increase feelings of pleasure in your body, which in turn have a calming effect that lowers your blood pressure while easing anxiety.
Article by Austin Brietta
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