Hiking is a great way to get outside, move your body, and explore new places.
Hiking’s many physical and mental health benefits make it one of the best workouts for both your body and your mind. It’s also relatively accessible compared to many sports. Hikers of any age or ability level can find a hike that will provide them with an appropriate challenge. So what are the benefits of getting out there?
1. IMPROVE YOUR HEART HEALTH
Hiking trails often include steep inclines, which it turns out is great for your heart! But even if you’re not on a trail with a lot of elevation gain, you can reap the heart-healthy benefits of hiking. Hiking is a form of cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise, which are activities that increase your heart and respiratory rates as you work to supply your body with oxygen.
2. BUILD STRONG MUSCLES & BONES
Hiking is an incredible way to build strong, healthy muscles and bones. Each hiking trail requires you to adapt to different terrain and slope angles, so you’ll have to utilize different muscle groups throughout the day. Whether it’s a gradual climb, steep ascent, rolling hills, or anything in between, each hike presents your body with a new challenge.
3. IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE
Since hiking requires the use of many muscle groups, it promotes greater overall strength and stability. Specifically, hiking engages and strengthens your hips and core, which work to keep you sure-footed when faced with uneven terrain.
4. GET BETTER SLEEP
Studies show that exercise is an effective way to improve sleep quality, and hiking is no exception. Hiking is a full-body workout that requires physical energy, but it can be a great way to exert your mental energy, too. Mental activities include studying maps, navigating trails, studying your surroundings, and pushing through the challenge of your hike
5. BUILD YOUR ENDURANCE
From two-mile loops to 50-mile circuits, hiking is a great way to build endurance. Hiking is a relatively low-intensity exercise compared to other forms of cardio like running. On most hikes, your heart rate will hover around zone 2. This is the zone in which you can still talk to a friend while you’re moving. The workout is not quite easy, but it’s still below strenuous and nowhere near intense. When you maintain a heart rate within the zone 2 range for an extended period of time, your body efficiently builds its aerobic base, enhancing your endurance.
6. GREAT SOCIAL EVENT
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