The Benefits of Hiking
Why do you love to hike so much? I get asked that question lots. The short answer – there are so many benefits to hiking. It is great for my body, spirit, mind, relationships and soul.
It is obvious, hiking is great for our physical health. It gets the heart beating, muscles burning and more oxygen into our body. Because we are walking in nature, it doesn’t feel like we are exercising – to me, it is more enjoyable than going to the gym. Hiking will tend to burn more calories because we are out longer; it is easy to hike for hours at a time. So I am getting exercise without feeling like I am exercising. It keeps me physically fit.
Hiking is effective for fighting against depression – it keeps us calm and happy because nature has a calming effect. Studies have found that people who spend time walking in nature are less anxious. Being in nature promotes a sense of awe – a state of wonder. It makes me feel like there is something bigger than myself because I am so small in this big big world. This feeling allows me to really learn to surrender to what is and let go of things that are out of my control.
If you want to be smarter, go hiking. We don’t usually correlate hiking to intelligence, but it is connected. Hiking actually keeps my mind sharper than many other exercises. When hiking, we are constantly route finding, and watching for obstacles like overhanging branches, roots and rocks on the path when we are hiking. We are constantly making micro and macro adjustments, which is great exercise for the brain, especially parts of the brain designed to help us navigate through life. So if you want to be smarter and stay sharp, go hiking.
When we hike, we build relationship with yourself and others. Hiking with other people can produce a special feeling of closeness and a sense of safety. In the short 1.5 years that I have been hiking with the ladies that I hike with on a regular basis, we have obtained a very special relationship- I feel I can trust them completely. There is a mother/daughter study which proves this. The study had these mothers and daughters walk in an arboretum compared to walking the mall, shows that they have better attention during cognitive task and show improved interaction with each other. Now, if you choose to hike solo, you build a stronger relationship with yourself. When we are in nature with your own thoughts, you get to know ourselves even more. I love doing solo hikes for that very reason. Nature heals.
Being in nature also increases our creativity. It allows our mind to wander freely in creative ways. I believe that is why so many philosophers and artists find inspirations in natural spaces. When the mind is not distracted by the hustle and bustle of life – electronics, and all the noises around us- the mind can relax so creativity can flow easily. In a study done by David Strayer and colleagues that tested a group of young adults before and after a 3 day backcountry camping found that their problem solving and creative thinking increased after the activity. When our mind is quiet, ideas flow freely.
Hiking is also better for the environment! When we have a personal connection with nature, we tend to protect it. We all need as many people to protect Mother Earth as possible for our future generations to enjoy.
I hike for many reasons, the biggest one is that I get to practice being present. In this busy world we live in, I find that when I hike, I get to practice being present. Your mind can’t wander because it needs to focus on staying safe, on taking the next step without tripping on roots or rocks; being in the moment. I find that I am even more present when I am scrambling because any misstep can be deadly. Maybe that’s the reason why people like rock climbing. It is just the very step that is most important. The more we practice being present, the better we can apply it to our every day life. If we can live life being in the moment, life is so much more effortless and carefree. And not to forget, the views are breathtaking! With all these reasons, I encourage everyone to go hiking.
