Great Reasons To Go Hiking

Great Reasons To Go Hiking

Hiking can be full of adventure, fun, sweat, and burned calories, but as with all activities, it’s ultimately what you make of it. My best advice is to get on the trail, enjoy yourself and see how hiking can help you reach your goals.

Here are some reasons to go hiking:

Improve balance and coordination

The rugged and varied terrain of most hiking trails forces your body to stabilize itself, in time improving your balance and coordination.

Improve your mood

Taking time out from your busy life and enjoying the outdoors can relieve stress.

The stimulus of enjoying nature sights, smells, and textures can make you feel more mentally alert.

Having fun

There is something about discovering new trails and being outside that is fun. Taking time out of your busy day to connect with friends, while doing an activity such as hiking, can improve your mood.

Improve cardiovascular function

Engaging in mild to moderate-intensity exercise is linked to improvements in lung capacity and increased cardiac function.

Pick up the pace

Give trail running a try to increase the intensity of your hike. If you’re not ready for running, try alternating between power walking and jogging.

Weight loss

Physical activity burns calories and slow and steady cardiovascular activity promote fat burning. Hiking, combined with good nutrition, can lead to significant weight and fat loss.

Vary the terrain

Start out on mostly flat trails and build up to sandy or rocky surfaces. Walking on uneven terrain forces all of the small under-worked muscles and tendons in your feet and ankles to get strong.

Training at a higher altitude has many health benefits and can improve your overall fitness level. However, it’s something you should build up to slowly.