Hiking
Find Yourself In Nature
If you've ever told someone to "take a hike,"
you may want to follow your own advice
and
hit the trails. The
outdoor
exercise is incredible
for your mental and physical health — and you don't need to go hard-core rugged to
net the many
benefits of hiking, either. "Think of hiking as simply taking a longer walk in nature; you can hike at any
pace, at any
elevation, and for any number of miles, hours, or even days," says Alyson Chun, assistant director of
adventure sports
at Stanford University and instructor for REI.
No matter how tricky (or easy) your trail, every hike has its perks. First, even a moderate one-hour hike is
a great way
to get a dose of cardio in, all while strengthening your core and lower body. And as the elevation goes up,
so do the
benefits of hiking. "The more challenging the hike, the more calories — and stress — you'll melt away,"
notes Chun.
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