Go Take a Hike

Researcher: Johaubannah

By: Barbara Call Bourassa

Links to the site: http://www.poise.com/Learn/LifeAndHealth/WomensWellness/Fitness.aspx

Summer has officially arrived and, chances are, your neighborhood has come alive. Children are riding their bicycles, families are passing by with strollers, and couples are out on evening jogs. It’s the perfect “outside weather,” and if the thought of going to the gym makes you cringe, you’re not alone. But just because you don’t want to be cooped up inside, this is no reason to surrender your fitness goals. Why not take up hiking? Of all the season’s outdoor activities, hiking is one of the easiest for beginners to try, since all that’s really needed to get started is a good pair of boots. What’s more, hiking is ideal for the entire family, as long as you choose the appropriate trails.

“Hiking is a great replacement for a gym workout for several reasons,” says Seth Levy, a self-proclaimed gear expert and manager of the Western Public Lands Initiative for the American Hiking Society (AHS) in Silver Spring, Maryland. “For starters, it’s free, and for most Americans, it’s very accessible. It’s easier to stay engaged when the scenery is constantly changing,” he says. “And interacting with the natural environment has real benefits─it increases people’s balance, enhances feelings of well being, and boosts their ability to focus.”