Take a Hike!!

Rachel E Metcalf
Nov 2, 2016
2 min read

On Saturday, I got to do something I've been waiting three years to do...I got to go hiking! I guess you could say I caught the hiking bug back in high school. During my senior year,some of us biology students got to go on a two day, 17 mile hike...I loved it (blisters and all)! I've always been an outdoorsy person, growing up fishing, camping, and boating. Outside is where my spirituality lives...it is where I find peace, feel the divine presence of God, and reenergize/reset. My long term goal is to become a long distance hiker...hiking for days at a time. I am starting small however...and as weather permits.

I would encourage each of you to give hiking a try. While I am certainly all for walking (on a level and even surface, often indoors - even on a treadmill), hiking offers many benefits above and beyond.

It keeps you engaged by the sights, sounds, and careful steps...and well distracted from the fact that you are working out. I for one avoid workouts that feel like work! Also, hiking (while a great form of cardio) is a full body workout. The uneven, bumpy terrain and elevation changes demand constant stabilization, so your core stays engaged and every muscle stays active. For me, hiking can also be a form of meditation and spiritual practice. I don't force it, but let it happen naturally. I quiet the chaos...sometimes focusing within, sometimes focusing outward...mindful of the world around me.

If you want to give it a shot, find a buddy (safety first!)and hit the trails! I am providing some info for local options...and if you aren't local, just try a quick internet search to see what's nearby. Happy Trails!!

Yours in Health and Happiness,

Rachel