Hit the Trails: Hike for your Health

With summer now here, people are looking for fun outdoor activities they can do. So I decided to write about one of my favorite things to do, hit the trails! According to the American Hiking Society, hiking is the easiest and least expensive outdoor recreation. You can make it a meditative experience by going it alone, or you can bring some friends along for good conversations about nature, while you all enjoy the sun, scenery, and fresh air.

Statistics say that only 15% of the U.S. adult population engages in sufficient physical activities. As we grow older the thought of sweating it out at the gym, or running on a track/park doesn't sound so exciting anymore... Some folks may not have even considered the benefits of hiking like: losing weight, improving mental well-being, balance, reducing tension, and strengthening muscles. Even at a casual 2 mile per hour walk a 150 pound person will burn 240 calories per hour. Not bad for an activity that's so relaxing and enjoying. It's hard to believe it's actually a workout!

Have you ever heard that the sun makes people happy? Well it's true... it does. Bright light increases levels of serotonin (a mood lifting chemical) in the brain. Exercising also increases your serotonin levels. The benefits you will gain from hiking are vast and amazing!

Another thing people may not know is - almost everyone has a hiking trail near their home. With the internet the way it is now, if you are reading this blog, you can find a hiking trail near you. Use Google Maps, type "parks in" then your city and state. Once you have the names of parks near you, do a Google Web search for those parks to find out which ones have hiking trails... most do.

"I don't have anything to wear for hiking." Sure you do! If you have a closet you have what you need... You may need to get a better pair of shoes for hiking, but that can come later once you've committed to the hike. What you wear will depend largely on the trails you are planning on walking or running, and the temperature outside.

Living in Houston, TX in June in no joke. The weather here is H-O-T. I like to go in cargo shorts, a dry-wick short sleeve shirt, hiking/water shoes (timberland), a backpack, and my camera :) If I were in Alaska - a serious change in gear would be in order.

In my backpack I keep a few items I think may come in handy - remember to always think ahead. Its better to have things and not need them, than to need them and not have them... So this is what I pack:

-water
-protein bars and healthy snacks
-first aid kit
-sunscreen
-towel
-pocket knife
-insect repellent
-flash light
-matches
-cell phone (for emergency only... I keep it off)

Before you leave, be sure to check your local weather reports, to make sure you don't need to bring any rain gear. I hope I helped encourage at least one person out there to hit the trails, and hike for your health! If I missed anything, or a fellow hiker has some helpful tips other readers may want to know, please leave a comment. Below is a short video from expert village on something I like to do... trail running. Have fun :P