Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walking out the door!
Yes, it is time for a little exercise, and what better way to do that, than to hit the trails and take in a nice invigorating hike. You can breathe in the fresh air, while you leave behind the sights, sounds and smells of the city. With joy, you can watch birds flit from treetop to treetop, as you stride along and feel at one with nature. Perhaps you will even discover other interesting flora and fauna on your local hike that you can bring back with you in your mind’s eye to fill the rest of your day with. The possibilities are endless.
So lets get your heart thumping and clear your mind from the stresses of the day. Tie on those hiking boots, and let’s go!
I think that we all know how good walking is for us, so for starters, let’s look at some of the easy perks.
You do not have to be in any kind of special shape to start along on hiking trails. As long as you are willing and able to walk, you can take in an easy trek via a local hike in the great outdoors. With practice, you can increase the length and difficulty of your hike, or just enjoy life outside.
You also do not need any kind of special equipment, aside from a pair of hiking boots or sneakers. Choose a good-fitting hiking boot and socks that help to reduce moisture. Even on an easy hike, if your feet get hot and wet, they will be at risk for blisters. A painful blister is no way to enjoy time spent in the outdoors.
Make sure that you take water with you. Dehydration is not part of the joys of hiking. Your body needs a minimum of two liters of water a day, but ideally requires three to four liters. On a two-hour hike, plan to take one liter of water. Your body needs it and your hike will be more enjoyable, if you treat it well.
After that you are free to start treading along a forest path at your own pace. Take a healthy snack to refuel your body along the way and enjoy. The length and severity of your hike is up to you and your abilities. If there are hills in your hiking exercise, you will get more of a cardio workout. Regardless of the length of your hike though, you will be getting yourself active, which improves your overall health. The more often you hit the hiking trails, the better health you will find yourself in. Studies also show that hiking in the outdoors has the perk of exposing you to fresh air and natural sunshine, which helps to increase your mood via elevated serotonin levels and the bonus of that miracle vitamin D exposure. All excellent reasons to head outdoors.
If the physical perks are not enough, let me point out the other obvious benefits of hiking. Hitting the hiking trails gets you outside. You get to soak in the fresh air and let go of the worries of the day. You can do it alone, with your friends or family. There is the joy of discovering bits of nature, like a unique shell, rock or a breathtaking scenic look-out. You can go for a hike close to home on a local hike, or plan an adventure on hiking trails farther afield. The energy to be found in the quiet of Mother Nature is hard to ignore and felt by most. And at Premier Fitness Camp, we are lucky enough to be located close to some of the best and most scenic hiking trails in the country at Zion National Park.
People have lived and explored in the area around Zion National Park for 12,000 years. While the first peoples were hunting mammoths and giant sloths, today’s visitors come for different reasons. Located in Utah, and a stone’s throw from Premier Fitness Camp, this national park is an ideal location for hiking. Massive sandstone canyons provide beautiful scenic views and the hiking is unparalleled in the US. Beautiful pink, cream and red cliffs flank the narrow canyon walls, and a lucky hiker might even have the good fortune to spot a mule deer, one of the over 200 species of birds, or even the rare mountain lion on their path.
Being so close to the natural beauty and excellent hiking opportunities of Zion National Park, Premier Fitness Camp could not help, but include this gem into our workout regimes. A day trip into the park to take in the hiking trails at Angel’s Landing, or one of Zion National Park’s many other trails, is sure to inspire a lifelong love of hiking. And if you leave Zion National Park and Premier Fitness Camp with a love hiking, then we are thrilled that we could help.
So join us today, and hike your way to wellness at our fitness resort in gorgeous Utah. You aren’t inside looking at four walls all day working out when you come to Premier Fitness Camp weight loss retreat. We make fitness and working out a lifestyle. We love when we can incorporate an outdoor adventure into a workout – surrounded by beauty and a great workout too!
http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm
http://www.empowher.com