Hike for Your Heart

Basking in nature has the wonderful ability to heal the body and the spirit. Here’s why you should make hiking your exercise of choice.

By GILLIAN LIM

• Improves cardiovascular health
  Hiking is a beginner-friendly, full-body workout that builds strength and endurance, and improves balance and coordination. Furthermore, the uneven terrain you encounter on a hike further challenges your heart to work harder. Regular hiking improves heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which are contributing factors to heart disease.
• Boosts mental wellness
  Stress is a known risk factor of cardiovascular disease, and hiking in nature offers mental respite from the stressors of everyday life. Research has shown that spending time in green spaces generates positive emotions and reduces anxiety and rumination. The next time you find yourself stressing out, consider a change of scenery that provides space for contemplation and leaves you feeling recharged.
• Builds relationships
  Whether you explore new territory or revisit old ones, the view is always better with company. Unlike other aerobic activities that demand full concentration on your breath, hiking allows you to bond with a buddy while you are exercising. Shared experiences are memorable as they evoke feelings of connectedness and satisfaction when a common goal is achieved. Plus, your partners get a workout too!