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Photo: tricky ™ / Flickr

For most people exercising means driving through traffic after work and spending a token hour at the gym running on a treadmill or doing the weights circuit. The modern workout is more about losing calories than about enjoyment. Getting in shape is usually a chore rather than a way of life. But hikers experience something different. The sheer joy of moving through the great outdoors is a fantastic way to reconnect with your body in a natural, healthy way.

Energising

It may not always be easy to get out of the city and into the countryside on a regular basis. But spending just one day in nature, breathing fresh air, has a way of sustaining you through several days of city stress. Even just a short walk and a picnic can help you get perspective on the strains of every day life.

Fitness

Walking on uneven terrain is an incredibly good workout, especially of you combine both uphill and downhill stretches. It works your calves, thighs and glutes even better than exercise machines at the gym. And if you carry a bit of weigh in a backpack you have all the weight training you need to strengthen your back and core muscles.

Adventure

Overnight hikes can be an incredible adventure. Some hiking trails offer overnight stops in midway campsites. But there are also hikers who choose to travel light and simply carry a basic hiking kit with water, food and sleeping bags. A night under the stars is both romantic and a way to return for a short while to the simplicity of pure survival as opposed to the complex lifestyles we’ve become used to.

Hiking safety tips

So here are some basic hiking guidelines:

Let someone know where you’re going and take a buddy with you.

Make sure you know the route so that you don’t get lost.

Take the following hiking kit: sunscreen, matches, a first aid kit, pocket knife, flashlight, toilet paper, food and water.

Don’t take unnecessary risks.

Make the effort and get out of the city. Your body and spirit will thank you for it.

Tags: hiking