| Let’s start with the obvious. Hiking is movement, and movement is medicine. But it is not just steps. Think about what is actually happening in your body on a trail. On the way up, your glutes are doing serious work, powering you up every incline. On the way down, your quads take over to control your descent, and your shins and feet are working overtime to stabilize you on uneven ground. Add in the constant small balance corrections, the little catches and adjustments your body makes without you even thinking about it, and you have a full body workout that a treadmill just cannot replicate.
Here at MOVE+breathe, we talk all the time about a balanced movement diet. It has three pieces. Cardio, strength, and recovery. Hiking checks the cardio box in the best possible way, and doing it outside adds something a treadmill or a stationary bike never will. Time in nature has been shown to lower stress and improve mood, and there is real science behind that feeling of calm you get after a few hours on a trail. Add in the vitamin D from sunlight, the mental reset that comes from being present and aware of your surroundings, and the connection you feel to the natural world around you, and hiking becomes so much more than exercise. It becomes a reset for your whole self, body and mind. And honestly, some of our family’s best memories have been made on trails. It is what we do on vacation, or our adventures😜, as we like to call them. It is how we connect. There is no phone, no distraction, just you, the people you love, and the trail in front of you. So here is my challenge for you this month. Other than a yoga class, the gym is closed on Sundays, so why not make it a hike day? Here are three options close to home, one for every mood and every fitness level. (Click on the trail name for directions and maps.) Easy does it: Chattahoochee Pointe Park A flat, gravel path that is perfect for the whole family, strollers, dogs, and beginners included. No pressure, just movement and fresh air and you can even check out the river. Just right: Bowmans Island Trail A shaded, rolling trail along the Chattahoochee with some gentle elevation change and beautiful river views the whole way. Just enough challenge to feel like a workout, without wearing you out. Bring it: Mount Yonah Trail This one will test you. It is a steady, steep climb the whole way up, but the summit is one of the best views in North Georgia. This is the one where you will feel like you truly earned it. It’s our family’s FAVORITE local hike. Whichever one you choose, get out there this fall. Take a hike, literally. Your body and your mind will thank you. Can’t wait to hear about your adventures! |
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