Hiking Is an Excellent, Accessible Form of Exercise—Here's How to Get Started
-
Loading... - Noah Taylor
- 31 Oct 2022
- 88 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Looking to enjoy the great outdoors and get more fit, but unsure where to begin? Hiking is one of the most accessible, straightforward answers for you. Requiring no equipment except a decent pair of shoes, the outdoor world is your oyster when you decide to go for a hike.
Whether you live in a city or suburbs, there are options for places to hike. From stairs by the beach to hills and mountain ranges, it takes only a slight incline for a walk to become a hike.
Ahead, we enlisted the help of two trainers to review everything you need to know to get ready for hiking. These tips will improve your hiking game, whether you're an expert or a novice.
MEET THE EXPERT
Alissa Tucker is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and an AKT XPRO for Xponential+.
Elisei Rusu is a YogaSix XPRO for Xponential+.
What Is Hiking?
Most people know that hiking means taking a walk outdoors. There is more to it than just that, though. Tucker says that hiking occurs "usually on some sort of nature trail, involving an incline or change in elevation."
Tucker notes that "whether or not you are hiking with the intent of the exercise, hiking is exercise. The intensity of your hike changes based on the grade of incline and the speed at which you walk. " She tells us that "you can also add intensity to a hike by adding more resistance. Examples of this would be wearing ankle weights, a weighted vest, or in my case (as a new mom), a baby."
Rusu adds that hiking doesn't require other people, telling us that "it can be a social outing with friends or a meditative solo workout." He adds that in "either case, you will connect deeper to the world around you."
Type of Exercise: Cardio and Strength
Hiking is a cardio activity, but because it involves walking on an incline and more vigorously than a stroll on the sidewalk, it's also a strength-building exercise. "Hiking is an aerobic exercise that helps to improve cardiovascular health," Tucker says. "Hiking can also be a challenging muscular workout, primarily strengthening the lower body muscles (glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves). The core is also activated while hiking to help stabilize the body, especially on trails with rocky or uneven ground." She adds, "Trails with a greater incline offer a more challenging lower body workout, and flatter trails offer less of a lower body challenge but still provide cardiovascular benefits." Read More...
