Health & Fitness

Take a Hike: Reconnect with Nature and Get Some Outdoor Exercise

Hiking is a great way to exercise the body and relieve stress by reconnecting with nature

By Curb Ivanic /

Credit: sabel

Hiking is good for the mind, body and soul

The dog and I were kicked out of the house today because my spouse was hosting a bridal shower. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a grey, rainy Vancouver afternoon than going for a hike on the North Shore.

Most of the time I hit the trails I’m going for a run so it was a nice change of pace to slow down and take in more of the scenery. I’ve forgotten how much more of your surroundings you notice when you’re hiking. The forest was almost glowing with a vibrant green colour as we picked out way through the mud puddles and rocks.

Though a misty rain was falling, it didn’t bother either of us. In fact it was quite refreshing. The combination of the cool air and light rain cleared some of the cobwebs I was carrying from my Friday night celebrations.

Why Exercise Outdoors

I encourage everyone to do as much exercise as they can outdoors. Turn off the TV, put down the book and ditch the iPod. Invest in some quality rainwear so you can go out in any type of weather. You’re not made of sugar and won’t melt away in a bit of rain.

Being out in the forest is very grounding and the natural environment provides a nice respite from the grind of the urban jungle. We can’t reverse millions of years of evolution with a few hundred years of urbanization. Even the most hardcore urbanite has a primeval kernel inside them that yearns to reconnect with nature.

The sights, sounds and smells of the forest delight your senses and cause you to be more present in the moment. I could feel the stress of a busy work week melt away as we trekked along. My dog Brady was ecstatic to run free and sniff to his heart’s content.

For two hours we wound our way around the trails of the Hyannis Point region of North Vancouver. After we got back in the car I made the short drive to Deep Cove for the perfect finish to a great hike; a slice of pizza from Deep Cove Pizza and a Honey donut. It was worth every sugar laden calorie!

Hiking Resources