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Category: Hiking

Published January 29, 2020

How to Make Walking Fun and Interesting?

Image of walker walking down country path

Walking can be interesting

Here in Bella Vista, Arkansas we see people walking all the time.  They walk around Lake Bella Vista, they walk the numerous walking trails and paths, they walk their dogs, they walk in groups, and where I live in in Norwood Courts, they walk uphill to their mailboxes.

Regular walking is known to be great exercise, and it only takes a few minutes each day to enhance your health.  As a person in a wheelchair, my goal is to get out of this wheelchair and be able to walk on my own again someday.  My husband walks a lot:  1) walking our dog; 2) hiking with the hill-n-dale hiking club; 3) walking to Harps at Town Center for a few groceries; 4) walking to our mailbox. Yes, walking is part of his daily planned activites along with several other exercise means (pickleball, yoga class, biking, fit blast class and more).

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Choosing the Right Hiking Backpack
Published January 16, 2020

Choosing the Right Hiking Backpack

Hiking Backpacks

If you are a hiker, one thing to get right is your backpack.

Size of Backpack

You need to consider the right size for you.  One way to figure this out is to measure the vertical distance from your neck (from the bony bump at the base of your neck to your the center of your back at the hip bones).  You may need a helper to do this.

Vertical Height:

16″ or less, get a size Small

16.5 – 19.5″ get a size Medium

20″ and more, get a Large

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Published July 25, 2019

Start Fitness Cycling!

Image of mountain bikers on a trail

What You Need to Know Before Taking Up Cycling

Are you thinking of taking up biking as a hobby or perhaps a means of exercise?  Maybe you are ditching the car or public transportation and taking up bike riding as a means to get around. Either way, it’s a great hobby or workout or mode of transportation that is fun and easy to do.  Biking is considered Low impact – and causes less strain and injuries than many other exercises.  Cycling will use all of the major muscle groups as you pedal and is great for strength and stamina.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started in your cycling.

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Published July 9, 2019

Dealing with Snakes on the Trail

Watch out for those trail loving snakes!

Summer is here and naturally, you want to be outside enjoying the beautiful nature around us here in the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas.  Hikers, walkers, and bikers are out in force.  Kayaks and canoes are in the waters of our beautiful lakes.  The weather is getting hot, slowly but surely.

With warmer weather, we need to start watching out for snakes in our yards and around the trails and lakes.  Yes, Arkansas does have some venomous snakes we need to be aware of.  But no need to be terrified of enjoying our natural beauty here in the Ozarks.  Employing caution and keeping aware of our surroundings will help us to stay safe from these native reptiles.

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Published May 4, 2018

So TAKE A HIKE!

image of hikers

I know you have probably heard this phrase before.

TAKE A HIKE!

Maybe it was said in a mean or sarcastic way.  But the truth is.  TAKING A HIKE  IS very good for you. Especially hiking in a natural setting like we have in Bella Vista.  Research is showing that there is certainly many benefits of hiking regularly.

 

Less Stress and better cognitive function

 

Text image with words"Yes, the ones who walked in a natural environment"

 

 

A study by Gregory Bratman, a graduate student in Stanford’s Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources indicated that time in nature was found to have a positive effect on mood and aspects of cognitive function, including working memory, as well as a dampening effect on anxiety.  The study had participants walking 50 minutes in a natural environment and 50 minutes in an urban environment.  Guess which group were less stressed, had less anxiety and increased their work performance?

There are definite mental health benefits of hiking in a peaceful rural setting as opposed to an urban setting.

Better Sleep Quality

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