Social media, email and the general 24/7 noise of life – particularly in urban areas – scatter our attention, leaving us more stressed. Disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature gives our brain a much-needed recharge.
Walking and hiking?
At first, walking and hiking may sound like two words for the same form of exercise. The footwear and scenery may vary, but the lower-body mechanics seem the same. Surprisingly, though, they’re radically different. Research shows that your joints, heart and muscles perform in distinct ways during a hike compared to what they do during a jaunt around the block. “When you walk on a level surface, your body does a really good job of what’s known as passive dynamics,” says Daniel Ferris, a professor of engineering and biomechanics at the University of Florida. Your walking stride, he says, is like the swing of a pendulum.
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