Tiktok’s new trend “Soft Hiking” is based on the philosophy that hiking can be made easy, enjoyable and affordable for everyone. It emphasizes spending time in Nature, enjoying the environment, stopping to see the view or have a picnic.
You don’t have to push yourself to the limit or push it to the limit. Gentle hiking is the pure joy of enjoying time in nature and moving your body. Overall it should be a pleasant and enjoyable experience.
The 7 benefits of gentle hiking
As with other forms of outdoor exercise, there are many wellness benefits, including:
- enhances happiness
- reduces stress, anxiety and depression
- improves concentration
- improves balance
- strengthens muscles
- contributes to better sleep quality
- increases heart rate and lowers blood pressure
- In addition, you can adjust it to your own fitness level to suit your abilities while being low-intensity.
The best way to start is to simply take a walk in Nature. Think places like walks on the beach or a trail in the mountains or in the forest. There is no pressure and no expectation to reach a peak or do a certain number of kilometers – just go at your own pace.
What the research shows
The brain benefits of walking in Nature are confirmed in a study where participants after eight days in the wilderness of Norway’s Hardangervidda region, hiking and swimming in lakes and streams, had higher scores in happiness, awareness, life satisfaction and self-efficacy (belief in one’s own abilities).
Another team at Kansas State University that followed participants for four weeks in hour-long exercise classes found that the group that exercised outdoors experienced greater stress reduction thanks to exposure to green (forest) and blue (oceans, rivers, lakes).
Add to that the power walking has on every health metric, from bone density to a healthy weight, and it’s time to pick your route and dust off your hiking boots.
