As a student athlete or even someone hoping to become a student athlete, it’s important to be constantly striving to improve your fitness and performance, but this pressure to perform can become very stressful and many become bored with their everyday routines. Competing in a sport in college can be a great way to help fund your studies, as there are thousands of sports scholarships available and easy to find on websites such as Asmscholarships.com.
However, once you’ve gotten your scholarship, how can you make sure to stay at peak performance? Many athletes will hit the gym regularly to complement their regular sports practice, however not so many will go hiking regularly. Yet there are many incredible benefits to hiking that can really help improve your performance, so read on to discover four reasons you should be scheduling a hike next week.
Improved Cardio-Respiratory Fitness
It is well known that hiking improves your cardiovascular health. Hiking on unpaved trails on a regular basis decreases blood pressure and cholesterol, and leaves you with increased stamina, lung capacity and helps your body to become more efficient at removing carbon dioxide and taking in oxygen, which is very important if you want to avoid fatigue. The nature of hiking is that it is a consistent exercise that will take a few hours and will therefore improve your power and endurance, letting you play harder for longer. To increase the health benefits of hiking, make sure you have the proper hiking gear, though!
Improves Muscle Fitness All Over
Hiking uses almost every muscle in the body at some point. It not only exercises your heart, but tones your legs, bum and core muscles. Incorporating sharp inclines and rough terrain into your route will help to work out muscles that don’t get used a lot. This can be very beneficial to an athlete since sticking to one sport can often result in some muscle groups becoming stronger while others get weaker, which can put strain on your joints and spine.
Stress Relief
Hiking gives us a chance to disconnect from the hectic routines of everyday life. Studies have shown that taking a hike not only releases endorphins, but relieves stress and depression, both of which can be very detrimental to your athletic career. Don’t be afraid to turn off your phone, focus solely on the beauty of your hike and let the stresses of life melt away. Not only will your mental health improve, but your physical performance will too.
It’s a Bonding Experience
Unlike many traditional forms of exercise, hiking is best done in groups. Its relaxed, slow nature makes it an ideal way to work-out and to catch up with your friends. The remoteness of many hiking locations allows you to disconnect from the world and focus on having fun with your friends. Having other people to hike with can help to motivate you, pushing each other farther and harder as you improve and get stronger. Research your trails and pick ones with beautiful views so you have opportunities to stop and marvel at the beauty of nature. Many people fall in love with hiking this way and travel all over the world to the greatest and most challenging trails, so it’s worth giving it a go.