5 steps to taking a mindful hike

Adding tactical awareness to your physical activity

5 steps to taking a mindful hike
Stars Insider

29/03/18 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE mindfulness

Surrounding yourself with natural beauty can have significant benefits for both your physical and mental well-being. Hiking is a great way to explore your local terrain and get out of your urban routines. While hiking is always a great activity, there are certain steps you can take to make your hike a mindful journey and get the most out of the adventure. Check out the following five steps to consciously engage all of your senses:

Look: Rather than just looking at the path ahead of you, take the time to get a full 360º view of your surroundings. Work to expand your peripheral vision by picking out objects out of your standard range. Focus on broadening your view—you may be surprised what you see.

Listen: The key to a mindful hike is to enjoy the sounds of nature. Savor the distance from human communication to get the true benefits of the mindful experience. Sometimes being silent when hiking with company can appear strange or awkward, but to allow for a truly mindful experience, sharing silence can be a great pleasure. 

Touch: This is one sense that often goes forgotten during a standard hike. Embrace all of the benefits of nature by noticing the sensation of a cool breeze or feeling the sun drench your skin. Connect to nature even further by taking off your shoes and walking barefoot on the grass or sticking your toes in a river or creek.

Taste: Food will taste so much better when you are outside enjoying your surroundings. Stop to enjoy the taste and texture of every bite. Bring a meal or snacks that remind you of where you are. Focus more on health and whole foods and less on processed human-made items.

Smell: Telling you to stop and smell the roses may be a cliché, but as you take notes of the natural perfumes around you, a sense of calm will fill your system as well.

When you relish in the sweetness of a mindful hike, all of these conscious sensations will begin to come naturally.

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