Walking in nature never fails to raise my spirits and make me feel more vital. At this challenging time of social distancing I have been making sure I still get out in the fresh air and spend time by the sea.
In January, I committed to walking for an hour, five times a week and I went out in all weathers. I had been suffering with chronic back pain and the accompanying depression, for eight years and had been mostly working full time, at a desk, over that period. Constant pain can be exhausting, so, when work is a priority, it is easy to get stuck, where, although you know that exercise and losing weight will help, finding the energy to get out of the door is a challenge. So, when work slowed down towards the end of the year, I chose, instead of committing to new clients, to see it as an opportunity to prioritise my health and get walking.
At first, it was an effort to force myself out, but I started to notice that each time I walked – even in 60 km-an-hour winds and grey drizzle – I felt so grateful for the sea, the cliffs and the wildlife and came home feeling energised. After a week or so, I started to look forward to the sense of well-being I would get from the walk and found myself striding out of the door in happy anticipation.
Nearly three months on, I have regained a sense of trust in my body and feel proud of my achievements. My pain is almost completely gone, I am fitter, have lost weight and have developed new habits that make me happy and pastimes that are completely free. It is my hope that, during this time of enforced time-out from the usual pressures of life, others will benefit from time outdoors, as I have.
Current UK government advice, during this Covid19 outbreak, is that you can exercise outdoors, as long as you keep a distance of two metres between yourself and others – this is a precaution in case someone carrying the virus coughs or sneezes close to you. Now that we are practising social distancing, there has never been a better opportunity to reconnect with nature by heading out into the wide-open spaces that we are so lucky to have on our doorsteps in Bournemouth and beyond.
Although walking with friends and family has always been a favourite way to catch up with the people I love, I find that there are unique benefits to walking alone. Lone walking enables me to focus fully on my surroundings and my body and helps me to clear my head of any worries.
Connect with nature
Recent research has shown that exercise in the presence of nature benefits the health and well-being of all ages, genders, ethnicities and social classes.
“Green Mind Theory” outlines the positive reciprocal interaction between humans and the environment and research within this field talks about “a dose of nature” as analogous to a healthy shot for your mental health. It is also known that being aware of your “treatment” has additional health benefits – so taking time to fully absorb the natural environment around you, in the knowledge that this dose of nature is benefitting your health, is the best way to take full advantage of nature’s health giving properties.
Notice your body
Raising your heart rate during short bursts of activity releases endorphins into your system, which decrease pain, help you sleep and make you feel good. Endorphins also stimulate your immune system by activating white blood cells, which will fight disease and infection.
I usually start with a gentle walk, focusing on my posture and stride and naturally get faster as my body warms up and takes in lots of oxygen. I like to incorporate short bursts of hill walking to get the heart rate up – walking up one of the zigzags from the seafront to the clifftop is great for this and brings you to a beautiful view, feeling exhilarated. Notice how you feel as your body warms up and falls into a natural rhythm and how, after your raising your heart rate, your body is flooded with positive feelings.
Feel grateful
Taking in my surroundings – the waves breaking on the beach, the clouds morphing in the sky, seabirds soaring above – naturally brings me to gratitude. Feeling grateful for the moment you are in, experiencing this natural environment and spending time listing all the things you are grateful for in your life, will bring a sense of peace and well-being.
In the coming weeks, I will share a few of my favourite round-routes here in the hopes that I can inspire others to embrace the great outdoors, generate some happy hormones and boost immune systems. Each route is designed to complete alone and includes small sections of hill climbs to get the heart pumping. Happy walking!
Comments