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WHAT'S NEW
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Take a hike
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Relax your mind, take in the scenery and enjoy an excellent form of exercise.
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By Jo Napier
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It's the great fitness escape -- release for the body, a boon to the heart and a tonic for the mind. Hiking is more popular than skiing, mountain biking or rollerblading and there is no expensive equipment required. And it's the most natural exercise routine in the world. Which is why hiking's a hit, especially with fitness-conscious women, who are heading outdoors for regular workouts and -- at least temporarily -- leaving aerobics classes and health clubs behind.
How fit will you get? One of hiking's undeniable attractions is that it offers the chance to get both physically and mentally fit. Where you hike, how you hike, and how long you spend on the trail determines how much exercise you get, what muscles you use, and how many calories you burn. Experts advise tailoring hiking styles and trails to your needs and desires. For instance, "interpretive hiking" is tackled at a leisurely, stop-and-smell-the-flowers pace that won't build muscles but will relax the mind and reduce the risk of heart disease. Fitness hiking, on the other hand, lets you tone muscles, particularly in your legs and buttocks, and delivers a solid cardiovascular workout.
A leisurely hike burns 150 to 200 calories an hour -- or more depending on terrain, speed and body size. Add a 10- to 15-pound backpack and you're burning at least 15 per cent more calories. Hard-core hiking -- scampering over some rocks or at the very least going uphill a ways -- burns at least 500 calories an hour.
Because inclines are often involved, fitness hiking is one of the easiest ways to develop body awareness, balance and muscles -- especially the quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles. The steeper the angle, the better the workout for the buttocks. And like all of life's great journeys, starting down the hiking fitness trail is easy: just put one foot in front of the other.
To pick up the pace, pick up a hiking stick. These hot items -- like any great accessory -- are built to reflect customers' tastes: choose from flashy, high-tech aluminum poles to hickory sticks (complete with compass on top) to adjustable poles with ergonomic grips. The best part? Hiking sticks help work out your neglected upper-body muscles and pump up your calorie burning and oxygen usage by about 25 per cent. They also take the pressure off your knees when you're heading downhill.
What are your favourite Canadian hiking trails? Discuss in our forums!
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