With the recent boom in the health and fitness industry, more and more tourists are choosing walking holidays for the wide range of health benefits they offer. Why walk on spot for hours on a treadmill when you could turn your workout into an unforgettable adventure? Let’s take a look at the various benefits a walking holiday can have on your health.
Maintain Healthy Weight
Holidays are often a time when we over-indulge and end up feeling guilty once we return to reality. As a result, many tourists are opting for walking holidays as they not only help you keep fit but can even trim your waistline! Studies show that walking just 30 minutes a day can speed up your metabolism and keep you burning calories. Nobody wants to do cardio on their holiday and walking is the perfect way to keep fit without straining yourself. The scenic views of any walking holiday will also make you completely forget you are exercising. Then after a healthy day of walking, you can enjoy your dessert guilt free and prevent those post-holiday blues.
Strengthen your Heart
Sometimes we try so hard to tone all of our muscles that we forget to tone the one that gives us life; our heart. Walking is one of the easiest aerobic activities and can increase your heart rate without working up a sweat. This strengthens your heart and improves circulation, providing your body with the oxygen it needs to keep walking. The longer you walk, the stronger your heart gets and a walking holiday is the perfect way to improve your overall cardiovascular health. Your body will thank you.
Help Prevent Diseases
Walking is a fantastic way to prevent the onset of many diseases. Research shows that walking regularly can reduce one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. What’s more, walking strengthens a person’s bones and can therefore help prevent osteoporosis, a disease which makes the bones brittle. It can even lower blood pressure and reduce risk of having a stroke. Sure, you can enjoy all these benefits on a treadmill but a walking holiday provides all these benefits as well as increasing vitamin D levels from the sun, something us Irish can always use more of. Experts suggest that regular walking can increase life expectancy by as long as 7 years and what better way to add years to your life than with a holiday?
Releases Your Endorphins
Endorphins are chemicals in our brain responsible for relieving pain and making us feel good. Walking for just 30 minutes can release these endorphins and give us an overall feeling of well-being. Doctors therefore consider walking to be an effective way to relieve stress and anxiety. This endorphin release can sometimes be as powerful as taking drugs, with some chasing a what’s called the “runner’s high”. Walking holidays release even more endorphins than normal as you can escape stress of work and enjoy some much earned relaxation. There is therefore no better way to feel a natural sense of euphoria than a walking holiday.
Promote Positive Mental Health
Aside from endorphin release, a walking holiday have other positive effects on your mental health. Taking a guided walk for example, will allow you to meet like-minded travellers and share a sense of community as you work toward a common destination. Alternatively, a self-guided walk can allow you to get to know yourself spiritually as solitude can give us time to reflect and find ourselves. What’s more, reaching a destination gives us a proud feeling of achievement. There’s no better feeling that reaching your goal and looking back at your amazing journey. After a walking holiday, you’ll undoubtedly feel completely recharged and ready for anything.
Considering the unlimited positive effects walking has on our physical and mental health, it is no wonder so many tourists are opting for walking holidays. If you’re interested in a holiday that will leave you feeling relaxed, empowered and healthy, then make sure to check out UWalks.ie to find your perfect journey.
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