Hiking is one of the most popular types of exercise right now, thanks to its combination of walking exercise and the wonderful view that awaits. After all, exercising doesn’t feel as burdensome, precisely hiking is a great way to enjoy the scenery as you go.
As a form of exercise, hiking also carries a multitude of health benefits. Find out benefits of hiking for you, along with some of the best hiking trails in Indonesia below!
8 Reasons Why Hiking is Good For You
1. Maintaining Body Weight
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Fat is the source of energy during physical activities. That’s why when you’re working out, your calories will burn at a much faster rate.
If your goal is to lose weight, you’ll need to create a caloric deficit in which you need to burn more calories than you consume.
Even though you can do so through many forms of exercise, hiking is a great way to do so. It helps you in the process to burn calories while preventing muscle loss at the same time!
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2. Building Stronger Muscles and Bones
Hiking regularly can help your body form new bone tissues. As you exert in the pressure regularly, the body learns and starts enhancing its density, so that it can be a withstand that pressure. Moving regularly can also help put more fluid in your joints, thus alleviating arthritis.
Other than that, hiking is an activity that keeps the muscles active and engaged, especially your quadriceps muscle. This way, hiking is great for your muscles will get used to being active and strong.
3. Improving Balance
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Balance is one aspect of your body that is often overlooked. While you might not see the need now, it becomes more crucial the more you get older as a way to prevent balance-related falls due to old age.
When hiking, you’ll encounter uneven terrain with many obstacles on the way, including hills, rocks, mud, and others. To navigate around it, you’ll have to maintain your balance. With practice, you’ll see this skill improve the more you go hiking.
4. Lowering Blood Pressure
Exercising regularly can help strengthen your heart. So by hiking, your heart will be able to pump more blood with little to no effort.
Without having to do as much effort, the blood pressure then decreases and can be distributed far easier within your system.
5. Reducing Risks of Heart Diseases
With reduced blood pressure, it also means that hiking can help reduce the risks of heart diseases.
While hiking, your body can also increase high-density lipoproteins and reduce triglyceride levels. With this readjustment, there will be less chance for you to develop heart diseases such as stroke.
6. Lowering Anxiety and Depression
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When you’re hiking, you’ll most definitely be surrounded by nature: the sight of clear blue sky, animals in their natural habitat, and greenery all around you. It’s a chance to escape the hustle and bustle that is your daily life for a while.
Aside from that, your body also releases endorphins and serotonin when it’s moving. They’re the types of hormones that are associated with pleasure and can ease feelings of depression.
7. Improving Sleep Quality
During a hike, you’ll be exposed to the sun and its vitamin D, which can help your sleep regulation. Studies have found that vitamin D can help you fall asleep quicker, stay asleep for a longer period of time, and improves your quality of sleep.
Other than that, the exercise that is hiking can make you feel tired and less stressed, thus leaving little room for anxiety before sleep and can help you fall asleep faster.
8. Detox From Technology
Engaging with our smartphones and social media platforms can lead to physical strain on our eyes and bodies. It can also result in diminished social skills, chronic neck and back discomfort, as well as mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
It’s crucial to take breaks from technology occasionally. How about embarking in a hiking adventure? Power down your phone and venture in nature to relish the present moment, liberating yourself from the stress often associated with endless scrolling.
10 Best Hiking Trails in Indonesia
Now that you know the benefits of hiking, it’s time to pick a place to hike!
Due to the many mountains and hills the country has, Indonesia offers many beautiful hiking trails overlooking views of the green forests or sparkling blue lakes.
Be sure to choose only the best to make the most of your hiking experience. Here are the 10 best hiking trails in Indonesia:
- Mount Bromo, East Java
- Ijen Volcano Crater, East Java
- Mount Gede, West Java
- Mount Lokon, North Sulawesi
- Sipiso Piso Waterfall, North Sumatera
- Mount Rinjani, Lombok
- Komodo Island, Komodo
- Kelingking Beach, Bali
- Mount Agung, Bali
- Mount Batur, Bali
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Start the Hike Right from Your Doorstep at Bobocabin Ubud!
Hiking has never been more convenient. Start your morning hike at Mount Batur, only a short walking distance away from Bobocabin Ubud!
After a refreshing hike, you can give yourself some privacy with our smart window, adjust the lighting to enhance your comfort, and put on some music for a great ambience—all within your fingertips.
Feeling like grilling? Go make some BBQ with your loved ones for some quality time. To close the night off, enjoy the warmth of your very own campfire under the stars.
Download the Bobobox app on Play Store or App Store for booking and more information.
