Hike for Happiness
To torch stress and embrace wellness, city folk are opting for the great outdoors
When Dr Priya Selvaraj, IVF specialist gynaecologist, wants to clear her head, she straps on her hiking boots, packs her backpack and heads for the outdoors. She wasn’t always a hiking fan. Things changed two months ago when, on a whim, Priya decided to join a friend on her first hiking trip to the Himalayas. At the time, Priya was working 18 hours a day at her hospital. Not only was her career overwhelming, her commitments to healthrelated conferences were weighing her down. She was struggling to find work-life balance.
“I was in that ‘stuck’ place,” she recalls. “It just felt like, ‘Is this all there is?’ till I discovered hiking.” She continues, “I hike and cycle every weekend now. From inner city hot spots to hike zones across India, I find hiking a great form of cardio and it changes your perspective on life.”
Lenin Paul, educationist, an avid trekker who travels with his group of cycling friends, says, “The idea of scaling a mountain in South America or in India may sound ridiculous or even scary, but it also alters your ability to take risks, calculate life situations and prioritise.” He adds, “What we discovered was, ‘Oh my God, there’s a world of adventure out there!’ And you don’t have to be a young, fit, 30-year-old male to go and do this stuff.”
Vidya Singh, wedding planner and the then princess of Vijayanagaram, who’s been on hikes to Bolivia and within India, shares, “I fell in love with being outdoors and hiking. I return home invigorated each and every time.” She adds, “The constant movement of hiking stimulates positive neurochemicals that can reduce anxiety, stress and burnout. Plus, the focus required for the activity keeps your mind in the present.”
Entrepreneur Arun Venkatraman, entrepreneur and former Gladrags Mr India notes that “The physical health benefits can’t be overlooked. When you’re walking on a footpath, each step you take is identical to the others. That monotonous same-movement pattern over time will wear out your joints.” He points out that “Hiking, on the other hand, helps hone your balance, co-ordination and agility as you navigate uneven terrain.”
THE IDEA OF SCALING A MOUNTAIN IN SOUTH AMERICA OR IN INDIA MAY SOUND RIDICULOUS OR EVEN SCARY, BUT IT ALSO ALTERS YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE RISKS, CALCULATE LIFE SITUATIONS AND PRIORITISE. THERE’S A WORLD OF ADVENTURE OUT THERE!”
— LENIN PAUL “THE CONSTANT MOVEMENT OF HIKING STIMULATES POSITIVE NEUROCHEMICALS THAT CAN REDUCE ANXIETY, STRESS AND BURNOUT. PLUS, THE FOCUS REQUIRED FOR THE ACTIVITY KEEPS YOUR MIND IN THE PRESENT.” — VIDYA SINGH