There are many reasons to walk, and some of the best reasons have to do with improving or maintaining your health! In this section I’ve collected some of the most enlightening and interesting information I’ve found to date concerning the health benefits of walking, be it a stroll around the block in your neighborhood, backpacking in the mountains, or anything in between.

Health benefits… I’ve found, through experience as well as education, that this term applies to much more than just physical health. Walking in nature can also improve our mental health, stress levels, deepen our spiritual lives, broaden our understanding of the environment, and so much more! By bringing the following articles and videos together in one place, I hope you will discover a wealth of information concerning many different aspects of walking for health, and I hope some (if not all) of them pique your interest.

I’ve also included several articles on shinrin-yoku, the Japanese concept of forest bathing (hint: no swimming or removal of clothing involved!). Learning about and participating in forest bathing was actually one of the catalysts for starting this blog. Although I’ve had some profound experiences with groups engaging in shinrin-yoku, what I realized very quickly was that I’ve been forest bathing for most of my life without even knowing it! It’s fascinating to learn about the science behind it, but it’s even more satisfying to experience it for yourself. Give it a try! (Update: I’ve recently created a page dedicated to shinrin-yoku, also under the Trail Markers tab. If you would like to learn more, please check out that new page.)

“Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” – Albert Einstein