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The Benefits of Walking by Terry Carruthers The news is out. Research shows time and again that walking, the most natural of movements to us, is incredibly beneficial in so may areas of our health; physical, mental, and spiritual. Walking lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, burns off surplus pounds, alleviates mild depression, enhances your mood, reduces the effect of stress and more. But going on foot has other benefits too. Most people will agree that a ten to twenty minute walk in the air is a great way to clarify your thoughts and put your problems into perspective. One aspect of walking that is under-appreciated is how much it can enhance your creativity. “Studies have shown that spending as little as an hour a week in a natural area can have a positive influence on creativity” says James A. Swan, PhD, author of Nature as Teacher and Healer. New ideas, thoughts and emotions often surface during a walk. Be sure to write these down immediately after your walk, or perhaps keep a small tape recorder on you to record such thoughts. Walking gets you away from the crowds. Studies have shown that 80% of people stay within 300 metres of their vehicle, so by going that extra distance you will quickly get into quieter, less disturbed areas. Many people enjoy listening to music while walking. Personally I do not like being divorced from my natural surroundings. I find that a better use of walking is to increase one’s sensual awareness, particularly if you are in a natural setting. Use all your senses to gain a greater appreciation of your environs. Learn to read the countryside with your eyes – the broader canvas painted by glaciers and erosion, the impact of humans and especially older traces thereof; the presence of old habitations, field walls and drains, quarries, gravel pits, decaying fence posts, second growth forest. Watch for animal tracks and signs, listen and try to identify bird song, the rustle of creatures rummaging in the undergrowth, the sighing of wind through the trees, the first flowers and buds to appear, shapes and patterns in the clouds. Feel the shape and texture of bark, flowers and leaves. Smell the aroma of freshly mown grass, the varying scent of new flowers, the rich scent of different fungi, decaying wood and leaf mould, the warm air from the south, and the cold, crisp air from the north. A walk is a great way to share valuable time with family, friends and colleagues. Rather than always going out on your own, ask someone to join you. Next time you have a meeting why not take it outdoors? You may well find that the fresh air will help you ‘think outside the box’ and inspire greater creativity. Walking and hiking is an easy way
to meet some wonderful people, perhaps even your next partner,
and many clubs offer hikes especially for singles, dog owners
and others. Terry Carruthers, a native of Dublin, was a ranger with the Irish National Parks Service for 17 years. He now runs his own company called Walking Experiences, offering a select range of walking and wildlife tours each year throughout the world. He also organises customised tours for families, clubs and similar groups. A professional guide, naturalist & author, his principal interests are history, birds and ecology, but other interests include watercolor painting, traditional Irish music, woodcarving and house restorations. He is the author of a number of scientific publications, as well as ‘The Birds of Killarney National Park’ (1993), ‘Kerry: A Natural History’ (1998) and is a contributing author to ‘Killarney National Park: A Place to Treasure’ (2001). Terry and his wife Pat divide their time between their homes in Co. Cork and New Jersey.
Stay with us at : www.lakehotel.com For guided walks we recommend Terry
Carruthers of I.W.E Tours Walking
Tours with Terry Carruthers
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