Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice which originated in ancient India. Yoga is a wonderful way to address chronic pain and stress. Yoga also helps with increase flexibility, muscle strength, energy, balance, and protection from injury. Most importantly, yoga's incorporation of meditation and breathing helps to improve well-being, coping skills, and living more intentionally in the moment.
Fitness Meter:// Courage Meter: ❤️ Location: Various; On a mountain, in a forest, healing retreats, yoga studios
Ice Climbing
Let’s admit it, the sound of ice climbing is just plain cool. However, ice climbing helps to build muscle, increase cardiovascular system and develop excellent core strength. In addition, ice climbing is a great activity to increase mental toughness and slowing our brains down to focus on what is directly in front of you.
Rock climbing is a great overall physical health, but it also promotes feelings of self-efficiency. Deciphering beta and learning new moves, skills, and techniques teaches us to keep trying... growing. Rock climbing is also beneficial for developing mindfulness, reducing generalized fears, depression, anxiety, and In healing trauma. We have a very enriched rock climbing community right here in Spokane.
Fitness Meter: /// Courage Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Location: Spokane and surrounding area
Hiking
Most research reveals that hiking extends far beyond cardiovascular health, and even goes as far as helping cancer patients recovery. Hiking also helps reduce feelings of disconnection, depression, anxiety, and an increase in overall feelings of peace and well-being from being out in nature. Stepping away from our work cubicles and catching a morning sunrise helps to remind us of our commonality to mother earth.
Who doesn’t like to feel the wind brush up a crossed your face as you race down a mountain. All types of skiing offers cardio-metabolic benefits, including improved insulin resistance, body composition, and glucose metabolism. Skiing takes concentration and can also be meditative in nature.
Description: "Meditation in motion". Walking mediation is more than just strolling about. Remember that we are training in being as mindful as possible; this practice is all about being aware of our body and physical sensations as we move. Our eyes are open and our mind and body are rooted in the present. As Thich Nhat Hanh states, "as we walk, we should imagine that we print peace, serenity and happiness on the ground".
Fitness Meter: / Courage Meter: ❤️ Location: Spokane and surrounding area
backpacking
Description: The warm sunshine on your face, the sound of the wind rushing through the trees, overhead, and the soft earthy feel of the trail under your boots. Hiking helps build stronger muscles and bones, improves balance, improves heart health, and decreases some respiratory problems. Being outdoors, looking up at the midnight sky with nothing but a million stars in site, can also improve your sensory perception, which in turn, can put our whole life into perspective and increase your overall quality of life.
Description: Mountaineering is a unique discipline that involves climbing to a mountain peak. It employs the use of many skills, including route-finding and knowledge of how to use ropes, crampons, and ice axes. Mountaineering demands deep focus and commitment. Mountain climbing helps to address fears that may be perceived as insurmountable at first, but then you achieve your goal, and you are welcomed with a new set of thinking of what you can do in other areas of your life. Climbing mountains helps to put things in perspective. You realize how fragile and precious life really is.
Description: What started out over a thousand years ago as a main mode of winter transportation has evolved into a popular recreational activity. If you're looking for a way to be active in the winter months, snowshoeing is an excellent low-impact aerobic exercise. It allows us to extent our hiking and running season while still enjoying the solitude of nature. Snowshoeing is also a great social activity, is inexpensive, and requires little technique or skill set.
Fitness Meter: /// Courage Meter: ❤️❤️ Location: Spokane and surrounding area
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin
