The Road To Wellness

Nice to see you! Wishing you a healthy day!

This week is the perfect time to hit the bike trail. Welcome to National Bike Month!

I have to admit that I walk more than I bike. It’s the nature lover in me. During the spring, my eyes are fixed on the ground as I look for new spring wildflowers—and morels this time of year.

Biking, however, has its place. The wind blowing through my hair is refreshing. I like the feeling of pushing myself by biking miles. It’s a great workout for your quads that is non-weight bearing. It burns almost 300 calories an hour for a 160-pound person. It has a lot going for it.

I equate biking with running. It gives you an endorphin rush that is hard to resist. It challenges you. It can be a tough workout. For me, it is a nice change of pace cardio. With more and more trails being developed, there is no excuse not to celebrate and hit the bike trail.

Photo by aganaui

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This is one of those holidays when you sometimes it just won’t work, yet the concept is fantastic. Rather than fight traffic, celebrate National Walk to Work Day!

If work is too far away, just park your car farther from the office and walk the rest of the way. A good long walk is so therapeutic, just the thing you need as another stressful day of work winds down.

Make a social thing. Invite a friend or your spouse to join you on all or part of your walk. Enjoy the time outdoors—as well as the extra calories you will bun. Just think of it, instead of being stressed, you’ll be all mellowed out with those juicy endorphins coursing through your veins.

You’ll be able to concentrate better and be more productive. Besides, won’t it be nice to begin your day not feeling angry because you have to go to work and not be outside on a gorgeous day?

Photo by belisle

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Today is a day worth celebrating for both your physical and mental health. Welcome to National Walk in the Park Day!

For me, this is the type of walking. I walk in the neighborhood and to town, but I don’t particularly like either one. It’s okay. I prefer the solitude and the sound of birds singing in the woods. It is like meditating as I fall into a rhythmic pace, swinging my arms to and fro.

I enjoy everything about it. During this time of year, I’m always looking for signs of spring wildflowers. Then, there are the birds, especially the spring warblers and my personal favorite, the rose-breasted grosbeak. Its song is one of the most beautiful you will ever hear while walking, at least I think so.

When stress is wearing you down or the job that you hate, forget all of that for a time. Enjoy the parks, the woods, the birds, and the freedom of being outside. It is Nature’s best medicine.

Photo by Paul A. Rose

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Cushy isn’t always better as supported by a Harvard University study on running shoes. According to the study’s findings, wearing cushioned running shoes may increase your likelihood of injuries while running.

The study suggests that people will suffer less running-related injuries by wearing minimal footwear. Figures aside, the theory does make sense. Humans evolved running and walking barefoot. Cushioned running shoes  have been around less than 40 years, hardly time enough for humans to evolve to their use.

The movement to promote a barefoot lifestyle has been around for awhile. Practically and for health concerns, barefoot walking isn’t always possible. However, shoes without extra padding make it possible for you to experience barefoot walking and its benefits without worrying about where you step.

At home, I typically do not wear shoes. I find this new evidence compelling and will definitely replace my next pair of shoes with ones that promise a more natural experience.

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We have one of those outdoor storage sheds in our backyard. We don’t go into the shed a lot. It’s basically just used for storage of our summer stuff. As we learned the other day, it also stores something else–a woodchuck that enjoys its location away from the house.

The weather has been getting warmer. We are finally above zero. The other day, it was positively balmy, reaching into the upper twenties. Okay, so nothing says Minnesotan like…..

I happened to look out to survey the neighborhood and the year when I saw it. I didn’t realize that woodchucks viewed metal sheds as habitat, but there he was, peaking out from underneath our shed.

It was late afternoon, the perfect time for a woodchuck to be active. Contrary to popular belief, that winter sleep is not a deep hibernation. When days are warmer like it was this week, they will venture out to feed. So it happened with our little friend.

I watched him for awhile, lumbering around. We all have our ways of dealing with winter, I thought. The woodchuck’s strategy is just to enjoy the best of winter and avoid the rest. It’s probably not the worst of strategies.

Interesting, this little guy had made the mistake–I’m assuming it’s the same one–of taking up residence under one of our neighbor’s vinyl sheds. That neighbor wasn’t as happy to see him. He set a trap for the woodchuck. I have to admit that we tripped it a few times. The woodchuck wasn’t doing any harm. As I like to say, he’s just trying to make a living just like you or me.

I watched the woodchuck as he looked for some food. Winter had to have been especially tough this year. Not that I’m one for anthropomorphic feelings, but I also don’t believe in cruelty. As I see it, we’re all trying to endure the winter. I have my warm house with its fireplace. The woodchuck has his little den under my shed. Best of luck to the both of us to survive the winter.

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