Heart Healthy Fun

Here’s a healthy reminder to take care of your heart this spring. We thought we’d provide some outdoor activity ideas which are good for your heart, and fun to boot!

Hiking

Hiking offers huge benefits. Not only is it a great cardio workout, but it has also been shown to boost bone density, improve balance, strengthen your core and boost your mood.  It’s one of the few sports that don’t require a lot of training or gear to get started. You simply put one foot in front of the other and go!

If you’re a seasoned hiker, you can ramp up your workout by hiking hilly terrain or adding weight to a backpack and hiking with the pack on your pack. The added weight boosts your calorie burn and gives your lower back muscles a workout as well. Another trick is to use hiking poles to push off from with each step which gives your upper body a great workout.

There are plenty of places to hike around our campgrounds from flat trails to more rugged terrains. On-site trails include Lake Conroe (two-mile loop), Pacific City (2.5-mile loop) and the paved 1.2-mile trail at Wilderness Lakes. Consider a hike through the Red Rocks while staying at Verde Valley RV Campground in Cottonwood, Arizona or a more alpine-style hike while staying at Washington’s Leavenworth RV Campground.

Biking

Bicycling is one stop shopping when it comes to a workout. Biking is an aerobic activity which translates to your heart, lungs and blood vessels all getting a workout. Like hiking, there are many benefits to bicycling including better lung health and improved mood, plus it builds muscle and is considered a low impact activity. Again, not a lot of equipment needed – just a bike that suits your needs and a helmet to keep your noggin safe. Many of our RV campgrounds have paved bike trails, so check out www.thousandtrails.com to see if your favorite campground has an onsite trail for you to enjoy.

To find hiking and biking trails near your favorite campground, visit www.traillink.com.

Inside Activities

If you’re on the road and find yourself in need of a regular exercise routine, consider packing the following equipment to bring with you and you’ll always have the gear to stay fit.

• Resistance Bands
• Yoga Mat
• Jump Rope
• Weights (assorted pounds)

If you need to follow a program, there are all kinds of free fitness videos available on Youtube.com or streaming subscriptions systems such as the Daily Burn, Gaia or BeFit TV and of course, many Thousand Trails RV Campgrounds have exercise facilities onsite as well as scheduled activities that include group hikes, team sports, and other fun and fit activities you can participate in.

Visit thousandtrails.com to book your home base for your next outdoor adventure!