Hiking is the quintessential Swiss pastime and is unquestionably the country’s most popular form of exercise among young and old alike. And yes, hiking definitely counts as exercise. Regularly walking in the fresh air and at altitude works a host of muscle groups, promotes stamina and supports physical health in numerous ways.

And the best thing about it is that everyone can adjust the intensity to suit their needs, enabling people with different levels of fitness to reap equal benefit from hiking.

When you walk along natural trails, you have to constantly adjust your steps to cope with the changing surface underfoot. Watch out, however, as stability and good balance are imperative on some trails. Walking in this way also activates deeper muscle groups that are important for stability and healthy posture. 

In contrast to many other forms of exercise, hiking offers a lot of flexibility. You can adapt the pace, duration and level of difficulty to your own specific physical needs and limitations. That is what makes hiking suitable both for novices and for experienced athletes looking to add some extra metres of ascent or hours to their hiking excursions.

Physical preparation pays off

If you want to start hiking, you can get into shape first by going for regular walks, climbing stairs or building stamina in the gym. Cycling and swimming also help get the body ready for hiking, and the strains it places over a longer period. Strength exercises for the upper and lower legs are another simple way to prepare. Good core stability will also help you keep your footing on hikes. This is helpful at any age, and there are also various exercises you can do – either in the gym or at home – to develop it. 

It is particularly important to make a realistic assessment of your own abilities when hiking. Choosing a route that is suited to your fitness level is not only more pleasant but also makes the exercise more fun.

Hiking is an investment in your health

You don’t need a complicated training regime to have a healthy body and improve your wellbeing. Hiking combines endurance training, muscle growth, coordination and outdoor exercise in a single activity. It can also be done almost anywhere, and old age is no barrier. 

If you hike regularly, you strengthen your body with every step. That’s the unique advantage of this form of exercise – it’s easy, versatile and sustainable.