metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
About 15 years ago, I listened to an Icelander talk about how walking outside no matter what the temperature is part of Icelandic tradition, and she says the many that follow that practice typically spend about an hour outside that includes the walk/jog plus just relaxing afterward.
That sort of rang a bell in my head (I hear lots of other sounds there as well
), largely because the Swedish side of my family is what I have always been the closest to, and that is a common practice there as well. Even though I walked at least three days per week, in bad weather it was in-doors on my treadmill, so I changed that to do it the Icelandic way.
After roughly 15 years, the results I couldn't have been more pleased with. First of all, I hate not walking outside if I'm ill or too busy, because not only has it had quite an effect on my body, it really has very much helped my mind.
For example, this morning I did my 2+ mile walk when it was -4 degrees F., and then sat on chair on my patio and watched the birds for about 15 or so minutes. What makes it so remarkable is that my body really doesn't feel the cold much since I do it every day and the body just adjusts, and I don't have to worry about cold extremities but I do check on windy cold days to make sure I don't get frostbite.
To me, it's just absolutely amazing on how the body adjusts, because I'll tell ya that 15 years ago, I couldn't have done this with anywhere near close to the same effect. BTW, I'm 68.
I write this as a recommendation as it's just amazing the positive physical and psychological effects this approach has.
That sort of rang a bell in my head (I hear lots of other sounds there as well
), largely because the Swedish side of my family is what I have always been the closest to, and that is a common practice there as well. Even though I walked at least three days per week, in bad weather it was in-doors on my treadmill, so I changed that to do it the Icelandic way. After roughly 15 years, the results I couldn't have been more pleased with. First of all, I hate not walking outside if I'm ill or too busy, because not only has it had quite an effect on my body, it really has very much helped my mind.
For example, this morning I did my 2+ mile walk when it was -4 degrees F., and then sat on chair on my patio and watched the birds for about 15 or so minutes. What makes it so remarkable is that my body really doesn't feel the cold much since I do it every day and the body just adjusts, and I don't have to worry about cold extremities but I do check on windy cold days to make sure I don't get frostbite.
To me, it's just absolutely amazing on how the body adjusts, because I'll tell ya that 15 years ago, I couldn't have done this with anywhere near close to the same effect. BTW, I'm 68.
I write this as a recommendation as it's just amazing the positive physical and psychological effects this approach has.
