When you spend time in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you undoubtedly will have a great experience. But while you’re having all the fun in the world, did you know you’re most likely benefiting physically, mentally, and emotionally?
Researchers have found that exercising outdoors in nature can improve your overall feelings of well-being and reduce anxiety. Spending time outdoors also can help replenish depleted energy, heighten awareness, build confidence, and assist in meditation benefits.
Keep reading to discover how your favorite activities in CVNP benefit you in ways you probably hadn’t thought of!
Biking
The benefits of biking are as extensive as the trails in CVNP. Physically, biking is an aerobic activity, meaning your heart, lungs, and blood vessels all get a good workout. In addition, biking will help build muscle strength, promote weight loss, boost brain power, and even cut your risk of heart disease and cancer!
Not only will you be benefiting your physical health when biking in CVNP, but your mental well-being will improve as well. For example, in an ever-increasing stressful world, biking is a way to reduce stress and improve memory.
Nicole Nigh
Cuyahoga Valley National Park welcomes bikers of all ages and abilities. If anything says CVNP, it is the Towpath Trail, which follows the historic Ohio & Erie Canal route. Twenty miles of the trail occur in CVNP. As a way to encourage family members to be active in the park, bikers can even ride along the Towpath Trail in one direction and come back on the train in the other with the Bike Aboard program.
Hiking
Tom Jones
The benefits of hiking go far beyond good views. Not only is hiking great for adults, but it can help your kids too! Your child is more likely to be physically fit and have a lower risk of becoming obese, developing high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes. If those aren’t enough reasons to get your little one hiking, you’ll love the fact that it could help them sleep better at night and be more alert in class.
It’s hard to imagine a more iconic thing to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park than hiking. There is a plethora of iconic locations in Cuyahoga Valley National Park that are appropriate for the entire family.
Yoga
Why not add an outdoor yoga session to your adventure? Combine the benefits of yoga with the perks of being outdoors and you’ll have the perfect package. Practicing yoga outdoors can inspire a whole new world of mindfulness and serenity.
In a fast-paced world filled with all kinds of stress, yoga can be a tool to help counter the pressures of being human. Physically, yoga enhances your flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, yoga can help connect you with your inner self and your surrounding environment.
Looking for some meditative bliss within the beauty of the park? Visit Spice Acres for 60-minute yoga classes, available for people of all skill levels and offered 2 times a week.
Volunteering
The rewards for volunteering are endless. Volunteering in your national park is an excellent way to be active while giving back to the environment. Not only will you get your blood pumping, but you will expand your mind by learning new skills!
Denny Reiser
A new study suggests that volunteering for as little as 2 to 2.5 hours each week can be beneficial for your health. In a study from Carnegie Mellon University, adults over age 50 who volunteered on a regular basis were less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers.
In CVNP, there is a place for everyone to find their volunteer niche. The Conservancy and the National Park Service work together to offer families, adults, and kids a variety of opportunities to create meaningful experiences and preserve the park.
Next time you’re enjoying yourself in CVNP, remember all the gifts the park is giving back to you!
Want to return the favor? A donation to the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will help to protect, preserve, and enhance the park so that this incredible natural resource is available for generations to come. When you donate by August 31, your gift will be matched, dollar for dollar. Visit https://www.conservancyforcvnp.org/match/ to learn more.
