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| OHCC LIVING | OCTOBER 2025 | 43 WAlkers and Hikers In September, our group walked Moonlight Beach to Swami, including a stop at the gardens of the Self-Realization Fellowship and Meditation Center, followed by a breakfast/lunch at the Encinitas Cafe. On Sept. 20, we added a new dimension to an OHCC walk when we joined the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's at Kit Carson Park in Escondido. Did you know that both hiking and walking are excellent for health? Although hiking tends to provide additional benefits due to varied terrain, elevation, and time spent in nature, walking is a close second in the benefits provided. A search on ChatGPT reveals that walking offers benefits to people's mental health in addition to their cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. According to experts, walking reduces stress and anxiety because walking in nature lowers cortisol levels. It can boost your mood because when you walk, endorphins are released. Walking/ hiking increases blood f low to the brain, enhancing memory and creativity. There is something about walking outdoors that provides an added restorative effect as opposed to walking indoors. When I was growing up in Ohio, a group of men and women walked the mall for exercise. At the time, I thought they looked funny and even strange as they power walked through the mall. Now that I have lived in Southern California for the last 40+ years, I get it. I applaud those mall walkers for their resourcefulness in finding a way to continue their beneficial walks when it was freezing outside for six months out of the year! We are so fortunate here to have weather that is generally pleasant, if not beautiful, most days. We can walk outdoors and experience nature year-round. It seems a shame to waste our great weather by staying indoors. As far as the cardiovascular benefits, doctors say that walking can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Walking briskly or hiking at an incline increases heart efficiency. The charts indicate that with walking, we burn calories at approximately 200–300 calories per hour, and with hiking, that amount is doubled to 400–600 calories per hour. If you're unsure about joining us for a walk or hike, remember that walking boosts endurance and hiking strengthens your legs and core. Although many people with arthritis avoid walking due to their pain, physical therapists say that low impact walking actually helps alleviate arthritis symptoms by lubricating the joints. MOTION IS LOTION. By far the most immediate and enduring benefit when walking with the OHCC Walkers & Hikers is the socialization aspect. Both walking and hiking are great ways to get to know your neighbors and engage in great conversations. You might make a new friend or two. We end almost all our hikes or walks by going out for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Please remember to check the calendar on the OHCC website for our planned monthly hikes/walks. We look forward to seeing you on the trails the next time you feel like getting some Vitamin D, in addition to all the other aforementioned benefits. Submitted by Marla Reiter