Do You Know About Mountain Therapy?
I usually say that one day on the mountain equals two in the city (at least). Even an orange or a snack has a different flavor there. Every time I visit the mountains I discover something. It’s always different, even if it’s the same, and therefore I’ll infect you from here with emotion and enthusiasm, so that you can put on your boots and get ready to savor nature.
The mountain itself will offer advantages. I don’t just mean the purely physical aspect. Obviously, as long as you exercise it will benefit you, but there is also the mental balance this can bring you into your daily life.
If you’ve never climbed a mountain the first thing you should ask, logically, is whether you’re capable. Over many years, I have seen people of all types practice some form of mountain climbing. From athletes with enviable physical fitness, to children as young as five years old and even seniors over eighty. And, of course, there was a day when it started: that’s when they decided to climb the mountain in front of them, perhaps out of curiosity or just out of a desire to breathe a cleaner air.
It’s never too late, because, among other things, we shouldn’t measure mountains by height, but by the satisfaction they can provide us. In this sense, a mountain that does not reach two hundred meters can be a great source of pleasure. And by the same token, it’s never too late to start exploring this wonderful world, and if you haven’t already, it’s never too early.
The mountain is a fantastic school for both children and teenagers, so that they understand that to reach certain things and goals, some effort is needed. Not to mention the intrinsic benefits of being in touch with nature. Some children, especially in big cities, have only seen a horse or sheep on the television screen.
Isn’t that terrible? Trapped in a digital world of video games, television, countless channels and social networks, they fear silence more than the shadow itself. From a very young age, they lose the capacity for pure contemplation, to admire a landscape that is not virtual and where countless actions per minute cannot take place.
I sometimes have the feeling that today’s society is undermining the inherent and natural capacity for wonder that every child possesses. It is increasingly difficult and more expensive, in every sense of the term, to impress. They’ve grown up in a sophisticated world of digital technology, and analog special effects from movies like “The Neverending Story” can seem silly. The wonders of nature will always be far more spectacular and amazing than any 3D movie screen.
Thus, an excursion in the Ordesa Valley in the Aragonese Pyrenees is an unforgettable experience for any child. And probably much richer than any video game. Take the little ones in front of the screen and take them for a walk in a nearby mountain. Start slowly, without trying too hard, getting used to it gradually. This practice will teach you to appreciate real landscapes. Wonderful and fake worlds, like the one in the digital movie “Avatar”, will lose their charm. Make no mistake, the best 3D is in the mountains, and you don’t even have to wear glasses.
So take a break. Turn off for a few hours, a morning, a day, or, if you can, a weekend. Escape to the mountains, even if it’s close. Lie down on the grass and look at the sky. Without the daily pressures of the environment, you can focus on the problems that afflict you from other, more positive and decisive perspectives. Walking through a natural landscape helps us recover something we are missing: the ability to contemplate, to admire our surroundings.
Who hasn’t dreamed of traveling in a time machine since childhood? Nothing is easier than looking for it in the mountains, as they are full of places that have been almost intact for thousands of years. Natural spaces that emerge little by little to sharpen our sensibility and never cease to amaze us.
It is also possible to exercise patience in the mountains and, through this, you can implement it later at work or at home. If you have a taste for mountains and mountain climbing, your trips will become longer and probably more demanding, and this will alleviate the stress that often occupied us during the day.
To start, look for a smaller, easy-to-climb mountain near where you live. Don’t get lost with equipment; a pair of sneakers you already own is enough to get you started, a cap, and a waterproof suit. A little water and a sandwich are enough, and you can put them in your children’s school bag. Because to reach the modest top that’s waiting for you, enthusiasm and the desire to climb are much more important than any innovative material.
On the other hand, mountaineering will teach you to have a certain sobriety in life, so that we know how to differentiate the important from the passenger, and not to give importance to many of the trivial choices that confront us every day. And finally, the mountain will help improve your quality of life, quickly and affordably.
Do you dare to try?
