I didn’t think about this too much until I learned about Ryojun Shionuma . The Buddhist monk puts the toughest thru-hikers to shame. He scaled Japan’s Mt. Omine—nearly 30 miles round-trip—every day from May to September for nine years in a row, completing the journey 1,000 times in an ancient ritual that promised pain, suffering, and, if he finished it, enlightenment.
You can’t read about Shionuma’s feat without being astounded. But endurance is only part of the story. What captivated my attention was his belief that hiking up and down a mountain, day after day and year after year, would shape his mind more than his body. And it turns out, science backs him up. New research suggests that meditation combined with exercise has a multiplying effect, delivering a one-two punch of psychological benefits—lifting mood, improving concentration, and more.
RT NOLS @NOLSedu: The Joy—and Struggle—of Mindful Hiking https://t.co/A86NK03HSQ via @BackpackerMag https://t.co/Lwmj70aFdQ