The Mind-Body Benefits of Indulging in the Great Outdoors
Know for its superior skiing, Colorado is equally glorious in the warmer months. (Photos: Lindsey Calla)
This summer I spent a few days in a mountainous haven nestled in the Vail Valley. I was at the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch, where I had the opportunity to experience the Rockies without layers of snow covering up the natural beauty of the area —or layers of clothes protecting my body. I’ve only been to the area in the winter to ski, so I was pumped to be able to hike the trails and discover all of the amazing activities available during the warmer months.
I took a hike with the resident naturalist, Ranger Jackie, and her gorgeous Bernese mountain dog Belle (who is huge at only 9 months old). Jackie introduced me to Colorado’s indigenous plants that have medicinal uses or can be made into natural beauty remedies. Here are the various ways I leveraged nature’s gifts.
Natural sun protection: Aspen trees give off a powder that naturally has an SPF of 5, further proving that nature gives us everything we need, when we need it. If you find yourself low on sunscreen and need extra help from nature, Ranger Jackie gave me a skin-saving tip: rub your fingers alongside the side of an aspen tree to reveal a white powder that is a naturally occurring SPF! It’s more of a life-saving burn-prevention tip rather than something to be relied on exclusively, as your bottled sunscreen will carry a much higher SPF.
Wild greens picking: Forget farm to table — it’s all about ground to mouth. There’s always a new leaf that’s cool to eat..lately it’s been kale, but after nibbling on wild dandelion leaves right off the mountain floor I’m convinced dandelion is poised to have a moment. It’s similar in taste to arugula and has 112 percent of your daily vitamin A!
Outdoor yoga: Of course, this can be done anywhere, but there is something about the fresh mountain air and vivid blue sky that makes it even better in Colorado. The Ritz does a program in the summer that starts with a guided morning hike, followed by a private yoga session outdoors and then a 60 minute massage. How heavenly to align mind, body, and spirit while on vacation! There’s also the option to hike with a yoga mat in search of a great lookout spot to strike a few poses.
Star gazing: If you follow my Instagram you know that I’ve talked a lot about trying to see the stars as much as possible. The two places that I personally love that have incredible star gazing are Tulum, where you feel like the stars are falling into the ocean they are so close, and Colorado, where the milky way can be seen if you’re lucky enough to get a crystal clear night. If you’re a summer nature freak like me, then you know that every August is like ‘star Christmas’ with the arrival of the Perseid meteor showers. They usually peak on or around August 11th, so I would recommend booking a trip around these dates. Life is too short to not stargaze. Less phone gazing, more star gazing. The hotel offers guided night hikes to learn about the stars, but sitting by the fire, eating s'mores with homemade graham crackers and marshmallows, and using a star map app on the iPad is also a stellar option.
Cycling: You can go cycling on a bike path that runs along a stream. I was alone and a little afraid to really explore the wilderness by myself, so I stuck to the road where you can still steal gorgeous views and hear the sound of running water with a lowered risk of of an animal encounter.
Lindsey Calla is the founder of www.callainmotion.com, an online wellness destinations dedicated to active style, travel, fitness, and beauty. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Read This Next: Why Your Sunscreen May Not Protect You as Much as You Think
