Exercise isn’t always fun. Where’s the open space to move around? The quiet to focus on your health? How does a person find the place or time to get the exercise they need today? The gym is a dreaded place for many people, because it cannot always be motivational. There’s little feeling of success walking on a treadmill for an hour, as opposed to walking an hour in nature. But there isn’t always a lot of nature where people live. Big cities don’t always allow people the quiet they need to focus or the space they need to exercise, so the only other option is the gym. And when those are your options, you don’t always feel excited to exercise. But the truth is, our bodies need that nitty gritty use once in a while to build basic muscle and support heart health. This is why Dude ranches are such a good option for people looking for a new way to be healthy. The main point of a ranch visit is to enjoy yourself, but some may not realize why they are enjoying themselves so much. A person gets to experience freedom of walking where they please, having hearty meals, and getting to use their hands. A person may even find his or herself learning how to ride horseback. But between all these stimulating activities, a body is responding to the sudden purpose it has. Human beings were hunters and gatherers for so long, the short switch into modern society these last few centuries hasn’t translated into our DNA yet. In other words, our bodies still want to move, and jump and be useful. And while you think you’re giving your mind a workout by making baskets with your hands or learning how to ride a horse, your body feels useful again. There is no greater feeling than having an even flow between body and mind. This kind of stimulation is what makes a person happy as well as health.
The problem is, not many people think of going to a ranch when they start feeling the weight of the world upon their shoulders. Yet they are everywhere if you just open your eyes. Montana dude ranches, for example, are some of the best around. The point of a ranch is to go back to a time where the body and mind were both used and both needed, and feel like there is a purpose for both again.