How Nordic Skiing Can Make You A happier Person

The White Mountain National Forest is home to a plethora of animals, most of which either hibernate or migrate during the winter. Once these animals migrate, their absence is apparent. A forest that was once teeming with life – birds chirping, squirrels scurrying, and trees thriving – now lies seemingly vacant, lifeless, and silent. There’s something incredibly mystical about exploring a place that’s been abandoned by life and surrounded by silence.  

When I spoke with Nordic skiers, they echoed this sentiment. Their love of Nordic skiing stems from much more than just physical exercise. “I love when I’m on my own [Nordic skiing] and I stop and listen,” said Gigi Estes, Director of the Nordic Silver Streaks Program, “Sometimes I can hear the trees moving. Sometimes, there’s no wind. That silence is overwhelming. It just opens up your whole body. It’s always beautiful". Nordic skiers have a palpable appreciation for that special kind of silence – the kind of silence you’d only find deep within a snow-covered forest. But it’s not simply about appreciating the sound of the forest. Gigi and many other Nordic skiers allow the forest to completely overtake their senses, intentionally tuning into the way the forest sounds, smells, feels and looks.  

In Japanese culture, there is an exercise called “shinrin-yoku”, which means “forest bathing” [1]. Forest bathing is when you travel through a forest, intentionally connecting with the earth around you. Without even knowing it, many Nordic skiers partake in shinrin-yoku regularly. Tuning in to the body’s senses, taking in the overwhelming quiet, feeling the sharp frigid air, smelling the faint aroma of pine, and relishing in the utter beauty of the natural world. There certainly is a meditative quality to Nordic skiing- it allows you to completely submerge yourself in the forest and connect with something bigger than yourself.  

People often overlook the fact that Nordic skiing can provide incredible benefits to one’s mental health. Research studies suggest that people tend to be happier when they have a sense of meaning in their lives [2]. While spirituality, religion, and close relationships all provide sources of meaning, many people find meaning from developing a deep connection with the natural world [3]. Psychological research studies suggest that regular contact with the natural world is associated with increased happiness, subjective wellbeing, positive mood, positive social interactions, decreased mental distress, and an increased sense of meaning and purpose in life [3]. Every time you Nordic ski and actively reconnect with Mother Nature, you will feel happier. You will feel more content in your daily life, you will work better with others, you will maintain better relationships with your family, friends, and community members. But most importantly, Nordic skiing can give you a sense of meaning.  

  While Nordic skiing provides extraordinary mental health benefits, it also provides an abundance of physical health benefits. Certainly, Nordic skiing is superb physical exercise, but there are plenty of additional hidden benefits to Nordic skiing than just working out. Every time a Nordic skier traverses through the fir-dominant White Mountain National Forest, their immune system benefits. Evergreen trees excrete a chemical called phytoncides, which helps plants ward off unwanted pests, bacteria, or fungi. Phytoncides help boost and improve the human immune system; they also increase the bodies’ production of anti-cancer proteins, as well as reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones. [4] When we skate through forests, we breathe in these natural healing properties, which boost our immune system and strengthen our overall physical health.   

Nordic skiing can make you feel invincible – working your skis through the snow, gliding along the forest floor, it can feel as if anything is possible. But more importantly, Nordic skiing provides incredible mental and physical health benefits. If you’ve got a case of the winter blues, consider picking up a pair of Nordic skis, and go explore the forest. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you later...   

P.S. Think Snow!

References  

[1] Ohtsuka Y, et al. (1998) Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Int J Biometeorol. 41(3):125-7. DOI: 10.1007/s004840050064.  

[2] Seligman, M. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. NY: Free Press 

[3] Bratman, G. et al. (2019). Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances. 5(7). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax0903  

[4] United States Department of Agriculture. August 22, 2019. Walk in the woods for wellness: Health benefits of forests. United States Forest Service. Accessed December 20, 2021. https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/out-and-about/walk-woods-wellness-health-benefits-forests