Visitors to this site often comment on the pictures of TOW students "Out and About" that adorn many of the pages.  I've shared these out amongst the site to reduce the download time.  For the same reason I've usually put the pictures part way down the pages to enable visitors/students to read whilst the page is loading up.  The students also enjoy seeing themselves and their exploits on the web.  If you would like to hear what we have been up to recently you will find a "click on" at the bottom of this page.

However, the number one reason for their appearance is as a reminder of the health benefits accrued by being out and about the TOW way.

Research has shown that there are tremendous health benefits from any outdoor activity and adventure sport, even the humble ramble in the hills and mountains, in the forests or by the sea.

Lets give as an example the typical health benefits of an enjoyable trip up our local mountain - Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, S.Wales.

We would normally leave quite early and take the back roads through Usk and Abergavenny to avoid the stress and pollution of the motorways.  We'd meet the rest of the group at Merthyr for a leisurely breakfast before going on to the mountain to begin the walk to the top.  On the way up we are likely to share experiences, laugh and joke and cohere as a group building a team spirit.

Perhaps it is cold with snow underfoot.  Perhaps the sun is shining.  We may eat some chocolate on route.  Having successfully completed the climb we have a leisurely lunch on the top and if the outlook is clear, admire the view.  We successfully make the return trip and on the drive back stop at an Inn for some alcoholic and verbal sustenance. 

Finally, provided we haven't overdone the exercise or alcohol, we return home to a sound nights sleep and then relive the pleasurable experience in the following days. 


Ok, so what are the health benefits likely to be. 

Research has shown that such a trip is likely to:




J             Increase Positivity.
J            Improve Self-concept.
J            Increase Self-confidence.
J            Increase Self-reliance.
J            Increase ability to interact with others.
J            Increase your ability to cope with negative situations in general and
                  emergency situations in particular.  The more extreme the adventure sport
                  the more beneficial this aspect may be.  For example it was found in the
                  case of the sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise that those who survived
                  were people with a positive outlook who had programmed in dealing with
                  life threatening situations whilst doing adventure sports.


On such a trip as Pen y Fan research has also found that:
 
b             The aerobic exercise involved will improve cardiovascular (heart) function
                providing you don't push yourself too hard. 

J            Weight bearing exercise, such as hill/mountain walking will increase bone
                mass and therefore reduce/eliminate osteoporosis.  If you carry a pack the
                effects are accentuated.

L            Cold has been found to improve "hardiness" (the ability to ward off illness)
                and immune function.

G             The improved air quality in the hills and mountains give the body a chance
                  to start eliminating the toxins and ill effects that build up in our towns and
                  cities.

G              The negative ions (electrically charged energy pockets in the air), found in
                  the mountains and beside moving water such as waterfalls or the sea, are
                  thought to have a profound effect on the body, leading to an improvement
                in "hardiness" and improvement in immune function.  They have also been
                  found to affect the brain producing a decrease in anxiety, an improvement in
                mental function, and an increase in tranquillity.  It can also produce a sensation
                of euphoria by increasing endorphin flow.  Ever been out in a thunderstorm
                or by the sea in a storm when negative ions are most prolific.

G                Being at altitude itself can bring about positive health change.  Recent
                  research has shown that if you holiday above 4,500 ft without making any
                  effort at all, blood pressure and cholesterol levels decrease, quality and
                length of sleep improve, and you lose 5lbs 8 oz in body fat.  This is all thought
                to be due to lower amounts of oxygen as you ascend leading to the
                cardiovascular system working harder and resulting in these changes.

K             You do, of course, lose weight in any case.  You use between 750 and 450
                  calories each hour whilst hill walking depending on your weight and the
                weight of the rucksack you are carrying. 

J            If you combine the last two, i.e. mountain walk above 4,500 the pounds
                come rapidly rolling off.  I find that with a walking holiday in the Alps I can
                lose a minimum of a stone and eat as much as I like.  Wonderful isn't it!

[            Being part of a group has been shown to improve health and increase
                longevity.


J              Enjoying your activities, no matter what they are, improves immune function, 
                health in general and increases longevity.

J            Laughing and joking increases endorphins making you feel better and leads
                to improved health.  See Norman Cousins book - Anatomy of an illness. 

J          Sunshine in moderation is good for you.  It stimulates the synthesis of
                vitamin D, promotes skin cell regeneration and boosts the production of
                endorphins - the brain hormones that make you feel good. 

J          Chocolate is beneficial for you and some now believe it should be classed
                as a health food.  It has long been associated with pleasure, passion, energy
                and even enhanced sexual power.  It contains endorphins, can reduce blood
                pressure and increase relaxation and tranquillity.  It is a storehouse of
                minerals of all sorts.  It may be as good for you as red wine.  It can help
                protect against cancer and heart disease.  Its an energy dense food. 
                And I love it!  For all the details read "A chocolate a day keeps the doctor
                away" by John and Suzy Ashton.

J              Alcohol in regular, moderate amounts can reduce the incidence of heart
                disease, improve health and increase longevity.

J            Sound sleep is beneficial.  The greatest medical problem of the western
                world, greater than smoking etc., is thought to be sleep deficit.  Most of us
                do not get enough sound sleep.

A           Reliving positive experiences can produce the same effects as the original
                experience.  This believe it or not includes eating up calories although not
                to the extent of the original.