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VOL.34, NO.9
Join the club — so many options PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA HIKING CLUB
By Margaret Foster When Mano Malayanur first moved to America from India three decades ago, he struggled to meet people. Then he learned about a new club at the time, the Northern Virginia Hiking Club, which organized group hikes in the area. He joined one hike and has been a member of the club ever since. “It’s been fantastic. For me, as an immigrant to the U.S., when I joined the club, it helped me find friends, and we do things together. We’ve formed lifelong friendships,” said Malayanur, now in his 60s and the president of the Northern Virginia Hiking Club. We humans are social beings by nature. Indeed, three years ago, scientists announced that loneliness is as bad for our health as smoking cigarettes or being obese. Another large study in 2018 found that loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 40 percent. But it’s not always easy to make connections with others, particularly with COVID still in the background. Fortunately, many clubs and social groups in our area are available to boost both mood and health. Most clubs welcome people of all ages, and regular attendance isn’t required. Even shy people typically feel comfortable meeting new people on the trail, in small groups, said Malayanur, who leads several hikes every month, mostly in Virginia state parks. “One of the good things about hiking is that people can do whatever they prefer. If they want to chat, they can chat. If they want to hike alone, that’s perfectly okay, too.” Hiking together is a low-risk form of exercise. During a group hike, Malayanur pointed out, “people have a way to get out of their homes and into a relatively safe en-
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Explore the white-sand beaches and mangrove forests of Florida’s Paradise Coast; plus, “voluntouring” and fall foliage trips page 41
Members of the Northern Virginia Hiking Club pose on a mountaintop after a recent hike. The group offers hikes of various levels of difficulty several times a month throughout the metro area. Joining local social groups — from hiking clubs to knitting circles — can improve one’s mental and physical health.
vironment — outdoors — without fear of infection.” The hiking club offers hikes of different levels of strenuousness at least twice a week (annual membership is $5). Despite the group’s name, its hikes occur all over the Washington, D.C. metro area. Most members tend to be “older,” Malayanur said. “We have people in their 70s doing [even difficult] hikes.”
Overcome challenges together Of course, not everyone can or wants to go hiking. People with health problems can find common ground in support groups for conditions from diabetes to addiction to dementia. For instance, people with Parkinson’s disease compare notes once a month via a See CLUBS, page 49
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