There aren’t many ways to enjoy exercise these days. Where’s the open space to move around? Who has the peace to hear themselves think? Where is that place to run, to take a walk, or get your hands dirty? 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 heart health and basic muscle production requires a body that is put to use once in a while. Which is why a trip to Dude ranches could do a person good. Of course the point of a dude ranch is to enjoy yourself, but not everyone knows why they are having so much fun, more than they ever expected. A person gets to experience freedom of walking where they please, having hearty meals, and getting to use their hands. There is even the chance a person may ride horseback, a great way to get exercise, believe it or not. But between all these stimulating activities, a body is responding to the sudden purpose it has. We were hunters and gatherers much longer than we have been businesswomen and men. In other words, our bodies still want to move, and jump and be useful. And while you think that riding a horse or making a chair with your hands is only stimulating your mind, your body feels useful when in action. 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.

But people don’t always know where to look. 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.