AuthorAri Hoffman, MA, LPC is a decent guy who, when feeling stressed, likes to paint with watercolor and maybe also gouache, depending on how brave he’s feeling. Ari is a couples and family therapist, wilderness guide, and entrepreneur. Ari maintains an active therapy practice in a town about 30 minutes from Jerusalem where he lives with his wife and four children. You can find Ari on one of his many websites including www.arihoffmantherapy.com.  On Suffering: A Blessing for Elul 5784Last week I was sitting on the patio of a restaurant outside of Jerusalem with a close friend as he told me a story about one of his backpacking trips with my father in the Rocky Mountains. The two of them were hiking close to evening and were still a good distance from where they planned to set up camp and sleep. The trail was a consistent uphill grade and the physical exertion was proving challenging for my friend. He told my father that he needed a rest and my father, a veteran of Outward Bound and an experienced wilderness and psychodrama therapist, refused. He explained that they needed to keep going because of the coming darkness. Finally, my friend couldn’t take it anymore and he called out to my father that he absolutely had to stop and rest. My father turned to him in the quiet of the alpine evening and told him, “rest while you walk”. “Rest while I walk? What does that even mean?” “Rest while you walk. Change the cadence of your gait and your breathing so that you are walking slower and taking a breath between footsteps.” My friend was at first skeptical but as he tried this he felt like he was getting some of the rest his body needed to continue the trek up the mountain. What my father told my friend to do on that evening hike is called the Mountain Rest Step, or The Mountain Step and it is designed to give your body some rest as you continue to move in your intended direction. Benefits of the Mountain Step For me the Mountain Rest Step does a couple things. First, like my friend, I have found that it affords me some physical relief while on a long or difficult hike. It also does something that I find to be of even greater value than the physical relief - it distracts me from the goal. When I am focused only on my goal some natural attending emotions can include: frustration that I’m not yet at the goal; hope that I achieve the goal soon; despair when the goal turns out to be a lot farther away than I thought; shame when I think that there may be something wrong with me that has resulted in me being so far from my goal; anger at myself, my parents, G-d, or The Man, for causing to me to be so far from my goal. When I’m walking with the Mountain Rest Step my psychic reach shrinks from focusing on the goal and it turns toward my present moment reality. I’m now focusing on my breathing and how I move my body. Instead of my goal being the only thing with value, each step has its own inherent value and the goal is simply another step, no better and no worse. There is another ingredient in this formula: Radical Acceptance. There’s a lot of literature about radical acceptance. Toward the end of a trip to Colorado this summer I climbed a 13er with my daughter and a good friend. It was challenging. Since making aliyah my lungs have gotten used to a higher oxygen saturation than the Mile High City and, truth be told, I am a bit out of shape. Throughout the hike I noticed some significant physical discomfort – my feet, my legs, my breathing, my chest, and my shoulders weighed down by a backpack, to name a few. The Value of Pain I’m not going to be pollyannish and suggest that all pain is good and should be embraced. Pain sucks, lets be real. However, there is one thought I’ll offer you. In my work as a couples and family therapist there is a word that triggers my alarm bells consistently. ‘Should’. Also, ‘Supposed To’. A friend once said, “don’t should on yourself”. I think that’s great advice. If I assign a value to my pain, my struggle, or my discomfort as right or wrong, or as should be or shouldn’t be then what I’m doing is sending my body a message that something is wrong with the fact that I’m in pain, struggling, or uncomfortable. When something is wrong the doors open wide for the messages and emotions listed before that come up when I am focused only on the goal. An alternative message to the assignation of value could be something like the following: This pain is what I’m experiencing and it is an integral part of what my life is right now. I don’t have to like it but I accept it as my current experience. For me on the 13er it went something like this: “This pain is normal. This pain is not damaging me. This pain is part of the choice I made to climb this mountain and spend quality time with people who are important to me. This pain is contributing to me being a healthier human.” Of course this message doesn’t work for all people or for all situations but it’s an example. Final Blessing One of the hardest parts of coming into the high holiday season and teshuva can be this sense of suffering. It can feel like suffering to spend long days facing my inner world of “not there yet,” wishing I was better, going through the same yearly struggle of climbing the mountain to my better self. If we continue to focus on the goal, on the peak, on achieving the perfected image of ourselves, we may feel like we have to give up halfway, we’ll never get there. As we you enter the Days of Return ahead, I bless you to remember the Mountain Rest Step, to enjoy the breath of growth along the way, and to learn to suffer well (and not too much). Shana Tova! Categories
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 It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves. AuthorSashya Clark - Director of Outreach & Engagement, Lech-Lecha Journeys Picture this: the sun rises over a sprawling landscape of rugged peaks, painting the sky with soft hues of pink and gold. You're in the middle of a multi-day backpacking trip, part of an epic kosher outdoor adventure that challenges both your body and spirit. The air is crisp, your pack is snug, and you've got miles ahead of you—but that steep climb in the distance looks a little daunting. How can you maintain your energy and enjoy the beauty around you without feeling like you're battling the mountain? Enter the Mountain Step technique, an age-old trick that hikers and mountaineers use to manage fatigue and move steadily through tough terrain. It’s not just a physical strategy; it’s also a mindset shift—a perfect fit for those who believe in hiking with kavanah (intention). Whether you're planning your next adventure in the Appalachians or wandering through the Catskills, this technique can help you stay energized for the long haul. What is the Mountain Step?The Mountain Step is a pacing method designed for steep ascents and long treks. Instead of powering up a hill at a quick pace and wearing yourself out, you slow down and take deliberate, measured steps. With each step, you take a moment to rest. It sounds simple, but the magic is in how it allows you to maintain a steady rhythm without burning through your energy reserves. Here’s how you do it: 1. Step up with one foot and, before lifting the other, straighten your leg completely. 2. Pause for a split second while standing on that one leg, letting your body’s weight rest on your bones, not your muscles. 3. Repeat the process with the other leg. The result? A slower but more efficient pace that allows you to hike for longer periods of time without exhausting yourself. This technique works with your body’s natural movements, minimizing the effort required for each step. Why the Mountain Step Works The genius of the Mountain Step lies in using your body’s skeletal structure to bear the brunt of the load, instead of your muscles. By pausing and locking your knee with each step, you give your muscles a tiny break. Over the course of a long hike or a multi-day trek, this can make a huge difference. It keeps you moving at a sustainable pace, without the constant push-and-pull of acceleration and fatigue. For those who appreciate the deeper significance of shmirat haguf (care for the body), this technique aligns with that value. Your body is a vessel for experiencing the beauty of nature, and maintaining it properly allows you to engage with the outdoors in a more meaningful and enjoyable way. More than Just a Physical Technique In addition to its physical benefits, the Mountain Step embodies a philosophy that resonates with Jewish values: the importance of patience, mindfulness, and endurance. Like in life, hiking long distances requires you to focus on the journey, not just the destination. There are parallels between the Mountain Step and the teachings of the sages who emphasized that the spiritual path, like the physical one, is best walked slowly and mindfully. Every step up a mountain can feel like an effort, but when you pause and breathe with each one, it becomes an opportunity to connect with the world around you. This reflective pace gives you the chance to notice the small wonders: the glint of dew on a leaf, the sound of wind in the trees, the crisp smell of the clean air, the vastness of the landscape. For those who love kosher outdoor adventures, this approach is not just about surviving the hike; it's about thriving in the experience, staying connected to your surroundings, and appreciating each moment. How to Incorporate the Mountain Step in Your Hikes Start with intention: Before you begin the climb, set a kavanah (intention) for the day. Perhaps it’s to notice something new about your surroundings or to practice gratitude with each step. Practice your rhythm: It can take a few tries to find the right pace for you. Start on smaller hills or inclines, paying attention to your body’s responses. Use it when needed: You don’t have to use the Mountain Step for an entire hike. When you hit a particularly steep or challenging section, switch to this technique to conserve energy. Stay present: Think of each step as a moment of mindfulness, a chance to connect with your breath, the land, and your own inner strength. Hike Smart, Stay Energized Whether you're trekking through the Delaware Water Gap or summiting peaks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Mountain Step will help you move with intention and conserve energy. In the same way that Judaism encourages us to sanctify moments of everyday life, this technique turns each step into a purposeful, meaningful action. So, next time you’re out on a trail as part of your kosher outdoor adventure and feel the weight of your pack or the steepness of the climb, slow down. Embrace the Mountain Step and keep your body and spirit strong, steady, and connected to the journey ahead. Shalom, and happy hiking! Categories |
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