Día Mundial de la Alegría–Three Parks, with Forest Bathing and More

Meet: Friday, August 1st, 2025.
Time: 09:45 a.m. to about 3:00 p.m., total distance about 8 miles, give or take.
Location: Northeast corner of E 86 Street and Lexington Avenue, in front of Old Navy – 4, 5 or 6 trains to 86 Street (and Lexington Avenue) or Q train to 86 Street (and 2nd Avenue, two crosstown blocks east of the meeting point).
Bring: Water, sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, snacks/lunch, something to sit on (small towel, blanket, pad) and an open mind.
Restrooms: Several restrooms along the way.

About
Nobody knows who started the International Day of Joy, and when exactly it is celebrated, so we might as well go with the Latin American calendar, which places the Día Mundial de la Alegría, originally celebrated in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia, on August 1st. The idea of the initiative is to motivate people to appreciate everyday moments and to focus on activities that bring them joy. Most people in our group told us that they enjoy nature, meditation, music, dancing/exercise and, of course, walking, so that's what we’ll do during this walk.

From our meeting point on E 86th Street, we’ll head to the Ramble in Central Park, where we will stroll around the wooded areas. There is a nice meadow, surrounded by trees, where we can sit quietly for a while and observe our surroundings. This ‘forest bathing’ is a Japanese practice, a process of relaxation, known in Japan as shinrin yoku. Be prepared to hug a tree or two.

After forest bathing, and before heading out of the Ramble, we will pick up the pace and do the eight and a half-minute Joy Workout published in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/24/well/move/joy-workout-exercises-happiness.html).

From the Ramble, we’ll walk to the North Woods, designed to replicate the forests of the Adirondack Mountains, to enjoy its trails along the ravine, wooden bridges and picturesque pools.

From there, we’ll head over to Riverside Park and stop for lunch. (We will be next to the Ellington in the Park café, so you could buy a drink and/or a quick bite to eat there, or, if you bring your own, eat on one of the close-by benches.) After lunch, we’ll walk north in the park and then head east on W 121 Street to Morningside Park. In Morningside Park, we’ll head south and end our walk on W 110 Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

We will cover about 8 miles, mostly on flat, paved paths, with some uneven terrain and stairs in the Ramble, North Woods and Morningside Park. We will be walking mostly in shaded areas, except for a mile or so, when we will pass from one park to another. Moderate pace, though we will start slowly and spend about 30 minutes forest bathing and doing the joy workout.

Hike leaders:
Brigitte, 646-651-3911 on day of walk only, Laura and Maureen.