Are you an Adrenaline junkie?

Evel Knievel was the classic international icon of an adrenaline junkie. He is described as an American stunt performer, painter and entertainer. Over the course of his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

Most race car drivers are adrenaline junkies. Performing live ignites an adrenaline high, as it would to those addicted to extreme sports and activities like bungee jumping, sky diving, abseiling. Even those in jobs such as firefighting, police work, or the military can have these addictions.

Psychologists say that the sensation seeking aspect that comes from adrenaline is necessary for all those adventurers, explorers and discoverers of the world. The buzz of discovery, of new places, new thrills, new learnings and new knowledge can be the very thing that pushes mankind forward into brave new worlds.

So what exactly is Adrenaline? Also called epinephrine, it is a hormone and neurotransmitter produced by the adrenal glands that participates in the sympathetic nervous system's "fight-or-flight response" (or "acute stress response") to situations that are high-stress, dangerous and/or physically exhilarating; a response that was necessary for survival during the ancient hunter-gatherer days.

Adrenaline junkies are those that must have that buzz to feel good. But this is not to say that the occasional buzz is not good. Everyone needs to sometimes get excited about things. Feel their blood rushing.

Zipliners do just that. Umgawa Zipliners for instance have the added benefit of the adrenaline effect of Nature. Be it in the pure oxygen exuding from the pristine forest. Be in the spray of raindrops poured out from the foliage holding them. Be in the kinetic energy created in the movement itself. Be it in the transformative aspect of facing one’s fears. Surely it can only be a good thing when it makes you feel so, so bright, invigorated and alive!