First of all what is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which, you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.
Mindfulness in nature is abiding in clear present awareness of nature’s wisdom in all directions of life. The practice of mindfulness was incorporated into psychological interventions by Kabat-Zinn (1990).
Spending time in nature is good for your physical and mental health. Paying closer attention to your experience and feelings through eco-mindfulness makes you feel more connected and alive. Natural mindfulness is also known as eco- mindfulness.
Benefits of eco- mindfulness
- Lift your mood & reduce stress.
- Ease depression.
- Boost your immune system.
- Lower blood pressure.
- Improve concentration.
- Strengthen body awareness.
- Creates mental awareness.
- Increases creativity.
- Reduce anxiety.
How to practice mindfulness outdoors?
Set aside time each day, ideally over your lunch hour, to get outdoors and immerse yourself in nature. Take up gardening or other outdoor activities that you find enjoyable. A quick internet search should provide a list of local trails or walkways for you to explore. Your exercise could be as simple as walking, or could include more vigorous exercise like hiking, jogging, cycling or kayaking.
Ideas for practicing Mindfulness in nature:
So now that you’ve familiarized yourself with what Mindfulness is and what to do to be more Mindful (Observe, Describe, and Participate)
Being in nature may lessen our tendency for mind wandering, allowing us to remain in the present rather than “losing concentration completely or becoming emotionally overwhelmed.”An increasing number of studies—likely borne out by personal experience—attest to the fact that being in nature boosts our health and well-being. A new review of the research finds that combining the outdoors with mindfulness may lead to even better results. A team of researchers were curious to see whether taking mindfulness outdoors might boost its benefits. Encouraging people to attend more to their natural surroundings may augment the benefits of nature exposure.Practicing mindfulness outdoors can have a big impact on your health in ways that seated meditation may not. Daily practice has been shown to improve everything from sleep and relationships to job performance. Here, we lay out how practicing in the great outdoors benefits both mind and body.