  Nothing can bring us into the present quite like Mother Nature can. Every single moment that we are alive is precious. If working with the senior population has taught me anything over the years, it is to cherish the present moment. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to sit with an older adult and hear them say how sorry they are that they didn’t take more time to “smell the roses”. To hear them say they wished they could have their strength back for just one more day, so they could take a walk outside again with a loved one. Shinrin-Yoku “Shinrin-yoku” is translated from Japanese to mean “forest bathing”. It’s the practice of reconnecting with nature. Spending time in nature has numerous health benefits. In addition to keeping us in the present moment, forest bathing is believed to ease worries, calm anxieties, boost the immune system, offer solace, and help with mental clarity. It can also rejuvenate the spirit and make us feel more alive. If there were a pill that offered all of these amazing benefits, would you not take it?? First, unplug The beauty of forest bathing is in its simplicity. To reap its benefits there’s no need to do anything more than to just be in nature. However, there’s one caveat; many of us have trouble just being! Start by silencing your phone and by engaging each of your senses one at a time. These days, plugging into nature and unplugging from technology may initially seem like a colossal waste of time. But time spent outside is never wasted. It will clear your mind and will make you a more productive, more centered person once life’s obligations resume. The non-forest dwellers But what if we aren’t all fortunate enough to live near lush forests? The good news is that we don’t actually need to be totally immersed in a forest to get the benefits of forest bathing. Any outdoor space with some natural greenery will do. If you practice the following, you can transform an otherwise boring walk into an incredibly healthy and fulfilling experience. So lace up your shoes, find some greenery and let’s get going! Tips on how to practice forest bathing: 1.) Put your phone on silent This means NO distractions, including no picture taking! Admittedly, I’ve been outside a number of times with my dog while glued to my phone for the entire walk. Before I knew it I was back at my doorstep without having once looked up to see the world around me. Time flew by and those were minutes and hours that I will never get back. On those days I didn’t come home feeling the least bit fulfilled. It was like the experience didn’t even happen. I was on autopilot. And it was all to tend to calls and messages that could’ve waited. I don’t want my life to just pass me by. 2.) Move your body For me, the best exercise is the one that I don’t even notice I’m doing. When I’m outside, I’m distracted. The change in scenery and my sensory awareness maintains forward motion. When I’m clearing my mind and paying attention to what’s around me, miles can go by before I realize how far I’ve gone. The benefits of exercise for my body are only secondary to the way I feel in my head when my walk is finished. 3.) Engage your senses Be mindful of the moment. I know, easier said than done. But it’ll get easier. Start by asking yourself what pleases your eyes. Then, what sounds please your ears. Find things to touch, like a smooth pebble, a pretty leaf or a rough tree bark. When you do this, remember that no sensation is good or bad. A feeling just is what it is. Notice the feelings just as they are. Sensations are like waves that come and go. 4.) Hug a tree I know hugging a tree sounds cheesy but expressing gratitude is a very healthy thing to do. So thank the world for sharing itself with you and for allowing you to be a part of it. Thank the trees for providing you with oxygen. Thank the colorful flowers for sharing their beauty. Thank the boisterous birds for their music. Thank the babbling brook for the soothing auditory experience. Be grateful for the beauty that is all around, however seemingly small it may be. These are the experiences that really matter in the end. Realize that you too are contributing to the world’s beauty and you have your place in it also. 5.) Get “in the zone” Being “in the zone” means being fully immersed in an experience. Mindfulness and active awareness of your surroundings can help achieve this state. The flow of nature is far slower than the flow of our everyday lives. A fast-paced world is not conducive to being “in the zone”. It’s not a world that our primordial selves thrived in. We’re still living in the same bodies as our ancestors, though the pace around us has shifted considerably. Slow down, open your eyes, and let nature determine the pace. 6.) Be curious Observe the world with a fresh set of eyes, not unlike how you did when you were a child when everything was new. The natural world is a wondrous, interesting and dynamic place. Life is filled with small miracles. Be inquisitive. Foster curiosity about the world and then seek those answers. When you do this, I promise you will never be bored. The more we learn, the more we realize how little we actually know. 7.) Leave your expectations at the door Don’t expect anything from the experience of just being. Just feel things. Forget how things should or shouldn’t be. In fact, get rid of the word “should” entirely. Life doesn’t work like that. As with anything, the minute you have expectations you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Embrace how things are without focusing on changing them. If the weather sucks so be it. You can’t change it. Dress accordingly and go with the flow. There are others less fortunate who would envy your ability to live in this moment, as it is. 8.) Scan the landscape and find your spot What really speaks to you? Find out what you naturally gravitate towards. Nature is filled with interesting nooks and crannies to explore. Of course it goes without say to scan your surroundings for safety first. Once deemed safe, find a place that fills you with positive energy. Stay there for as long as you can. If possible try to sit on the ground rather than on manmade surfaces. There are proven benefits to Earthing/Grounding (the act of making direct contact with the earth). Truly soak in the moment and let your body absorb the energy from the earth. 9.) Accept that your mind will wander One of the benefits of being outside is that it clears our minds. Part of the process of clearing the mind requires allowing it to wander once in a while. Don’t fixate on the fact that your mind keeps wandering away from the present moment. It takes time to train your mind to live in the moment. Successful mindfulness will be achieved with practice and before you know it it’ll be second nature. Can you bring nature inside? Nature calms and refreshes us. But what can we do if we’re unable to spend enough time outside? Can we still reap its benefits? Fortunately, there are also ways to bring the outdoors inside. Simple ways to connect with nature inside your home:
Of course, you can also practice forest bathing and bring nature inside! The benefits of time spent in nature speak for themselves. Just think about your favorite moments outside. How do you feel when you recollect? To help inspire your own adventures, I want to leave you with a list of a few of my favorites:
What are some of your favorite nature experiences? What benefits have you discovered from time spent in nature? Please leave a comment below and share! Need some help getting moving? Check out AndiamoFit's Healthy Habits Workbooks!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorLaura Sarti Archives
February 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed
