If you have been practicing meditation for a while, you probably see the benefits of doing so. But, did you also know that you do not necessarily need to be seated in your dead quiet room and cross-legged to meditate? You can benefit even more from your periodic calm by going out into nature. So, what are some reasons to meditate in nature?
Nature meditation is any meditation where you have to go outside and be in tune with your surroundings. It is one of the ways of adding spice to your daily and periodic headspace by going out into nature. Essentially, you focus on your awareness of your immediate environment and how best you can experience nature.
Whether you want to create more headspace for yourself, distress, or add another dimension of meditation to your life. This article exposes the concept of nature meditation and the reasons why you should consider it. Keep reading to find out more about the benefits of incorporating nature meditation in your personal life the best you can.
Table of Contents
What Is Nature Meditation?
Nature meditation is any meditation you practice outside in the open surrounding.
People practice nature meditation to increase their environmental awareness and keep themselves grounded. Most nature lovers or environmentalists take to nature meditation as their chosen method when seeking moments of calm and relaxation.
Meditating in nature helps practitioners awaken themselves to their surroundings because their focus is usually on the following:
- Sound
- Light
- Trees
- Grasses
- Flowers
- The air
- Water
- Earth
- All other components of their immediate environment
Essentially, you can practice nature meditation either with closed or open eyes, all of which depend on your reason for meditating.
Sunbathing, for instance, or star gazing in many ways can be a form of nature meditation, provided the mind is in the right place. And you have the required calm to concentrate, relax, and let go.
Is Meditating in Nature Good?
Because we as humans are a part of nature, there is always a part of us that craves unity and harmony with nature. As a result, you recall that you often feel better after a shower on a stressful day.
In addition, people often feel better and more relaxed just by staring at the ocean tide or watching the sunset. Therefore, there is much to gain by choosing to meditate in nature.
Generally, there are lots of recorded benefits of meditation. However, here are a few benefits of choosing to meditate in nature:
- It brings your awareness to the present moment
- Nature meditation keeps you feeling more grounded
- You are less stressed and more relaxed
- It can make you more eco friendly
- Nature meditation opens up the inert kindness in you
Now, let’s take a look at whether nature is analogous or if it’s just a good setting for meditation.
Is Nature Analogous or Just a Good Setting?
An analogy in nature is when two body parts are similar in structure and function but not evolutionarily related.
When we try to conceptualize the practice of meditation with nature, it is always about the surrounding. Therefore, nature in this context refers to an appropriate setting that represents the very essence of life as we know it.
As a result, it would not be easy to successfully engage in nature meditation through simulation since the natural effects are not real but perceived.
How to Successfully Meditate In Nature
To successfully engage in nature meditation is to get outside and immerse yourself in an excellent natural setting or scenery.
Below are a few examples of nature and the environment necessary for nature meditation:
- Meditative or mindful strolls on barefoot
- Sunbathing
- Sitting in front of the beach
- Stargazing or sunset gazing
- Sitting out among plants, grassland, or the forest
Essentially, every aspect of meditation deals with harmony with all of nature and being mentally aware of your surroundings. If you are out in the forest or garden for your reflection, you might want to keep your attention on the tweets of the birds or the chirpings of insects.
Furthermore, you can allow yourself to feel the breeze blowing across your face or be sensitive to the coolness of the air on the beach on a sunny day, and so on.
Five Reasons to Meditate in Nature
Nature meditation is fast becoming one of the highly recommended techniques of meditation. It is common among people who prefer to appreciate the concept of meditation outside religion and spirituality. If you wonder why you should join others in practicing nature meditation, here are five reasons to get you started.
It Takes Away the Abstraction from Meditation
Usually, most people consider meditation an abstract mental exercise where you sit cross-legged and close your eyes. As a result, many people find it challenging to engage in meditation even though they acknowledge that it is essential to their wellbeing.
Because humans are wired to step outside, nature meditation demystifies the entire practice of meditation. As a result, it simplifies the practice, giving additional focus to those who engage in the practice.
That way, you are more aware and in the present moment when you sit out in nature because it engages all your physical senses. In addition, keeping your feelings engaged is an excellent way to give focus and direction to your mind during your meditation sessions. Also, your mind is less likely to wander off because nature meditation somehow gives your mind a ready anchor.
It Improves Mindfulness
The fast-paced society we live in has robbed many of their attention spans and awareness-mindfulness. With each passing day, more people are becoming increasingly distracted, unfocused, and less mindful. However, the need for more mindfulness continues to increase since people crave mental and emotional stillness.
Therefore, a lifestyle of nature meditation helps to increase focus and mindfulness since your attention is drawn to nature and your surroundings. Essentially, it gives you a locus of concentration and focus so that you feel more centered.
It Creates an Easy Method for Stress Relief
When you feel stressed and need relaxation, sitting in silence may not do the trick, especially if you are not an experienced meditator. But going out in nature has an easy way of relaxing you and taking the stress off by taking your mind away from your worries.
As a result, you have another object of focus which is to breathe and relax outside. An excellent way to start could be going on long walks barefoot on the ground. Additionally, being in nature does more to increase your energy than you could possibly know.
Nature may even be the perfect place for you to try a new type of meditation like transcendental meditation or vedic meditation!
Nature Meditation Improves Cognitive Function
Because meditation in nature focuses your attention on the present moment, you stand a greater chance of improving your cognitive function. Being more aware and present at the moment sets the regenerative effect of nature in motion so that it improves your short-term memory.
It is why children at school have to go out for a bit of a break before getting back to class. The reason is that sometimes in nature recharges the prefrontal cortex. And in the process improves the mental capacity of the beneficiary.
Additionally, nature meditation has been discovered as a means to managing ADD in both adults and children. And the reason is because of the discipline obtained from the effort to stay present at the moment.
It Improves Overall General Health and Wellbeing
Nature meditation generally improves the overall health and general wellbeing of the person engaged. The reason is that Because of the calming effect of meditation on the mind, nature meditation is becoming an excellent way to maintain overall general health and wellness.
As a result, people have used meditation to alleviate health problems arising due to stress and anxiety in recent times. Things like high blood pressure and other stress-related health problems respond well to meditation.
Easy Ways to Practice Nature Meditation
Because nature meditation is fundamentally about mindfulness and being present in the moment, there are a couple of methods to achieve this level of awareness. Here are some strategies to help you incorporate nature meditation in your personal life easily.
Practice Mindful Walking
Do you remember those times when you felt like you needed a break or some air and had to take a walk? Well, if taking a walk can have so much positive effect on you and your mood, how much more walking as an art of meditation?
Essentially, what happens with mindful waking is that you take a walk from a more intentional perspective. Some people like to practice walking barefoot while trying to feel the earth’s energy permeate their feet.
When you practice mindful walking as an art of nature meditation, you walk while trying to put yourself in harmony with nature. Essentially, you take a walk while trying to notice how the earth feels beneath your feet.
Additionally, you can also try to catch the feel of the breeze across your face, in your hair, or the sunset effect on your consciousness. You try to hear the tweet of the birds and notice everything there is to see along the path you walk.
Practice sitting silently in nature
Alternatively, if you are not feeling like walking, you can sit at a place outside in nature. Whether or not you close your eyes is entirely up to you. Many people prefer sitting because it keeps them stiller, calm, and at ease instead of walking.
While sitting in silence outside, you endeavor to feel and perceive the sounds and other tactile effects of nature on your feelings with your senses. As a result, you might prefer to sit by a lake and watch the sunset over the water or silently listen to and mentally try to separate all the sounds you hear.
Additionally, you might like to add some breathing work-breathing exercises to your practice. The reason is that many people find it easier to practice deep breathing and other breathing exercises from a seated position than while walking.
Moreover, you are more likely to concentrate better when you sit, unlike walking where you are in motion. As a result, less experienced meditators prefer sitting to walking or even standing.
One other way to practice meditating in nature is to actually go on a meditation retreat. Whether you go with a group or alone, getting away to spend some time meditating can do your mental wellbeing a world of good!
Conclusion
Essentially, meditation in nature is all about mindfulness and being in harmony with nature. As a result, it is purely a mental exercise coupled with the animation from life and nature in itself. Therefore, when next you feel on edge or crave a little closeness to nature, try sitting out in silence.
