Why Moving Outdoors is the Best Form of Meditation.

Have you been outdoors, in nature, to just stroll with no specific direction or destination, and feel grounded, calm, and invigorated gradually, without even noticing the inner procedure of this transformation? Have you ever just sat under a tree to breathe the fresh air and immerse yourself in nature in body and mind?

Nature is not just a guide/teacher for our inner transition to well-being. Nature is the extension of ourselves. In fact, there is no separation between the physical world and oneself. If you practice meditation regularly and consistently, you may have realised by yourself your innate drawing towards the forest out of the city, the park nearby your house, the mountains and the seas. This is not something that happens accidentally. This is the return to yourself, to your inner True Essence.

Now, let’s see why being or moving in nature can be the best form of meditation:

• First of all, your lungs fill in with fresh air, and so the breathing becomes deeper and unrestricted. Body and mind relax and this has an instant positive impact on the pattern of breathing.

• Nature colours, shapes and subtle movements create the perfect scenery where our eye-sight really softens. As the gaze relaxes on the surroundings, the face also becomes more calm, and this acts as a domino-effect for the releasing of the rest of the body; neck, shoulders, arms, chest, back, belly, pelvis, hips, legs. The whole body calms down, as the nervous system is being healed through this nature-human interaction.

• Walking barefoot is one of the most direct ways to experience the connection and oneness with Nature. Even during winter, if you find the opportunity, take your shoes off, and even if you don’t want to walk, just stay standing or seated with your feet on earth. This is a million-dollar healing session for free!

• Nature also offers sound healing, with a great variety of sounds that act as tranquilizers, something that is really needed today, as urban life is overwhelmed by artificial sounds and noises that upset and overstimulate the nervous system. Anxiety and stress levels may decrease significantly when surrounded by natural sounds. Birds singing, river flowing, air moving through the leaves, each season gifts its unique sounds, through which body and mind tension releases. 

• As you move or stand or sit in nature, you unconsciously experience nature through every system and every function of your body-mind existence. This is literally a holistic experience, where the mind doesn’t need to analyze why this or that happens. So, your whole existence surrenders to the immense beauty of Cosmos, and it absorbs every wave of Nature frequencies.

• Being surrounded by natural elements can be the most supportive environment towards self-acceptance -even self-realization. In nature, you don’t need to prove or perform anything in order to feel ok with yourself. Nature will not judge you for who you truly are. As you give yourself this precious time outdoors, gradually you let go off any burden that has been weighing your shoulders, and you start having a sense of lightness and aliveness deriving from your core. The mantra “So-Hum” (“I Am That”) expresses exactly this connection with Nature and Cosmic Consciousness. So, when you walk in a forest or by the sea, visualize the mantra “So-Hum” as you breathe (So-inhale, Hum-exhale) and synchronize your gait with the breath.

• Having said all that, what would be the most appropriate conclusion than stating very clearly that Nature brings us to the Present without us even trying to do so. Either practicing your meditation routine in nature or just walking and breathing in it, the Awareness of the present moment will definitely be the instant effect of this experience. 

I truly encourage you to get yourself into a natural setting, even if it is for only 10 minutes, every day for a week. See for yourself if this is worth your time! A little experiment with instant results.

If you need guidance on meditation or your yoga practice, feel free to connect with me

info@rewildfirst.com  

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