I have always loved being outside. For me, nature is a sensory treasure box. Imagine taking a walk through the woods on a crisp fall morning. What do you See? Smell? Hear? I can see majestic oak trees lining a rocky pathway, shimmering with warm tones of persimmon and honey-colored leaves. I can smell the musky-sweet smell of fallen, crisp leaves, dried out plants, and the damp earthy soil below my feet. I hear the wind whistle softly through the pines and I lose my worries for a while being immersed in the beauty of nature. As we well know, nature is a perfect stress reducer and respite for relaxation. “People have been discussing their profound experiences in nature for the last several 100 years—from Thoreau to John Muir to many other writers,” says researcher David Strayer, of the University of Utah. “Now we are seeing changes in the brain and changes in the body that suggest we are physically and mentally more healthy when we are interacting with nature.”
In an experiment conducted in Japan, participants were requested to walk in a forest or in an urban center while having their heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure measured. The walks were similar in length and difficulty. Each participant also filled out a survey asking questions about their moods, stress levels, and other psychological measures.
The results revealed that those who walked in forests had significantly lower heart rates and higher heart rate variability (indicating more relaxation and less stress), and described having better moods and less anxiety, than those who walked in urban settings. Looking at the information gathered, the researchers concluded that being in nature had a beneficial effect on stress reduction. They also noted that it was above and beyond what exercise by itself might have produced.
The power of being in nature is healing. Consider taking a moment (or more) each day to get outside. You will be doing wonders for your mental, spiritual and physical health.