From the very ancient wisdom of Ayurveda to more recent studies, such as one conducted by Ming Kuo from the University of Illinois, being in and observing nature can offer you plenty of health benefits. Here are just a few.
Nature Can Calm You.
Ever walked barefoot in the warm sand or dewy grass? It’s very grounding. And being able to physically feel the ground helps your body to achieve balance and a sense of serenity. Being in nature is stress less. It truly demands very little of us. It hints at relaxation, beauty (which often goes unrecognized) and a sense of bliss. Perhaps Anthony Douglas Williams was thinking about being in nature when he said, “Silence has a mysterious calming effect, allowing your soul to be at peace with your thoughts.”
Nature Can Boost Your Immunity.
The opposite of being stressed is being relaxed. So, as nature calms you, your stress level reduces. And lower stress levels allow your own body’s immunity to increase. A study conducted in Japan showed that people who walked through forests and parks for a few hours every day had a reduced level of cortisol (stress hormone), lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure than those who walked in a city area. And the natural vitamin D from sunshine and negative ions are inherent in nature. Perhaps the fresh air of a more natural setting will do your respiratory system some good as well. And what you breath in can have an impact on your body’s ability to stave off illness or disease.
Nature Can Help You Feel Refreshed And Rejuvenated.
While nature can calm you, reduce your stress levels, and boost immunity, there is something just so darn refreshing about being in the great outdoors, right? Many people who practice outdoor sports, such as running, hiking, skiing, biking, fishing, golfing, or sailing (to name a few),partly enjoy that activity simply because they are outdoors and get to feel the wind against their face, the sunshine on their back, or the sand and water against their skin. Nature touches them physically and emotionally! It seems to revive their sense of vibrancy, healing them and rejuvenating them. You have probably experienced these same sensations even with a simple walk in a forest or along a beautiful beach. This is how I feel as I walk with my Samoyeds each and every day!
Nature Can Help Teach You Life Lessons.
Watching animals behave in nature is a serious passion for some people. This pastime can help us to learn how to better handle challenges, get along with others, become self-sufficient and resilient, and to slow down to relish “in the calm” of our lives. We have so much to learn from animals if we could learn to become quiet and more observant of their behaviours.
All of these wonderful benefits of nature give way to feeling younger, stronger, and mentally happier.
