Why does going out into nature make us feel better? Just about anyone can agree that time spent outdoors with trees, sunshine and fresh air is good for the body and soul. Most, except a few who seem to be allergic to anything beyond a backyard patio. I have a good friend who once spent an entire camping trip INSIDE the tent, to the chagrin of his family. He says he’s just more of a video game guy. So, yeah, ALMOST anyone.
You don’t have to be a rugged survivalist to enjoy a nature walk, occasional hike, or camping trip. Even car camping has made it easier to get to commune in nature with just a short drive. One reason I personally enjoy camping is just to get away from our normal day to day. It’s less about the amenities, and more about a change of scenery. Putting down your work, your routine, your chores and reminders about all the things you have to do. In nature, you get bored easily, which is a great thing. Boredom spurs on creativity. Boredom means you are in the moment and looking for something to do. If you ever have writer’s block, or are stuck on solving a problem, boredom is a great way to generate new ideas.
Another reason nature is good for us is that it has a way of reminding us that the things we worry about are not usually as big as we make them out to be. During a particularly sad time in my life, I remember going on a hike and seeing a massive boulder on the side of the mountain. I wondered how it got there (likely rolling from the top in some breaking away from the mountain, perhaps after a lightning storm). It was smooth and mossy, having been weather-worn for decades, if not centuries. It helped me put my current circumstances into perspective. If this rock can withstand a massive disaster, then perhaps I can too. And I did.
Nature is also a good and unforgiving teacher. I was recalling a backpacking trip I did several years ago, where one of the days felt like pure hell. It was 9 hours of uphill trekking with a 40 lb. backpack. I complained, cried, bargained, and prayed to myself up that hill. I begged God for just a short flat every now and then. I literally had to concentrate on every tiny step forward to not fall down or quit. I don’t recall a single view from that day, other than my boots. It was by far the worst day of hiking I had ever experienced. The icing on the cake was that the three other hikers with me seemed not to be bothered by the relentless uphill. Not only did I feel frustrated, I also felt inadequate, by comparison.
That is, until the next day. The following day was an almost all downhill day. I pranced around like a tiny mountain goat and noticed that my counterparts did not. They did not enjoy the downhills because of the pressure on their knees. How interesting… I guess we all have our strengths and our weaknesses. Judging one day can make you believe you are incompetent, when really, that day is just part of a whole collection of days that matter. By the end of that backpacking trip, each of us had learned our limits and pushed beyond them. Whether it was major uphills, downhills, crossing rushing rivers, eating wild berries, or warding off critters. We were each humbled and forever changed.
So, what is it about nature that makes us feel good? Most of us, besides video game guys, feel more energized and refreshed after some time outdoors. There is a Japanese word for energizing in nature, Shinrin-yoku (the art of forest bathing). It is so popular in Japan, that the tiny island country has over 60 forest “therapy centers.” They have studied the therapeutic effect of sitting in nature for decades. A 2010 study from Chiba University found that exposure to “forest environments promote lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, greater parasympathetic nerve activity, and lower sympathetic nerve activity than (in) city environments.”
Why is it that nature seems to calm our senses, literally ground us, and gives us energy? One explanation comes from Pranic Healing, a therapeutic modality that uses life energy (Prana) to clean and energize a patient. According to Pranic Healing, Prana is in everything, and we pick it up from air, sunlight, and the earth. As living beings, we exchange energy with things all around us. One practice of Pranic self-healing is to sit under a tree and practice Pranic breathing (a series of 6-3-6-3 breathing) to absorb energy.
We don’t really need to know WHY or HOW it works to benefit from time in nature. Perhaps just experiment for yourself. See if taking periodic time in a park, on a trail, or simply under a tree makes you FEEL better. If it does, make sure to schedule time to get out there. Find trails in your neighborhood or hiking group meetups in your area. If you don’t know where to start, Google is a great place to start. My local favorite is the WTA (Washington Trail Association), or there is a paid app called All Trails. Just don’t overthink it. All you need for a nice nature walk is comfortable shoes, a bottle of water if it’s warm out, and to let someone know where you are going, just in case you get lost.
Let me know how your experiment goes!
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Yvonne Lee-Hawkins, IPHM, is a holistic wellness coach, stress reduction strategist, and writer. She has tried and tested countless health and wellness strategies to help her recover from burnout at her former corporate career. When she is not working, she loves to go on adventures with her family in the Pacific Northwest where they call home. You can find out more on her website here, or follow her on socials at the bottom of the page.