By Jasmine S Kaur

Can you watch and listen to nature? Yes, you can just by being aware and present in the moment. Nature is very healing and calming. Just being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. With spring coming up, we can head outdoors more often and make the best of this wonderful weather.

Outdoors in nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical well being as well. In addition, nature helps us cope with any pain or depressed feelings. Because we find trees, plants, water, and other nature elements absorbing with their colors, we tend to be absorbed by nature scenes and distracted from our pain and discomfort. Have you ever considered watching a tree for a minute and all the messages it can give you in any form?

Nature is good for our health and well-being as it helps us to be happier, healthier and relaxed. The perfect method for all of us is to add couple of minutes to enjoy outdoors in nature as a daily routine. There are countless studies for the links between time spent outdoors for our mental, physical, and emotional development.

Enjoying outdoors can reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and stress levels. Exposure to nature can help you sleep well and increase your energy, it also links to boost your immune system as what you are seeing, hearing, experiencing at any moment in nature is not only changing your mood but how your body systems are working. Meditations done in nature have additional healing benefits.

Next time you are in nature try these simple two types of meditations:

Open your eyes, take in Nature

Time spent in nature can always be a form of meditation when we put our full attention on what is around us — the earth, trees, flowers, animals/birds, fresh air and the breeze.

Simply observe and experience the colours, shape, sounds and other movements of nature. Observe them without looking for any meaning and expectations and simply experiencing it – have an open awareness and you will be surprised and grateful for everything around you.

Eyes closed, senses alert

Find a comfortable position sitting or lying down outside. Begin with a few deep breaths and close your eyes to be in the present moment. Now bring your awareness to everything that you can experience in your surroundings. Feel the temperature of the air on your skin, the feeling of the breeze and the sun. Listen and focus on sound only. Let your awareness be with all the sounds in the environment, noticing them in great detail. You can also focus on one particular sound, such as that of flowing water, wind blowing or birds singing and all other nature sounds – you will be able to hear many magical sounds in seconds. Listen to the symphony of nature. Continue to experience these feelings and sounds and find yourself peacefully connected to nature.

With the busy lives that many of us lead, taking time to get outside may seem difficult. But its easier than you think. Go for a walk or run outdoors. Use your lunch break to get out of the office and visit a nearby green space. Find a nice leafy tree and read a book in the shade. Take time to slow down, breathe, watch, and listen and try simple natural meditations in nature.

About the author:

Following her core passions of spirituality, self care teachings and fitness, Jasmine S Kaur was chosen and certified as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher from KRI Level 1 International Teacher Training Program. She is an expert yogini,coach for mothers, speaker and a daughter, sister, wife, and mother of three precious children.

She is the founder of a self-care center for mothers, busy but balanced womenpreneurs and owner of Aquarian Corporate Yoga (). She practices strong self care techniques and is proud to learn and teach them in her classes, workshops, one-on-one, events and conferences.

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