Meditation

The effects of meditating in nature can be as immense as they are immediate. Without the constant distractions that come with indoor life – and in our digital world this would include TVs, computers and mobile devices – we become more present, we gain a heightened sense of awareness. What’s more, as we take in the natural environment, we start to notice the simple things around us: the breeze, the light, space, sounds and smells.

Scientists have already shown that those who meditate on a regular basis have a smaller amygdala, the part of the brain that is responsible for managing the fight-or-flight response. Coincidentally, field studies, published in Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine, show that people who were exposed to a forest environment versus an urban environment had a lower concentration of the stress hormone cortisol. “Buddha wasn’t in a meditation hall,” adds Clifford. “He was in the forest.” Time to om outside.