Finding Mindfulness in Nature
I (Rachel Littleton, Recreation Manager) had the privilege of speaking on The Empowered Community on Wimberley Valley Radio a few weeks ago with Dr. Christine Norton. Dr. Norton is a wealth of knowledge, and I highly encourage reading her faculty bio at Texas State University. We had a wonderful conversation about the benefits of spending time in nature and the many ways people can do it, which inspired my blog post for this month: Finding Mindfulness in Nature.
Studies consistently show that spending time in nature lowers cortisol levels, improves mood, and reduces stress. A 2018 study found that even just the sounds of cricket chirps and ocean waves helped participants perform better on cognitive tests than those who listened to urban sounds like traffic horns and chatter in a busy restaurant (Van Hedger, S. C., et. al., Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, Vol. 26, No. 2, 2019opens in new window).
There are many ways people can use the outdoors to practice mindfulness and maximize its natural benefits. We love that our parks are a space for recreation and excitement, but it’s important to remember that they are also places to practice stillness, gratitude, and intentional connection with our environment. As the creator of the curriculum for our camps, here are a few ways I like to incorporate mindfulness into our busy camp schedules.
Senses Walk/Sit:
• What are 5 things you can see?
• What are 4 things you can feel?
• What are 3 things you can hear?
• What are 2 things you can smell?
• What is 1 thing you can taste?
Color Walk:
1. Print out a sheet of colors to take on a hike (example below), then pin or tape matching natural items to it.
2. Go on a 30-minute walk and try to find things of your assigned color.
Wimberley Parks and Recreation is proud to facilitate mindfulness and the strengthening of the human-environmental relationship. Here are some programs that focus on observation and mindfulness:
Suicide Awareness Walk: September 11th
Guided Hikes: October 3rd
Birds and Brew: October 17th
Painting With Parks: October 18th
Creekside Campout: November 14th-15th