Mother Nature’s lap is a cozy place that naturally heals the body and calms the mind. The stress and fatigue that the body and mind accumulate in a busy life can be easily healed by connecting with nature, imagining her as mother. Constantly interacting with man-made gadgets and living in a mechanized world robs man of his natural state of being. Regaining that natural state even for a short period of time can significantly improve one's general wellness.
Here are some simple and inexpensive activities that can transport one's body, mind and soul to a world of serenity and peace – just by connecting with nature.
Look at Nature - Enjoy the Sun
Human eyes have evolved seeing things in sunlight over millions of years. The last 100 years have dramatically changed this habit of the eyes. Man made light sources like indoor lighting, computer monitors, movie screens and car headlights have startled and damaged human eyes more that what one would like to believe. Letting maximum sunlight into the home and work place is a great idea to keep the eyes relaxed in the long term. Relaxed eyes lead to a more relaxed mind. The fact that the human body produces Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight is a proof that the body loves the sun.
Move With Nature - Go for a Walk, Ride a Bicycle
Walking or riding a bicycle on a quite street, breathing fresh air and humming a song can feel heavenly to both the muscles and the mind. One can even combine this with some shopping in the neighborhood store. Walking is the most natural exercise, which is gentle to the body and soothing to the mind. Incorporating walking or cycling in life without making them look like exercises is the key, if one wants to keep them going for a long time. For example, one could use a bicycle to commute to office or walk to a nearby park or library a few times a week.
Get in Touch With Nature - Disconnect From the Virtual World
Occasionally, switching off the mobile phone, television, internet and all the other "smart" gadgets, and listening to the sweet "tweets" of real birds can make all the difference. Getting outdoors and feeling the breeze or enjoying a cup of herbal tea in total silence are some activities that one can do to give oneself a chance to enjoy the simple things that nature gives in abundance. The idea here is to completely cut off from the rest of the world for at least an hour during which one is relaxed, but not sleepy.
Indulge in Nature - Develop Hobbies Close to Nature
One can start a home vegetable garden and see how different they taste from commercially and chemically grown vegetables. Cooking with freshly plucked vegetables that one organically grows can be a very satisfying experience besides being wonderful for health. Indulging in nature photography – for instance chasing butterflies with the camera can be simple fun. This will change the way one looks at simple and beautiful things of nature that are usually missed in one's busy life. These hobbies make one healthier without realizing it, since physical activity is involved without making it look like an exercise.
Touch One's True Nature - Become More Spiritual
Spiritual activities take one closer to the soul – "the true self," as Eastern philosophy puts it. They remind that one is as close to nature as a flower or a butterfly. Yoga and meditation in the midst of nature can pleasantly and gently change one's life and bring new meanings to it. Read about Hatha Yoga.
Spirituality makes one realize that nothing is too important in this world and helps one let go of bottled up tensions. Observing the grandeur of nature opens new gates in one's spiritual journey. No wonder that ancient sages preferred serene natural locations to meditate.
Anantha Krishnan Umamaheswaran - Anantha is a writer, musician and artist besides being a software engineer for 10 years. His other interests include nature photography, ...
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