Get Outside.
Go Within.
Mindful connection with the outdoors is essential for
cultivating a balanced, inspired, and fulfilled life.
Let yourself be guided...
For your BODY: Release stress, breathe fresh air, and get moving.
For your MIND: Settle your awareness on nature’s soothing atmosphere.
For your SPIRIT: Venture outside to gain inspiration from the living Earth.
Learn more about the new year-long, nature-inspired Mindfulness Journal
Mindful Outdoor Experience
Mindful Outdoor Guides offer powerful
nature-based experiences— combining forest bathing, meditation/mindfulness, and outdoor awareness skills.
With the average American spending 11 hours a day on a screen and 90 percent of their lives indoors, now is the time to step outside, disconnect from our fast-paced days and technology, and reconnect with the natural world.
See FAQ below for more information.
"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."
~ John Muir
Mindful Outdoor Guide
Andrea is an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher and Kripalu Certified Mindful Outdoor Guide who believes in the powerful energy and healing of Mother Nature. She is on a quest to share the natural and more-than-human world with others by leading Mindful Outdoor Experiences, both in person and virtually.
She has published a year-long, full-color, nature-inspired Mindfulness Journal.
This 12-minute video will give you a taste of what a Mindful Outdoor Experience is about.
Mindful Outdoor Experience FAQ
What is a Mindful Outdoor Experience?
In a Mindful Outdoor Experience, we use gentle movement, breath, and all of our senses to become aware of what is unfolding in the natural world around us -- in the present moment. As humans we often spend our time thinking about what has happened in the past or what will be coming in the future. Mindfulness is paying attention to and being aware of what is happening NOW. By being guided in mindfulness using nature, we not only connect with the natural world around us, but we also form deeper connections to our own body, mind, and spirit.
Unlike traditional meditation that asks us to focus inward, nature mindfulness is about becoming aware of all that is happening around us in the more-than-human natural world. It allows us to realize that we are a part of nature, not separate from it. That we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.
A Mindful Outdoor Experience is not about hiking, exercising, getting heart rates up, or counting steps. It's about opening up our hearts and minds using all of our senses to connect at a deeper level with the world around us.
Why spend time outside?
Modern science has proven that being in nature, even for a short while, can have positive physical and mental impacts: Decreased stress hormones, increased immune response, decreased fight-or-flight nervous system activity, decreased blood pressure, decreased heart rate, improved sense of well-being, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, improved sleep, and a boost of creativity and focus. Even looking out a window at a tree or a natural environment can have the same results! See Resources below.
What do I need to bring?
In-person:
We’ll be spending time standing, gently strolling (a short distance only, always within earshot of the guide), and sitting. Please let me know if you need any accommodations and I will be happy to help!
Please bring:
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A small bag or backpack with water/beverage and a snack if you might get hungry
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A hat, gloves and warm clothes if needed for the weather
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Rain gear if the forecast calls for wet weather
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Comfortable walking shoes
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Something to sit on such as a towel, or a lightweight foldable cushion/pad, etc.
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A curious and open attitude.
Virtual:
For our time together you can be any place that allows you to be outdoors where you have cell phone service: A back porch, your yard or garden, a city park, a local trail, any open space where you can be near plants and animals such as birds. We will be doing a bit of slow wandering, so a place where you can walk a short way is ideal, though not mandatory. Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring something to sit on if possible (see "Please bring" above).
We will be gathering together via Zoom, preferably using a cell phone. You do not need to have the Zoom app on your phone, I'll provide instructions for dialing in via a phone number. We will be using Zoom audio only and if you are using the Zoom app, not dial-in, I will ask everyone to turn the video feature off. It is suggested to use only one headphone/earbud in order to keep your other ear open, both for safety and for taking in the sounds of nature. You can either click on the provided Zoom link and have your video turned off, or you can use the dial-in feature of Zoom. Further instructions will be provided.
Andrea's favorite nature-related books and podcasts can be found HERE.
Resources on the benefits of nature:
Nurtured by Nature - American Psychological Association
The wellness benefits of the great outdoors – Forest Service
Health Benefits of Getting Outside - WebMD