I’m always hearing people talk about how they have to get out into nature to relax and de-stress, and I am definitely someone that loves full on wilderness adventures, oceanside walks and sitting by raging rivers.

However, so many of us either don’t have the time to get out into nature on a daily, or even weekly basis, and some of us live in full on urban settings with nature being a train ride, car ride and even plane ride away.

But here’s what is interesting: it’s completely possible to tap into some of nature’s medicine while sitting in the comfort of your own home.

(Seriously, you can!)

In a second, click on the video below so I can teach you a simple and effective practice to re-set your stress levels back to baseline and get back into the present moment so you can re-discover your own true nature without having to go into nature.

Something interesting is happening when you’re out in nature that contributes greatly to your overall mood and it’s called: orientation.

Now, don’t get me wrong.. YES, the fresh air definitely helps, as does walking and being connected to the earth, but there is more going on.

Orienting to your environment tunes in something called the parasympathetic nervous system, which resets and calms us.

It also perks up our five senses and attunes us to the world around us which is such an important skill to refine so that we can feel safe, secure and aware of what is going on around us.

Enter some interesting science

Because I know a few of you here LOVE the nitty-gritty science details, I wanted to give you a little more detail….

When you really take in your external environment and practice orienting, you are stimulating a very special branch of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Then, if I get EVEN MORE specific you are turning on The Vagus Nerve.

This very important nerve (it is one of the biggest nerves in the body) comes out of your skull around the very top of your spine by your brainstem and it is responsible for a lot of important body functions such as digestion, calming the heart, engaging with our loved ones, learning… AND, it also gets turned on when we look around and see our external world.

Lots going on in the vagus nerve (and yes it is pronounced like the Vegas in Las Vegas!).

Simple to start

Now, I don’t know about you but I’ve come to learn that sometimes the things that help the most are also the most simple and easy to do… it is just a matter of doing them.

One of the steps that must be taken when healing the nervous system and learning more effective ways to handle stress is to work directly with the vagus nerve and this simple practice of orienting a great way to start.

A challenge for you

I want to challenge you to try this practice on a daily basis, even hourly if you can remember, and then definitely let me know how it goes and share in the comments below.

Thank you for being here and showing an interest into a deeper level of health.

Irene

PS. Do you know someone who might benefit from this simple strategy for de-stressing and getting back into the present moment? If you do, definitely send them this link so they can learn and practice too. xo.