YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Summer 2019 | Page 6

FIONA KRIARIS
Fiona Kriaris is a health & fitness professional with YMCA Victoria, who is pioneering mindfulness and meditation at the
YMCA, to bring a more holistic approach to health and fitness. A graduate of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Centre
in Los Angeles, Fiona’s studies in this field extend internationally, and she brings global leading trends to a local
environment with compassion and integrity.
MIND THE GREAT
OUTDOORS
Are you keen to savour every moment of your summer?
Try adding some mindfulness to the time you spend in nature, and see
the difference it makes.
hen was the last time you spent
quality time in nature? What is
your ideal outdoor place – is it
lush green grass, crystal blue bays, or
white snowy mountains? We have
access to a variety of natural landscapes,
but with the busyness of the modern
world and the hectic pace of our lives,
we can sometimes find it challenging to
go offline and head outside.
W
There’s been a lot of research into the
positive effects on your physical, mental,
and emotional health as a result of
spending time outdoors. One study
explored the impact of exercise on
people’s state of mind, specifically
looking at:
1. Outdoor physical activity: examining
a three-hour outdoor mountain hiking
activity
2. Indoor physical activity: walking on
a treadmill
3. Sedentary behaviour: no physical
activity.
When comparing the results from the
outdoor physical activity group to the
sedentary group, it was revealed that
during and immediately after the outdoor
activity, people felt happier. They also
felt calmer, and their fatigue and anxiety
levels were decreased compared to the
sedentary group.
What was even more interesting was the
differences found between the indoor
6
and outdoor physical activity groups.
The data showed that exercising
outdoors made people feel happier, less
stressed and less fatigued than those
exercising inside. So, while all exercise
is beneficial, outdoor activities appear to
deliver the most benefits.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to
exercise outdoors all the time to reap the
benefits. Just being in an outdoor
environment can change your mood for
the better. According to the State
Government’s
health
promotion
foundation,
VicHealth,
“Growing
evidence suggests that people can derive
substantial mental health benefits from
being exposed to natural environments.
Being close to nature has been shown to
be associated with lower levels of stress
and also to lessen the symptoms of
depression and anxiety.”
For even more health benefits, try
adding some mindfulness next time
you’re in the great outdoors – even if it’s
just while you’re enjoying your backyard
for five minutes. It’s possible to enhance
your experience by making a conscious
effort to be fully present in the moment,
rather than allowing your mind to be
distracted by thoughts of the past or
future. This ability to truly focus your
attention on the ‘now’ will deliver even
more positive effects from being outside,
enabling you to experience an even
deeper appreciation for all that’s good in
your life. It might be challenging at first,
YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
but even subtle changes as your skill to
be present improves, can make a
difference to the way you experience
your reality on a daily basis. For example,
when you’re next outdoors take a few
deep breaths, and observe your breath
for a few cycles as you inhale and
exhale. Then, use each of your senses
to notice different aspects of your
surroundings such as listening to the
birds chirping or hearing the wind blow
through the trees; these small shifts of
attention can actually have a profound
impact on the quality of your experience
in that moment.
This summer, when you next enjoy some
quality time outdoors, try adding an
element of mindfulness and see what a
difference it can make.
To learn more about mindfulness and
YMCA’s Mynd Wellness program visit
www.myndwellness.com.au
References
• www.businessinsider.com.au
• www.vichealth.vic.gov.au
• https://journals.plos.org