Nature and Meditation: The Nature-Brain Connection

Did you know just a few minutes of green can perk up your brain?  Your brain is synced to nature in an amazing way.

What is it about spring that makes many of us so happy? Is it the longer daylight hours, the warmer temperatures, or the flowers blooming?  Or what about going on a hike or even visiting the beach? All of these evoke something deep within us, whether we realize it or not.

Understanding the Nature-Brain Connection

While scientists are still understanding Mother Nature’s benefits to us, they have determined our bodies and brains are connected to nature.

We see numerous positive benefits to experiencing nature such as improved short-term memory, restored mental energy, stress reduction, improved concentration, sharper thinking and creativity, and improved mental health. Your brain naturally syncs with nature, which in turn creates all these wonderful benefits

Scientists in Ontario, Canada have discovered that even the simple act of walking in nature can boost your mood. Similarly, the blue water of ocean waves can help you calm down, as the color blue has been proven to produce relaxing responses in our brain.

Nature’s Rhythms and Our Brainwaves

The converse is also true: being away from nature can negatively affect your brain, not to mention your hormones (think Vitamin D), and your sleep (hello, circadian rhythm). Studies have shown that being in urban areas rather than nature affects our cognition and memory.

It is expected that by 2050, 66% of the world’s population will live in urban areas and rarely experience nature. When you don’t or can’t get out in nature on a regular basis, your brain can get out of balance.

This syncing of the brain and nature relates to a planetary phenomenon called the Schumann Resonance. In 1952, Dr. Schumann discovered that the space between the earth and the ionosphere created a cavity that resonated like a musical instrument. This natural pulsation resonates at 7.83hz. By coincidence or not, it happens to match the Alpha brain wave frequency, usually associated with inner calm and creativity.

How Getting Out of Sync with Nature Can Damage Our Brain

Think back to a time you visited the beach or dipped your toes in a lazy river. The feeling of sand between your toes, and the trickle of water or the calming whoosh of the waves.

Now, science has caught up to what the brain has always known.  The natural rhythms and frequencies of the earth produce a calm within us, relieving stress.

It’s important to restore the brain’s natural function by returning to nature. Unfortunately, for many of us, it’s not possible to interact with nature on a regular basis. We may be city dwellers, or our work schedules don’t permit the time to do so.

Few of us these days have time for walks in the woods or to sit on a beach listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves rolling in. Yet we wonder why many Americans are finding themselves sick more and more often? Being out of sync with the earth can cause health problems.

How do we overcome this and get our brains back into earth’s balance?

Using Technology Enhanced Meditation to Mimic Nature

Here at BrainTap, the inspiration for our company was built on the way our brain syncs with and mimics the earth’s natural rhythms.

BrainTap replicates the sound and light frequencies found in nature. Encoded with our Neural Connect™ technology, audio sessions on the BrainTap app mimic the frequencies found in nature. In turn, the brain becomes balanced, allowing you to reach a deeper state of brainwave training. This produces extraordinary impact in minutes – with no user effort. The outcome: improved sleep, energy & clarity, while reducing stress.