the savor project
we grow the good and play with our food
Savoring water for wellness
In this newest Mindfulness in Nature guided video, we’ll explore our experiences with water and observe opportunities to savor this resource, as a way to soothe and enhance mind/body health.
The instructions are simple – beginning first with mindfulness, the foundation from which all savoring practices grow:
- Coming home to the body and to this present moment, by directing attention to one aspect of your physical experience. This might be the position of the body (feet on floor, back or legs supported by a chair). Or perhaps you focus attention briefly on one of the sense doorways, such as the sound of my voice.
- Gradually shifting your attention to the images (and accompanying sounds) appearing in the Mindfulness in Nature video. Observing your experience, and noting any reactions (thoughts, emotions, sensations) that might arise.
- Noticing if the mind labels any particular water sounds as positive, neutral, or even negative. Do you notice a preference for one particular body of water over another? How do you know? Are you aware of experiencing such a preference somewhere in the body?
- You might experiment with listening to this video several times – first to become acquainted with it, and then exploring more deeply what you discover as you listen to each video clip.
Research shows that exposure to or engagement with water, or “blue spaces,” offers a number of health benefits and promotes what some scientists are calling “blue mind:”
“…The mildly meditative state we fall into when near, in, on or under water. It’s the antidote to what we refer to as “red mind,” which is the anxious, over-connected and over-stimulated state that defines the new normal of modern life.”
Blue Mind: The surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do (Wallace J. Nichols)
Here are just a few of the water clips I’ve featured on social media:
Find the water experience that works for you; what you prefer might vary depending upon your mood or energy level. Some water experiences (like rain, ocean waves, or slow-flowing rivers) serve to soothe at the end of a long or sleepless day. Others, such as waterfalls or rapids, might energize or match an uplifted mood.
Perhaps you have a fondness for particular bodies of water, based upon where you live or grew up, or drawing upon beloved memories from the past. For example, I spent a significant portion of my childhood attending elementary and middle school near a Pacific Ocean beachline (before we knew about the dangers of tsunamis!), so I feel nostalgic whenever I encounter sounds of the sea.
You might visit this additional link, below – and note what happens when you connect – virtually, or in person, with these bodies of water.
the savor project 