Soul Journey: We Are Coded to Relax in Nature
- Soul Journey
- Sep 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 10
I’ve always been a nature lover at heart. My childhood unfolded at the end of a gravel road in rural Arkansas, where the loudest thing you might hear was the cicadas in the summer heat or the creek bubbling over smooth stones. There were no competing car horns, no buzzing electronics—just the natural rhythm of life.
What I remember most from those days is how alive the forest was—squirrels leaping through the canopy, birds weaving songs through the air, crickets pulsing like a heartbeat under the stars. But when something disrupted the peace, everything would change. If a hawk circled overhead, if a coyote padded silently into view, or even if another person wandered clumsily through the woods, a hush fell across the landscape. An eerie silence settled in, almost like the whole world inhaled and held its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
I learned to notice this silence. My senses sharpened, my body stilled, and I’d scan until I found the cause. And as soon as the danger passed—whether it was a true predator or just a harmless human—the world would slowly exhale. The birds would start again, the squirrels would reappear, and eventually the forest returned to song.
It turns out there’s a reason for this. Science has shown that our bodies are biologically and instinctually coded to relax when nature sings. Birdsong, cricket chirps, and the whisper of leaves lower our cortisol, steady our heart rate, and help us return to balance. These sounds told our ancestors: It’s safe now. You can rest.
And our bodies still remember.
Relearning to Relax in nature: The Way We Were Designed
I don’t live in those deep woods anymore. Life moved me far from that gravel road in Arkansas, but the call of nature has never left me. Now, I seek out new places where I can return to that same rhythm. Sometimes it’s as simple as walking the shoreline at sunrise. Other times it’s stringing up a hammock between two mangroves on one of the quiet islands in the Indian River, letting the water lap against the shore as I drift into sleep.
Nature is still there, waiting. The songs may sound different—gulls instead of cardinals, dolphins breaking the surface instead of deer stepping carefully through leaves—but the message is the same: You are safe. You can rest.
The Soul Journey Nature Breath
Here’s a simple way to invite that reset:
Find your soundscape. If you’re outside, pause and listen. If not, use a natural sound track—birds, crickets, ocean waves. (I’ll share one of mine you can loop.)
Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four. Feel your ribs and belly expand.
Hold gently at the top for a moment. Imagine the forest pausing in stillness.
Exhale slowly for a count of six, letting your body soften as though the world is sighing back into song.
Repeat for at least three minutes, allowing your nervous system to take its cues from the rhythm of nature.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Walk
When you’re feeling unsettled or stuck in your head, use this Soul Journey grounding tool:
5 things you can see – notice the horizon, water ripples, or even the weave of your hammock.
4 things you can feel – your body supported, the air on your skin, the earth beneath your feet.
3 things you can hear – birdsong, waves, wind through leaves, or the quiet of your breath.
2 things you can smell – salt air, earth, flowers, or the freshness of the present moment.
1 thing you can taste – maybe water on your tongue, or simply the flavor of being alive.
This practice brings you back into the safety of the present—just as the return of birdsong reassured our ancestors.
The World Still Sings
Nature has always been our teacher. When the forest falls silent, it tells us to be alert. When the forest fills with sound again, it tells us to rest. Our bodies are listening, even when we’re too distracted to notice.
So when you feel your heart racing or your thoughts spinning, turn toward the songs of life. Step outside, or turn on a loop of crickets and birds. Breathe deeply. Ground yourself. Let the world remind you: You are safe. You are held. You can exhale.
When we step into nature, whether it’s a quiet forest, a hammock by the river, or simply the sound of birdsong through an open window, our bodies remember. The nervous system unwinds. The heart slows. The breath deepens.
This is the same space we hold for you at Soul Journey. Our Meditation + Massage sessions are designed to help you return to that natural rhythm—where sound, touch, and guided breath remind your body that it is safe to rest and ready to heal.
If your spirit has been craving that exhale, we invite you to join us. Come experience what it feels like when your body remembers how to let go.
(MM45205, by appointment only.)
