Why Do We Instinctively Spend More Time Outside In The Summer?

This time of year might be one of your favorite seasons.  Summer (in the northern hemisphere) has arrived!  Spending time outside seems much more inviting.  The weather is warmer, our moods are uplifted, we aren't weighed down by heavy clothing,  we have a need to increase our physical activity, we feel healthier, our motivations increase, our senses are heightened and we instinctively crave to spend MUCH more time outdoors.

There are countless reasons why we are drawn to spend time outdoors.  Research has proven the benefits of spending time outside and WHY we NEED to be outside.  Below are four simple reasons why our primal instincts kick in and signal our brain to get out into nature on a regular basis.

 4 SIMPLE REASONS WHY OUR BODY CRAVES THE OUTDOORS

Me getting my shot of Vitamin D on May 20, 2015
(Yes, that is snow on the ground)

Vitamin D - Our bodies need vitamin D to help process calcium.  Calcium is what helps our bones grow and stay strong.  Without sufficient vitamin D we are at greater risk for breast cancer, colon cancer, depression, weight gain, osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes, just to name a few.  The sun's rays are strongest in the northern hemisphere this time of year, so expose your skin to the sun (yes really) and get your daily shot of vitamin D today!

Mental Health - Studies have shown people who spend more time outside have a much healthier and happier mental state.  Why do you think eco-therapy and wilderness therapy are growing industries? Exploring nature and being aware of our surrounds has a calming effect on most people.  It's also healthy to push our comfort levels to try new outdoor adventures and expand our confidence.  Being outside gives us a sense of freedom and enlightenment.

Grounding or Earthing - Grounding is a way to connect to the earth's energy and pulse of her heart. Sitting in the ground, walking barefoot, sleeping on the ground at night are all simple ways to re-energize yourself.  This can help clear your mind to improve your focus and creativity.  Try grounding for 15 minutes per day for a week and see how you feel on day seven.

Physical Well Being - When we play outside we improve our balance by walking on uneven ground. We exercise more by playing sports, gardening, outdoor recreating, exploring and just romping around.  Even just breathing clearer air free of indoor toxins, can help your lungs and healthy body status.  With the increase of exercise, your sleep should improve as well.

What if we didn't spend time outdoors?  What would happen to us then?  How sad.  Watch the below video to learn more about what would happen if you stopped going outside.

If you'd like to learn more about how a lack of spending time in nature impacts us, check out Nature Deficit Disorder.

Yoga & Wilderness Survival Skills Journey Announcement!

Restless Genes and Open Sky Yoga have partnered to offer an amazing one night/two day wilderness journey south of Fairplay, Colorado located at 9,000ft in elevation.  Join us in a small group setting, while we connect with others, nature and ourselves.  Specific activities include yoga, barefoot earthing, mini solo experience, soul gazing, wilderness survival skills, wild plant identification, star gazing and more.  The price of $95-$140.00 is based on a sliding scale donation.  Meals and gear are not included, however we will provide hot drinks (coffee, tea, etc.) for the group each morning and night.  More details to come soon!  Contact Jamie DeLuccio to register.  Space is limited to only 12 people, so save your spot today!

Six Traits All Survivalists Share

I believe EVERYONE, even in this day of high comfort and vast technology, still has at least some wilderness survival instincts embedded deep within their DNA that has been handed down from our ancestors.   It's our choice to act on those instincts, and for some this may be a bit easier.  For example, if you grew up on a farm, in an off-grid cabin, or spent countless hours sleeping under the stars, your instincts may be sharper  than the average westernized person.  If your idea of spending time outside is laying on a beach or mowing the lawn, your survival instincts might be pretty dull.  If a person decides to hone in and polish these instincts, they can eventually develop into survival traits.  These traits will give them the ability to survive in extreme situations. All true wilderness survivalists share six common survival traits.  These traits are the keys to their survival.

Over the past couple of years, I've read many books and websites on the characteristics of wilderness survivalists.  Even though survivalist's backgrounds may vary, there are common survival traits they share.  Two of my favorite survivalists are Ernest Shackleton and Zebulon Pike.   Ernest Shackleton overcame extreme conditions, not only for himself, but for his team.  Some will argue he put himself and his team in danger, but despite this perspective his story is quite heroic.  I  consider Zebulon Pike the "Ernest Shackleton of the Rocky Mountains" due to the paralles of their stories.  Another story that is quite impressive is that of a 3 year old girl, who survived 11 days in a Siberian Forest by herself.  At age three, she had just enough common knowledge of water, food and shelter to keep herself safe until help arrive.  I honor all of these survivalists and find their stories inspirational.

After a lot of curiosity, research and just plain creative thinking, I decided to come up with my own list of traits found in true survivalists.   Below is a list of Six Traits All Survivalists Share I think are necessary to survive and thrive in the wild.

Going into any survival situation, one needs to prioritize.  Being familiar with the Rules Of Three is a key element into survival.  The rules of three state that it takes an average of 3 minutes to die without oxygen, 3 days to die without water and 3 weeks to begin to die without food (or at least before your body literally starts eating away at your organs).   Some people also say you can't survive 3 hours without shelter.  I challenge this because it depends on the environment in which you are located.  I've survived more than 3 hours without shelter many times.  (My opinion on this will be addressed in a distance future post.)  Another common killer of survival in the wild is hypothermia, which can relate to the shelter piece.  While keeping these four (oxygen, water, food and hypothermia) survival threats in mind, a survivalist will know how to prioritize.  Priorities of survival can change each minute, hour, day or week depending on any immediate threats.  It takes a rational thinking person to prioritize the needs at each moment, while thinking ahead to the future.

Since my recent intentional survival experience in a Central American jungle, I've re-evaluated what survival really means to me and what type of person can truly survive and thrive in the wild.  Some of my thoughts parallel Charles Darwin's famous quote, "Survival of the Fittest".   I grew up thinking this statement  meant only the strongest and fastest survive.  This is a common misconception.  Upon further reading, I found Darwin's quote has a much different meaning.  He defined "fittest" as meaning those that can adapt to their surroundings verses always being the strongest.   After my survival experience,  I consider Darwin's theory to be true.  I may not the strongest or the fastest in any given group of people.  However, my ability to survive in the wilderness is definitely higher than the average person.  Why?  Because I have all six traits listed above.  Some might be more pronounced than others, but I'm willing to strengthen and improve my shortcomings to become an even better survivor!

What survival traits and skills do you have?

Naked Feet

Carl Jung once said, "When you walk with naked feet, how can you ever forget the earth".  This quote has really resonated with me the past six months.  I started walking barefoot last fall to strengthen and toughen up my feet.  It's suppose to be good for long distance runners after all, so why not?   Since then, my feet have adapted to walking on rough mountain dirt roads and pokey pine needle covered ground.  I've fallen in love with being barefoot.  

I encourage everyone to challenge themselves to walking barefoot.  It adds a different dimension to the way you feel things under your feet, and heightens your awareness of touch.  After a few weeks, you will notice your feet muscles and balance are stronger than ever before.  Walking barefoot also forces you to be in the moment.  You will pay attention to where you are walking and how your feet and body move.  The whole process of breaking in your feet is really amazing and fun.  I recommend starting off by walking 10-15 minutes a day outside in natural areas, then increasing the distance to eventually walk 1 - 2 miles every other day.

Even though walking barefoot is my new favorite, I don't walk in town barefoot.   Walking on pavement and public places are really dirty, not to mention the changes of stepping on a sharp metal or class objects are much higher.  Walking on natural ground outside of town is best.

There are many benefits to walking barefoot.  I won't list them all here, but here are some of the benefits I've experienced:

• Muscle Strengthening - One foot and ankle contains more than 100 muscles.  We need to keep those suckers healthy and strong!
• Better Foot Balance - This is huge for me because I tore my right ankle ligaments June of 2013.  I love trail running and hiking mountains, so my feet need to be super balanced!
• Foot Freedom - Socks are limiting, right?
• Earth's Energy - Seriously! Your positive energy and calmness will increase walking on natural ground.  Give it a try for 30+ minutes a day and you'll notice a difference.
• Foot Toughness - You'll toughen up your feet and will be less susceptible to blisters.  This is great for long distance runners and hikers.
• Grounding Your Root Chakra - If you are into that sort of thing.

Since challenges and new goals are my thing, it will be appropriate to set a new goal to barefoot hike a 14,000 foot peak by August 1, 2015.  I am super excited to implement my new love of being barefoot to the test of hiking.  This means I need to hit the hiking trails and practice hiking above treeline in the high country of Colorado!  Can't wait for those trails to open for the season!

If you'd like to learn more about being barefoot, you can visit my Pinterest board, "Being Barefoot".

What are your limits?

I recently had the opportunity to experience a real survival situation in an environment completely different from the Colorado Rockies.  My experience included a three week period surviving in a Central American Jungle with very limited resources and survival tools.

My experience was raw and real.  

During the experience, I learned my mental strength is high, very high.  Much higher than the average person.  As a result, I am on a quest to push my mental strength to its limit or absolute breaking point.  What that is I'm not quite sure.  Only time, soul searching and adventure will tell.

In the weeks to come, I will share more of my experiences, challenges, successes and lessons learned from the jungle.  Also, keep checking back for updates on my new quest to find my breaking point.